Even though 99.8% of transactions on the Delcampe website are completed successfully, it is better to be safe than sorry. That is why we are writing this short reminder to help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.
The first line of defence against scam attempts is your vigilance!
First and foremost, avoid contact by email and use Delcampe’s secure messaging service. Our interface allows you to complete the entire transaction with complete peace of mind without having to communicate via emails outside the website. This messaging service is yours and ensures that you are communicating with the right person!
Be supportive of other website members: if you detect a suspicious item or an attempt to scam, please report it to us via the “Report this item” link on each item page. This will help us keep the site as clean as possible and close the accounts of malicious users.
As a buyer, we also recommend the following specific tips:
- Be very cautious when buying from a new seller with few or no reviews. You can find the date a seller registered on their profile page by clicking on their username. Also be wary of “very new” sellers who have received numerous reviews in just a few days. It takes a little time for a transaction to be completed, for the seller to receive payment, to ship the items and for them to be received by the buyer. A seller who has received reviews the day after or two days after registering may therefore be suspicious.
- Be wary of prices that are too attractive (especially from new sellers). Collectors and dealers know the value of items. If an item is offered to you at a ridiculous price or well below its real value, it may be an attempt to scam you.
- Do not rush to send payment to a new seller. We regularly check new accounts and sometimes receive reports that lead us to close suspicious accounts quickly. Remember that, according to the Delcampe Charter, a buyer has 14 days after receiving the invoice to send payment.
- Be very cautious about payment requests sent to you by email outside the Delcampe website that include a request for direct payment by bank transfer. As mentioned above, verify the identity of your seller using the website’s messaging service. Furthermore, paying for a purchase outside the website means you will not be eligible for any assistance from Delcampe. We therefore encourage you to go to the “Buy” menu and then “My purchases” to pay for your transactions.
Thank you for reading these tips. We hope you will continue to make secure transactions on www.delcampe.net, the collectors’ marketplace.
