Safety Guide

Anti-Scam & Safety Guide for Buyers & Sellers

Adwento Classifieds • Pakistan

Golden Safety Rule: Adwento is a direct classifieds platform connecting buyers and sellers across Pakistan. Always inspect items in person in a safe, daylight public place before paying. Never send advance deposits, token fees, or shipping charges via Easypaisa, JazzCash, or bank transfer to someone you have not met in person.

1. The Four Core Rules of Safe Trading

Following these four fundamental rules will protect you against over 95% of common online marketplace scams in Pakistan:

  1. Meet in a Secure, Public Location: Always arrange meetups during broad daylight in high-footfall public venues—such as shopping malls, bank branches, petrol station forecourts, or reputable coffee shops. Never invite unknown buyers to your residence alone or visit unfamiliar, isolated locations.
  2. Inspect the Item Before Money Changes Hands: Test electronics thoroughly (cameras, screens, ports, battery health). For vehicles, verify physical bodywork and paperwork. For luxury or branded items, verify authenticity before making payment.
  3. Never Pay Advance "Booking" or "Token" Fees: Fraudulent sellers often claim that "many buyers are waiting" and demand an advance token via Easypaisa or JazzCash to hold the item. Genuine sellers will happily meet in person to complete the deal.
  4. Verify Digital Payments Directly in Your Banking App: If a buyer pays through an instant bank transfer, Raast, JazzCash, or Easypaisa, never rely on an SMS notification or a screenshot shown on the buyer's phone. Open your own mobile banking app and confirm that the funds have cleared into your available account balance before releasing the goods.

2. Category-Specific Safety Checklists

Different products require specific precautions. Review our specialized checklists before transacting:

{{-- Vehicles --}}
Cars & Motorbikes
  • Inspect Original Documents: Always demand the original Smart Card, Registration Book, Return File, and original Token Tax receipts.
  • Engine & Chassis Match: Inspect the physical metal plates on the car chassis and engine block to ensure numbers match the documents exactly.
  • Government Portal Verification: Verify vehicle ownership and tax status via official portals: Punjab MTMIS, Sindh Excise, Islamabad Excise, or KPK Excise.
  • CPLC Check (Karachi): Verify with the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) to ensure the vehicle is not snatch-reported or blacklisted.
  • Independent Mechanic: Have a qualified mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, suspension, and accidental history before negotiating price.
{{-- Mobile Phones --}}
Mobile Phones & Tablets
  • PTA DIRBS Approval: Dial *#06# to get the phone's 15-digit IMEI. Send the IMEI via SMS to 8484 or check it on the official PTA DIRBS website to confirm tax approval.
  • IMEI Box Match: Ensure the IMEI printed on the retail box matches the number returned by *#06#.
  • Remove Cloud Locks: Demand that the seller signs out of iCloud, Google Account, or Samsung Knox and performs a complete factory reset in front of you.
  • Hardware Testing: Insert your own SIM card, make a test call, test Wi-Fi, cameras, touchscreen responsiveness, biometric sensors, and charging.
{{-- Real Estate --}}
Property & Rentals
  • Physical Site Visit: Visit the actual plot, house, or commercial unit in person. Never send advance booking deposits for unseen properties.
  • Authority Verification: Verify the original Allotment Letter, Transfer Letter, and NOC directly at the respective housing authority (e.g., CDA, LDA, KDA, DHA, Bahria Town, or local patwari).
  • Owner CNIC Match: Ensure the person selling or renting holds legal title or an authenticated Power of Attorney (Mukhtar Nama) with matching CNIC details.
  • Pay via Account Payee Pay Order: Use verifiable banking instruments (Pay Order / Demand Draft) rather than untraceable cash bags for substantial property payments.
{{-- Jobs & Services --}}
Jobs & Employment
  • Zero Registration Fees: Genuine employers never demand payment for application forms, interviews, training materials, or uniform fees.
  • Realistic Salaries: Beware of advertisements offering Rs. 150,000/month for simple data entry, typing, or part-time phone work.
  • Interview at Physical Offices: Conduct interviews at established corporate offices, not isolated rooms, hotels, or roadside tea stalls.
  • Protect Identity Documents: Do not surrender original educational degrees or CNIC cards to recruiters. Provide photocopies only.

3. Common Scams & Red Flags to Avoid

Scammers often follow recognizable patterns. Be alert if you observe any of the following warning signs:

  • The "Fake Banking SMS" Scam: A buyer shows up, claims to transfer funds via online banking, and you receive an SMS from a regular 11-digit mobile number (e.g., 0300-1234567) formatted to look like a bank alert. Remember: Authentic bank notifications come from verified official alphanumeric header IDs (e.g., HBL, Meezan, JazzCash, Easypaisa), never from standard personal cell numbers. Always check your actual app balance.
  • The "Urgent Military Officer / Diplomat" Scam: A seller posts a vehicle or electronics at an unrealistically cheap price, claiming they are an armed forces officer posted to an airbase or remote border area and cannot meet. They ask you to deposit money with an alleged "military logistics agent" or "courier officer." This is a 100% scam.
  • The "Accidental Overpayment" Scam: A buyer claims to have mistakenly sent Rs. 50,000 instead of Rs. 5,000, sending a forged transfer receipt and begging you to refund the difference via JazzCash immediately. Always verify your bank statement before responding to overpayment claims.
  • Unrealistic Prices: If a brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max or Honda Civic is listed at half of its fair market value, it is either stolen, counterfeit, non-existent, or an upfront bait scam.

4. What to Do If You Encounter a Suspicious Ad

Help us keep Adwento clean and secure for millions of Pakistanis:

  1. Click "Report Listing": Every advertisement page features a prominent report link. Select the reason (fraud, duplicate, prohibited item, scam) and our moderation team will review it.
  2. Cease Communication: Do not argue with or confront suspicious individuals. Block their phone number immediately.
  3. Preserve Evidence: Save screenshots of the advertisement, chat history, mobile numbers, and bank account details provided by the scammer.
  4. Notify Adwento Support: Contact our team via our Contact Us Page or official WhatsApp so we can investigate and suspend the fraudulent account.

5. Legal Recourse: Reporting to the FIA Cyber Crime Wing

If you have suffered financial loss through online fraud, deception, or identity theft, you have legal rights under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA):

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing:
  • Online Complaint Portal: complaint.fia.gov.pk
  • Toll-Free Helpline: 1991
  • Nearest Reporting Center: Visit the Cyber Crime Reporting Center (CCRC) in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, or Sukkur with all transaction receipts and evidence.
Have more questions or need help?

Our dedicated support team is here to assist buyers and sellers across Pakistan.

Contact Support Safety Guide