Bike Hub is a trusted platform to buy and sell all things cycling. Thousands of successful transactions take place each month, but when dealing anywhere online you shouldn’t let your guard down.
You can help us to ensure Bike Hub remains a safe place to buy and sell by reporting suspicious activity.
Top tips
1. Use common sense.
If something sounds too good to be true there’s a good chance it might be. Follow your gut and apply logical reasoning. Don’t be shy to ask questions or request additional photos or information.
2. Use our secure payment service, Bike Hub Pay.
Sellers don’t need to worry about fraudulent payments. Buyers get peace of mind that they’ll get their goods, or their money back. Learn more.
3. Check out the user’s history on Bike Hub.
Does the user have past activity or reviews? Is it a brand new profile? Recent positive ratings or a longer membership duration are usually a good signal of trustworthiness.
4. Investigate the advert
Read our tips to help identify a scam advert here.
Payments
We suggest using Bike Hub Pay for simple, secure payments.
Sellers: We ensure the funds are safely cleared before you part with your goods.
Buyers: We remove the risk of paying upfront in good faith that the seller will deliver.
Find out more here.
Offline payments: Although we recommend using Bike Hub Pay, buyers and sellers may still choose to transact offline via cash or EFT at their own risk. If payment is made in cash be cautious of where you meet someone, particularly if it is a large amount. For EFT payments, be wary of proof of payment emails and SMSes from the buyers bank – these are easy to fake.
Tips for buyers:
Be wary of someone selling an expensive item at a suspiciously low price.
Don’t let the seller rush you to make payment, particularly if they avoid secure payment options like Bike Hub Pay or simply won’t provide bank details in favour of mobile wallets like FNB eWallet or Absa Cash Send.
Don’t send payment via an unfamiliar/uncommon service in South Africa (e.g. Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal)
Watch out for pictures or descriptions that have been copied from other international websites.
Ask for additional information or pictures, especially where they’ve provided little detail in the advert.
Tips for sellers:
Don’t part with your goods until you have confirmed the payment, either via your bank or using Bike Hub Pay.
Don’t accept payment via an unfamiliar/uncommon service in South Africa (e.g. Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal).
Be wary of buyers who don’t ask pertinent questions, e.g. to confirm sizing or the condition / compatibility of goods.
Don't deliver the item before payment is made.
Report suspicious activity
Please help us to ensure Bike Hub remains a safe place to buy and sell by reporting suspicious activity. You can submit a report by:
Clicking on the “Report this ad” button on any advert
Clicking on the “Report” button within a Chat conversation
Clicking on the chat bubble on this page
How to spot a fraudulent advert
Take a look at the tips to spot a scam advert here.