Safety & Security

Most buyers and sellers on BaduAds.com are genuine, but like any marketplace we can attract scammers. This page explains what we do to keep the marketplace safe, and the simple habits that protect you when you trade.

What we do

• Posting rules for every listing. Listings that break our rules, including prohibited items, misleading content and scams, can be removed and the account restricted.
• Reporting. Every listing has a Report option. Reports go to our team, who review them.
• Seller information. Seller profiles, account verification and seller reviews help you decide who to deal with.
• Bot and abuse protection. Sign-up, login and contact forms are protected against automated abuse and rapid repeated attempts.
• Secure payments to us. Plan and promotion payments are made through PayHere's secure checkout. We never see or store your full card number.

Safety tips for buyers

• See it before you pay. Inspect the item, and for phones and electronics check that they work and aren't locked or blacklisted.
• Never pay in advance for an item you haven't seen, including "booking fees", "delivery fees" or deposits to hold an item.
• Meet in a safe, public place during the day, ideally with a friend. For large items, bring someone with you.
• If a price looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Vehicles and property

• Check the vehicle's registration certificate (CR) matches the seller and the vehicle's chassis and engine numbers, and consider an independent inspection.
• For land and houses, check the deeds and survey plan with a lawyer before paying anything, and never pay a deposit to someone who can't show proof of ownership.

Safety tips for sellers

• Confirm the money has arrived in your account before you hand over the item. Screenshots and SMS "payment confirmations" can be faked.
• Beware of overpayment. A buyer who "accidentally" pays too much and asks for a refund of the difference is a common scam.
• Never share one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs or banking passwords. No genuine buyer needs them to pay you.
• Be careful about inviting strangers into your home. Where possible, meet somewhere public.

Common scams to watch for

• Advance-fee scams: requests for payment before you've seen the item, or "courier" fees for delivery.
• Fake job offers: genuine employers don't ask job seekers to pay for registration, training or visas.
• Phishing links: messages asking you to "verify" your account or payment on another website. We will never ask for your password, and our only website is baduads.com.
• Moving off the platform quickly: pressure to switch to another app or to pay urgently is a warning sign.

If something goes wrong

1. Stop communicating and don't send any more money.
2. Use Report on the listing, or contact us with the listing link and details.
3. If you've lost money or feel threatened, contact your bank immediately and report it to the Sri Lanka Police.