For as long as we're active online, we are all vulnerable to the dangers that accompany interacting on the Internet, however there are steps you can take to ensure that these exchanges are made as securely as possible. While online portals cannot eliminate the risks entirely, using a local classified portal that knows and understands South African consumer behaviour and pitfalls will certainly minimise the risks
The perception that online classified sites are rife with fraudulent posts or online scams is false. "Less than 1% of the adverts on our site are considered "fraudulent" – and we eliminate most of them before they are ever published. We don't actually facilitate the physical transaction between the seller and the buyer, but we do have measures in place to protect both parties, such as the automated moderation of adverts. If a suspicious advert is detected, a red flag is raised by the automated system; the advert is passed to the moderation expert team for review. Should the content raise a cause for concern, it is immediately removed.
In my opinion online classifieds are currently the safest they've ever been since their inception. There are so many social tools and mechanisms to flag suspicious advertisements as opposed to the print only days or the early days of the Internet. We encourage users to report suspicious ads immediately. We also keep a record of these adverts and scams on our blog, which the public can consult if they are unsure of the legitimacy of an advert.
There are risks involved when buying or selling, regardless of the platform. Whenever there is interaction with strangers, there is a degree of risk – whether you are online dating, advertising an open house via estate agent or pinning an advertisement to the actual window of your car. Mitigate the risk as much you can by making use of local suppliers who are familiar with scams that are doing the rounds in your area, and following their guidelines carefully.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. One of the most common scams doing the rounds currently are the so-called "petrol scams". Advertisements pop up for high-quality, high-end goods such as new cars at very low prices. When the potential buyer asks to see the vehicle, the seller responds by saying that he/she does not have enough petrol to drive to the buyer and asks for R100 or R200 to cover petrol costs or airtime. When the buyer transfers the money, the seller fails to pitch. Similar activity happens with pet sales. These are often emotional purchases and buyers are lured by their heartstrings to pay for non- existent pets upfront.
Herewith included tips below for internet users when buying, swopping or selling online and highlights the warning signs to look out for of below:

Hints for the buyer and seller:

• Know the potential buyer/ seller – have a name, telephone number, place of work and the contact details at hand. Always verify these details and ask for alternative numbers, emails, utility bill corresponding or payslips etc.
• As an extra safety precaution, always have a friend accompany you when meeting a prospective buyer/seller and do this in a very public place such as a police station etc
• Do not be in a hurry to transact. If something doesn't feel right, move on to the next buyer/seller.
• Leave your valuables at home when meeting with a prospective buyer/seller.
• Cash or EFT should be your preferred method of trade. Accepting goods such as jewellery, investment opportunities or stocks as an alternative for cash is not a good idea.
• • Wait for deposits to clear before handing over any goods and don't trust SMS notifications as proof of payment

Danger signs

A seller who seems almost too keen to get rid of the item, even agreeing to a huge reduction in asking prices should immediately arouse suspicion:

• When buying a car
  Check with your local police station that the car has not been reported or stolen. Ask an expert to accompany you to view and test drive the car or ask for a roadworthy test upfront

• When renting property avoid holding deposits
  Fraudsters have been known to ask for holding deposits or a month's rent in advance and give the impression that a deal for the rental of the property has been included. This is a common occurrence as the fraudster then disappears with the deposits leaving many victims behind. Ensure that valid contracts are in place before parting with a deposit and that you have access to the property.

• When buying a pet
  Meet at a vet (of your choice) to get a professional opinion on the condition of the animal and the verification of pedigree etc. This should deter scammers

While making classified transactions, be wary and vigilant to ensure that you are not a victim to crime. "Trust your gut." If a situation makes you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, rather be safe and avoid the deal entirely.

Online classifieds are no more dangerous than other form of advertising, but the onus remains on both the buyer and the seller to take every safety precaution possible before conducting a transaction.

Always be vigilant and report fraud or scams to the customer care contact number that should be visible on the website that you are transacting on. Be smart, savvy and stay safe!

South Africa's media dynamics are unlike those anywhere else – and it's this knowledge of the local market that has enabled the Junk Mail stable to stay ahead of its online and print competitors.
While Junk Mail's future is online, there is still a huge and lucrative market for print publications that has helped to fund online development.
We embraced the Internet very early, in 1996, and 71% of all our ads are now placed via the web. But we also still sell over 100,000 copies a week of our print publications. Even at R20 a copy, it's still much cheaper than the Internet for millions of South Africans – and for a lot of people it's much faster too. This digital divide is still the reality of the local media landscape.
The Junk Mail stable includes the flagship sites JunkMail and JobMail, as well as AutoMart, TruckandTrailer, FreePropertyAds, Lovemail and machinery sales site Mascus. In print, there are three regional editions of Junk Mail, Cape Ads, JobMail and four vehicle sales publications.
Understanding the needs and buying patterns of the South African market has been key to Junk Mail's success. We have 20 years of experience in the classified ads business, we know this market intimately, and we've designed our categories, our publications and our online sites around that knowledge. That's why we're not unduly worried by the influx of global competitors. Someone planning their company out of Seattle or London would never dream of publishing print classifieds because that's not how their world works.
What global competitors miss is that while print is no longer in its heyday, it's never declined at anything like the rate people predicted. Our print publications are still a good, profitable business that delivers great value to buyers and sellers alike. If you want to sell something, your chances are best with us.
Not that Junk Mail is resting on its laurels. In 2010 the company took the bold step of removing paywalls from all its online properties, and separated the online business completely from print. We still want to optimise all the opportunities that remain in print, without diluting the focus of the online team. So our print and online teams are often competing for the same customers, which keeps them on their toes.
The company is also ramping up its mobile presence, recently re-launching a much faster version of its mobile sites. Mobile is a completely different environment from the desktop and people use it in a very particular way. Mobile ad placements have gone from zero three years ago to 17% now, and we expect that to take off in the next few years.
Classified advertising is a ruthlessly competitive business. What has kept us ahead for 20 years is understanding that it's also extremely local. Whatever medium our customers find most convenient, that's what we give them. We're also a very results-driven organisation - we look after what works, even if it's not trendy.