Buyer's guide

Most transactions on bănuț.md go smoothly. But every online marketplace has scammers too — this guide shows you how to spot them in the first message and how to buy with confidence.

Before contacting the seller

Check the phone and account age

Every listing on bănuț.md is from an account with a phone verified via Telegram (or manually by moderators). The "Verified" badge appears on cards and on the seller's page. If it's missing, the listing is probably in moderation queue — wait for approval.

Check the "AI fair price" indicator

On every listing's page there's a small indicator: below average · average · above average. Computed from similar active listings in the past month. A 2× below-average price for a new iPhone is a red flag, not a bargain.

Ask 2-3 specific questions

For cars: real mileage confirmed via service book, accident history, previous owner. For real estate: clean paperwork, recent photos (ask for a photo with a dated newspaper). For electronics: tax receipt, IMEI/serial, repair history. A serious seller answers without getting upset; a scammer disappears.

During the transaction

See the item before paying

Golden rule for Moldova: never pay in advance before seeing the item. If the seller insists ("send 500 lei to reserve the item"), say no and report. bănuț.md does not intermediate payments.

Meet in a public place

For items under 10,000 MDL, meet at a mall, gas station, McDonald's — places with cameras. For large amounts (cars, real estate), meet at a notary or bank where you can pay and transfer paperwork at once.

Check cash before leaving

If receiving cash, count it fully before handing over the item. Counterfeit banknotes circulate in Moldova — if in doubt, go to a nearby bank and ask for verification.

Universal red flags

• "I'll ship via courier" without meeting — usually tied to advance-payment requests.
• Photos identical to other Google listings (reverse-image search — if it appears on 5 sites, it's stolen).
• Price 2× below market — scammers set impossibly good prices to lure.
• Foreign accent / poor Russian from a seller claiming to be from Moldova.
• Time pressure — "today only, until tonight" = manipulation.

What to do if something goes wrong

If you've been scammed:

1. Report the listing on-site using the "Report" button (under the listing) — our team checks within hours.
2. Write to ajutor@banut.md with all details + screenshots of the messages.
3. If money was transferred, file a complaint with the Moldova Cyber Police — they have a unit specialized in online fraud.

More details in the FAQ or write to us directly — we reply personally to every email.