Safe buying: how to avoid scams

Maszbox.pl connects sellers with buyers, but it does not handle payments or sign agreements. So before you pay an advance or earnest money, check the seller and what you are buying. Scammers most often list someone else's or non-existent flats, plots and garages at a bargain price.

Warning signs

  • The seller wants an advance or earnest money for a “reservation” before you have seen the offer and signed an agreement.
  • The price is clearly lower than for similar listings in the same area.
  • They cannot show the offer or meet in person because they are abroad, and they want to arrange everything through an intermediary or a courier.
  • They send a link to a “secure transaction”, an escrow or a payment through a supposed intermediary.
  • They rush you, saying other buyers are interested and you have to decide right away.
  • For real estate, they will not give the land register number, or the register does not match what they say.

Before you pay

  • See the offer in person and check that it matches the photos and the description.
  • For real estate, ask for the land and mortgage register number and check it free of charge in the Ministry of Justice online land registers. See who the owner is and whether the property is burdened with a mortgage.
  • Compare the seller's details with their ID and with the land register or the notarial deed. If an attorney acts for the owner, ask for the power of attorney and check its scope.
  • Pay earnest money only after signing a preliminary agreement, by bank transfer to the owner's account, never through a link sent in a message.
  • The agreement transferring ownership of real estate is concluded before a notary, and you can pay the rest of the price through a notarial deposit. A container or a metal garage is bought with an ordinary sale agreement, so pay on collection, after checking its condition.

What we do on our side

We do not accept payments for purchases and we do not send payment or “secure transaction” links on behalf of sellers. We remove website addresses from listing descriptions so that nobody can direct you to fake payment pages. You can report any listing with the “Report” button on its page, and we review reported listings and remove those that break the terms of service.

If you have been scammed

Contact your bank straight away, because a quick reaction gives a chance to stop the transfer. Report it to the police and keep the evidence: messages, transfer confirmations and the listing address. Report the listing with the “Report” button too, so the scammer cannot mislead other people. You can pass suspicious websites and messages to CERT Polska through the form at incydent.cert.pl.

Questions and Answers