How not to get cheated
Safety guide
Six short guides to the frauds that really happen around classified ads: fake payment links, deposits, work abroad, renting, cars. What to check, where to check it and what to do when it has already happened.
Fake “collect your money” and “courier” links
The most common fraud on classifieds sites in Poland: a “buyer” says they have already paid and sends a link where you are supposed to “collect the money”. The link leads to a fake bank or courier page that steals your card details.
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How to buy safely from an ad
Most purchases from ads end well. The ones that do not almost always share one thing: paying in advance to someone the buyer has never seen.
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How to sell safely
Sellers are targeted by fraudsters as often as buyers. The schemes are simple – and so is the protection against them.
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Work in Poland and abroad without being cheated
Job offers attract fraudsters because people looking for work are ready to pay for a chance. In Poland charging a job-seeker any fee is forbidden – that is the first test of every offer.
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Renting a flat and lodgings: a deposit only after viewing
The rental fraud always looks the same: an attractive flat, an owner “abroad”, a request for a deposit before viewing. The flat exists – but it belongs to someone else.
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Buying a car from an ad
A car is bought twice: once in the papers and once in the car park. Skipping either step costs the most.
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Three rules that always work
- Do not pay in advance to someone you have not met, and never enter card details to “receive” something.
- Check the state registers: a company by NIP, an employment agency in KRAZ, a car by VIN, a flat in the land register.
- Talk on the site. Whoever pulls you to WhatsApp from the first message and sends links is not a buyer.
Report a fraud
Every ad has a “Zgłoś” (Report) button. Every report is checked by a person; an ad that breaks the rules disappears and the account is blocked. If you lost money, report it to the police (112) and to CERT Polska (incydent.cert.pl).
Checked on September 26, 2026.