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Most transactions on Phirly go smoothly. These tips help you avoid the ones that don't.
Choose a well-lit, busy location for all in-person transactions — a mall entrance, a busy café, a market, or the lobby of a commercial building. Police station parking lots are also popular safe-exchange spots in many Indian cities. Avoid meeting at your home or the seller's home for a first transaction.
Always examine the item in person before handing over any money. Test electronics, check for damage, verify serial numbers, and confirm the item matches what was listed. A legitimate seller will not mind you taking a few minutes to inspect.
Be very cautious about paying before you have seen the item, especially for high-value goods. A common scam is asking for a "token amount" or "booking deposit" and then going silent. If the seller insists on advance payment and refuses to meet locally, treat this as a red flag.
If you are the seller, do not release an item based on a screenshot alone. Confirm the payment has actually arrived in your bank account or UPI app before handing anything over. Fake UPI success screenshots are a well-documented scam in India — always verify the balance, not just the notification.
No legitimate buyer, seller, or Phirly team member will ever ask for your OTP. An OTP is personal and one-time — sharing it gives the recipient access to your account or bank. End the conversation immediately if someone asks for it.
Before meeting, look at the seller's profile — how many listings they have, how long they have been active, and whether they have positive reviews from previous transactions. A brand new account with an unusually low price can be a warning sign.
If a seller sends you a link outside the platform — for payment, for "verification", or to see more photos — be cautious. Phishing links can steal your credentials or initiate unauthorised bank transactions. When in doubt, do not click.
Phirly is designed for local deals. Transactions with sellers or buyers in the same city are significantly safer because you can meet in person. Be extra cautious with requests that involve shipping to another city — that is when advance payments and non-delivery scams are most common.
For expensive items like phones, laptops, or jewellery, ask the seller to do a short video call showing the item before you travel to meet them. This confirms the item exists and is as described, and that you are talking to a real person, not a stolen-photo scammer.
For large transactions or when meeting someone for the first time, bring a friend or tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting. Share the seller's profile link or contact details with a trusted person before you go.
If something feels wrong — the price is too good, the seller is evasive, the communication seems scripted — stop the transaction. You can always walk away. Report suspicious listings or users through our Report Abuse page so we can investigate and protect other users.
If you have been scammed or feel unsafe, your first step is to contact the police. Call 112 (emergency) or 1930 (India's national cybercrime helpline) and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Keep all evidence — screenshots, transaction IDs, and chat history.
Then submit a report to us through the Help & Support portal so we can remove the listing or account. We cooperate with law enforcement when required.