Avoiding fraud in online deals: 8 warning signs

Buying a flat: how to check the documents

For most people a flat is the largest purchase of their life. It is also where a mistake costs the most: the money does not come back and court cases run for years. Here is what to check before signing.

1. Who owns the property

The cadastre document is the main one. The name on it must match the seller's passport. Ask for the original, not a copy.

A flat may have several owners. In that case all of them must consent — if one does not, the deal can be overturned later.

2. How it was acquired

Ask how the seller obtained the flat: bought, inherited, or received as a gift.

Inheritance demands the most caution: other heirs can appear. If less than three years have passed since it was inherited, show the papers to a lawyer.

3. Who is registered there

People registered at the address can remain after the sale. Especially:

• minors;
• people temporarily deregistered who retain the right to return.

Put a clause in the contract — «the seller deregisters everyone by this date» — and tie part of the payment to it.

4. Liens and restrictions

The flat may be mortgaged or under seizure. Buying one means buying a problem rather than a home. Restrictions can be checked on the state services portal.

5. Debts

Utilities, gas, electricity, internet — record the position on the day of signing. Formally the debt stays with the previous owner, but collection starts with you.

6. Alterations

If a wall was removed or a balcony joined to a room — is it reflected in the documents? Unregistered alterations become your problem, and the fine is issued to you.

7. How payment is made

Pay after registration, or through a bank safe deposit box or letter of credit. «Money first, documents later» is where most losses happen.

On lawyers

A lawyer costs around 0.5% of the flat's price. That is insurance. If even one of the seven points above is unclear, do not decide alone.

How to write a listing that sells: title, photos and price

The same item sells in a week in one listing and sits for two months in another. The difference is usually not the item — it is the listing. Three things below: title, photos and price.

Photos are 80% of the listing

Buyers look at the photo first and read the text second. Most listings lose right here.

• Shoot in daylight, near a window. Lamp light distorts colour and flash creates glare.
• Clear the background. Dishes, scattered items, other people — all of it distracts.
• Add 6–10 photos. A single photo suggests you are hiding something.
• Photograph the defect too. It sounds odd but it works: the buyer trusts you and there is no argument at the meeting.
• The first photo is the best one. Only that one appears in the list.

Title — so you get found

People do not search for «phone», they search for a specific model. The title should carry:

• full make and model («iPhone 13 128GB», «Chevrolet Cobalt 2019»);
• condition or a key feature («mint condition», «one owner»);
• the district, if location matters.

What you do not need: «CHEAP!!!», «URGENT», rows of exclamation marks. They do not add trust — they remove it.

Description — answer questions before they are asked

A good description answers the buyer's questions in advance. Every question lengthens the exchange, and half of people leave before you reply.

• How long was it used / how old is it?
• Why are you selling? (almost always asked)
• Any defects? Say so plainly.
• What is included — box, documents, charger?
• Where and when can it be seen?

Price

Before setting a price, look at 5–10 similar listings. Two mistakes dominate:

• Too high. The listing sits for months, you lower it anyway — but by then it is «old» and nobody opens it.
• Too low. Buyers assume there is a hidden defect.

Where haggling is normal, build in 5–10% — but not double the market price.

And finally: response speed

A seller who replies a day later has already lost the buyer. Check messages several times a day — it does more than cutting the price.

Buying a used phone: what to check in 10 minutes

Phones are the most traded second-hand electronics — and where most of the cheating happens. The good news: checking one is far easier than checking a car, and 10 minutes is enough. The bad news: most buyers skip it.

1. IMEI — first and most important

Dial *#06# and the IMEI appears on screen. Compare it with the number on the box and in the phone's settings. If all three do not match, walk away.

Also check the IMEI against stolen-device databases. A blacklisted phone eventually becomes a brick.

2. Is it removed from the account

For iPhone this is decisive: Find My iPhone must be off and the Apple ID signed out. Otherwise the phone stays tied to someone else's account.

Android is the same — confirm the Google account has been removed. If the seller says «I'll remove it later», do not pay.

3. Battery health

iPhone: Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80% means a replacement is coming soon, and that should be reflected in the price.

On Android the figure is not always exposed — in that case use the phone for 10 minutes and watch how much charge drops.

4. Screen

• Open a white background — stains, yellowing, «shadows»?
• Open a black one — bright dots or dead pixels?
• Run a finger across every corner — there should be no dead zones.
• A replaced screen usually sits slightly proud of the frame or differs in colour.

5. Moisture indicator

There is a small indicator inside the SIM slot. It should be white or silver. If it has turned red, the phone has been in water, and such a device can fail at any moment.

6. The rest — a quick pass

• Both cameras — take a photo and a video.
• Speaker and microphone — call someone.
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SIM — do all three connect?
• Fingerprint or face unlock — add your own.
• Charging port — plug the cable in and wiggle it gently.

About the price

Used phone prices vary by 30–40% depending on condition. A handset with 78% battery health and a replaced screen should cost noticeably less than a clean one. Checking is not only safety — it is your basis for negotiating.