Buying and Selling Safely

• Meet in a public, busy place in daylight; a marina store or a well-lit parking lot works. Bring a friend for big items.
• Inspect the item before money changes hands. For boats and motors, see it run.
• Pay in person. Avoid wiring money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or paying a deposit to hold an item you have not seen.
• Keep the conversation on the site. Be wary of anyone pushing to move to text or email immediately, or whose story keeps changing.
• Trust your instincts. If a deal feels wrong, walk away and report the listing.

• Overpayment: a buyer sends more than the price and asks you to refund the difference; the original payment later bounces.
• Fake confirmations: screenshots or emails that look like a payment app but no money arrived. Check your own app or bank, never the buyer's screenshot.
• Verification codes: anyone asking you to read back a code texted to you is trying to take over an account. Never share codes.
• Shipping-only buyers for local items, and sellers who want a deposit before you see the item.

Smith Lake NOW never asks for payment details by message. Report suspicious accounts from the listing or profile.

Every post, comment, listing, message and profile has a Report option in its menu. Pick the reason and add a note if it helps. The moderation team reviews every report; content that breaks the rules is hidden and repeat offenders lose their accounts. You will not be identified to the person you report.