Scholar Swap Safety tips

It should be noted that the overwhelming majority of Scholar Swap users are trustworthy and well-intentioned. The idea of this site is to help bring together a local school community.

That being said, it is important to remember to follow simple, common sense guidelines to keep yourself and others safe:

Personal Safety tips:

Here are some safety tips to help you be safe while using the site and making a trade:

  • Use the site's features properly:
    • Do not post personal information on an offer.
    • Only use the secure messaging system to schedule a swap with another user.
    • Report appropriately.
  • Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe or school building with people around.
  • Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home or dorm.
    • Remember to follow dorm rules about who is allowed in certain dorms.
  • When you are going to meet someone, be sure to let others know where you are going and when they should expect you back.
    • Try to bring a friend along with you
  • If you have a cell phone, take it with you with a full charge.
  • Trust yourself. If things seem 'fishy', be more cautious.

By following these tips it makes the whole site a safer place.

Here are some more resources on staying safe online:
Stay Safe Online (http://www.staysafeonline.org/)
On Guard Online (http://www.onguardonline.gov/)
Get Safe Online (http://getsafeonline.org)
Wired Safety (http://wiredsafety.org)
Please also review the other tabs on this page to see more about keeping your experience on this site a positive one.

Avoiding Scams
Reporting a scam

Here are some tips to help avoid scams:

  • Do not pay anyone who you have not met in person
  • Beware of offers that involve shipping or a third party- meet face to face.
  • Don't accept money orders or cashier's checks
  • Never give away financial information
  • Be sure to see the item before finalizing the trade
  • Don't agree to any background or credit checks until you have met the person

Recognizing a Scam:

These are a few common signs a scam might show:

  • Contact from someone outside of your area
  • A vague initial inquiry (asking about 'the item')
  • Poor grammar or spelling
  • Western Union, Money Gram, cashier check, money order, paypal, shipping, escrow service, or 'guarantee'
  • Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face to complete the transaction.

How should I report a scam?

The United States:

Canada:

If you are defrauded by someone you met in person, contact your local police department.

If you suspect that a posting on Scholar Swap may be connected to a scam, please send us the details. You can also flag the offending offer on the offer search page.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited from all offers due to their nature and the issues that can arise from them (please note that this is a partial list and remember that you need to follow local laws and rules prohibiting the sale, transference, and ownership of other items):

  • weapons; firearms/guns and components; BB/pellet, stun, and spear guns; etc
  • ammunition, clips, cartridges, reloading materials, gunpowder, fireworks, explosives
  • recalled items
  • hazardous materials
  • body parts/fluids
  • un-sanitized bedding/clothing
  • prescription drugs, medical devices
  • controlled substances and related items
  • alcohol or tobacco
  • un-packaged or adulterated food or cosmetics
  • anything of a sexual nature or solicitation of illegal prostitution
  • pet sales
  • false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent content; bait and switch; keyword spam
  • offensive, obscene, defamatory, threatening, or malicious postings
  • anyone’s personal, identifying, confidential or proprietary information
  • food stamps, WIC vouchers, SNAP or WIC goods, governmental assistance
  • stolen property, property with serial number removed/altered
  • burglary tools, etc
  • ID cards, licenses, police insignia, government documents, birth certificates, etc
  • US military items not demilitarized in accord with Defense Department policy
  • counterfeit, replica, or pirated items; tickets or gift cards that restrict transfer
  • lottery or raffle tickets, sweepstakes entries, slot machines, gambling items
  • spam; miscategorized, overposted, cross-posted, or nonlocal content
  • postings or email the primary purpose of which is to drive traffic to a website
  • postings or email offering, promoting, or linking to unsolicited products or services
  • affiliate marketing; network, or multi-level marketing; pyramid schemes
  • any good, service, or content that violates the law or legal rights of others

If you see an offer for an item you think might be against these rules, you can flag it and it will be reviewed.