Meeting safely
Most swaps go fine. These habits keep the rest from going wrong.
Before you meet
- Keep every message in the deal chat. If there is a dispute, that is the record a moderator reads.
- Check the other person's profile: how long they have been a member, their reviews, whether they have done swaps before.
- Be wary of anyone who wants to move to WhatsApp straight away, or who has a story about why they cannot meet.
- Never send money first. Not a deposit, not transport fare, not "to hold it for you".
Where to meet
- Somewhere busy and lit during the day: a supermarket entrance, a mall, a bank hall, a phone repair shop.
- Tell a friend where you are going and who you are meeting. Bring them if you can.
- For expensive items, meeting inside a phone shop lets a technician check the device for you.
What to check on a phone
- Dial *#06# and make sure the IMEI matches the one printed on the SIM tray or the box.
- iPhone: Settings, then your name, must show no Apple ID. Android: no Google account left signed in.
- Battery health, camera, speaker, microphone, charging port, Face ID or fingerprint.
- Put your own SIM in and make a call.
Paying the difference
- Pay cash top-ups only when you have the gadget in your hand and it works.
- For MTN MoMo or Orange Money, wait together until the confirmation SMS arrives. Screenshots can be faked.
Finishing the swap
Only share your half of the confirmation code once you are happy with what you received. Entering the codes tells everyone the deal is done.
Something feels off? Walk away and tell us. You will not be penalised for cancelling a deal that did not feel right.