Safety on SwapMate

Your safety matters.

SwapMate is designed for fair, money-free exchanges between people. While we want swapping to be fun and community-focused, it’s important to take sensible precautions when communicating with other members and arranging a swap.

Basic safety rules

• Never send money to another member as part of a swap.
• Never share passwords, bank details or sensitive personal documents.
• Protect your personal information and avoid sharing your full home address publicly.
• Meet in a public place where possible, particularly when meeting someone for the first time.
• Tell someone you trust where you’re going and who you’re meeting.
• Consider taking someone with you when collecting or exchanging larger items.
• Check items before completing the exchange and make sure they are as described.
• Be clear about what each person is offering before agreeing to a swap.
• Don’t feel pressured to complete a swap if something doesn’t feel right.
• Report suspicious, abusive or potentially fraudulent behaviour to SwapMate.

Before you swap

Take a moment to agree the details before meeting or exchanging anything.

Make sure you both understand:

• What is being offered.
• What is being requested in return.
• Where and when the exchange will take place.
• The condition of any items being exchanged.
• Any important limitations, faults or other relevant details.

Keeping these details within SwapMate’s messaging system where possible can also help keep a clear record of what was agreed.

When meeting someone

Use your common sense and trust your instincts.

For your first meeting, consider choosing a busy public location during daylight hours. If someone is collecting an item from your home, you may wish to have another person with you.

If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you do not have to go ahead with the swap.

Your safety is more important than completing a deal.

Be particularly careful with high-value items

If a swap involves something expensive, valuable or difficult to replace, take extra care.

Ask questions, check the item’s condition and make sure you are comfortable with the exchange before handing anything over.

For vehicles, tickets, event entries and other items that may have ownership or transfer restrictions, make sure the exchange is permitted and that any necessary paperwork or transfer requirements are followed.

Keep children and vulnerable people safe

If a swap involves childcare, care, transport, work with children or support for a vulnerable person, take appropriate precautions and make sure you are comfortable with the arrangements.

Never share unnecessary personal information about children or vulnerable people in a public listing.

Something doesn’t feel right?

Trust your instincts.

If a member asks you to move a conversation off the platform, requests money, asks for sensitive information, pressures you to act quickly, or behaves in a way that makes you uncomfortable, stop and think before continuing.

You can choose not to proceed and report the listing or member to SwapMate.

Remember

SwapMate brings people together, but you are responsible for deciding whether a particular swap is right and safe for you.

Be sensible. Be respectful. Trust your instincts. And look out for one another.