Safety

Meet in public

Meet in a busy, well-lit place — a parking lot, a mall, a police station lobby. Tell someone where you are going. Do not invite a stranger to your home for a first meeting, and do not get in their car to “go see the item”.

Inspect before you pay

Look at the item in person. Turn it on, check serial numbers, look for damage the photos missed. For vehicles, take someone who knows engines if you do not. For property, walk the unit and confirm who actually holds the keys.

Payments

BIDSXM never asks you to pay us for a listing, a “buyer protection” fee, or a shipping hold. We do not process cards. If someone claiming to be BIDSXM asks for money, it is a scam — write to info@bidsxm.com.

Prefer cash on handover, or a payment you can prove, after you have seen the item. Do not send deposits to someone you have not met. Do not use gift cards, crypto, or a friend's account because the seller “cannot receive a normal transfer”.

Messages

Keep the first contact on BIDSXM so you have a record. If you move to WhatsApp, remember that chat is no longer on our site — see Privacy. Be wary of anyone who refuses to meet, rushes you, or asks you to switch apps before you have seen the listing details.

Common scams

• An item priced far below market, then a story about why you must pay now.
• A buyer or seller who is “already off-island” and wants a shipping agent or escrow you have never heard of.
• A request to overpay and send the difference back.
• A listing that uses someone else's photos.
• A message that asks for your password, a login code, or a photo of your ID “for verification”.

Report a problem

Email info@bidsxm.com with links and a short description. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on Sint Maarten first. House rules are on House rules.