Buying and selling safely with Cash on Delivery

Cash on Delivery is the default in Pakistan for a good reason: nobody pays before they have seen the item. It removes most of the risk, but not all of it. These are the habits that keep both sides safe.

Inspect before money changes hands

That is the entire point of COD. Open the box, switch the device on, start the engine, check the item matches the listing photos. A seller confident in what they are selling will expect this. One who rushes you is telling you something.

Meet in public for anything valuable

A busy market, a shopping centre, or outside a bank. Daylight. Bring someone with you for high-value items. Never invite a stranger to your home for a first meeting, and never go alone to an unfamiliar address.

Never share an OTP

No genuine buyer, seller, courier or bank employee ever needs a one-time password from your phone. Anyone asking for one is trying to take over an account or authorise a transaction. There is no exception to this rule.

Do not send advance payment

The most common scam in this market is a seller with an unusually low price who needs a deposit "to hold the item" or "for delivery charges". Once sent, the money is gone and the account disappears. If a deal requires money before you see anything, walk away.

Warning signs

A price far below the market. Pressure to decide immediately. A request to move the conversation off-platform before agreeing anything. Refusal to provide extra photos or a video call. A brand-new account with no history. Any one of these deserves caution; two together mean stop.

Reporting

Every listing, live show and profile has a report button. Reports are reviewed and repeat offenders are banned — bans kill their sessions and cancel their active listings. Reporting a suspicious listing protects the next person as much as you.

Common questions

Is Cash on Delivery safe in Pakistan?

It is the safest common option, because you inspect the item before paying. The main risks are meeting in unsafe places and being pressured into advance payment — both avoidable.

Should I ever pay in advance?

No. If a seller requires payment before you see the item, treat it as a scam regardless of the explanation.

Someone asked for my OTP — is that normal?

Never. No buyer, seller, courier or bank needs an OTP from your phone. It is always an attempt at fraud.

How do I report a suspicious listing?

Use the report button on the listing, live show or profile. Reports are reviewed and repeat offenders are banned.

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