Sécurité sur sellawine.com

Acheter en sécurité. Vendre en sécurité.

Votre sécurité est notre priorité. Apprenez à vous protéger et à échanger en confiance.

Toujours faire ceci

  • Meet in a public place

    For in-person handovers, always meet in busy, well-lit locations — a wine shop, restaurant, or post office. Never alone in a stranger's home.

  • Cash or trusted payment service

    For in-person handover: cash. For shipping: only use protected payment services (e.g. PayPal "Goods & Services") or an escrow service for high-value bottles.

  • Inspect the bottle before paying

    Check the label, capsule, fill level, and provenance documents. For rare bottles, verify the serial number or auction record. Only pay once everything checks out.

  • Keep communication on the platform

    Message through the sellawine.com inbox as long as possible. The conversation history stays traceable and can be reviewed if a problem arises.

  • Secure your account

    Use a unique, long password. Enable two-factor authentication if available. Log out from shared or public devices after use.

  • Report suspicious activity

    Flag unusual listings, odd requests, or fake payment confirmations via the report button — we investigate every report.

Ne jamais faire ceci

  • No advance payments to strangers

    Never pay via Western Union, MoneyGram, crypto, gift cards, or bank transfer to unknown sellers abroad.

  • Don't share data via email or SMS

    Never send bank details, ID copies, account passwords, or TAN codes via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or phone.

  • Don't share verification codes

    sellawine.com, your bank, and PayPal will NEVER ask for SMS codes, authenticator codes, or passwords. Anyone who asks is trying to scam you.

  • No unknown shipping services

    Be wary of links to unfamiliar shipping or escrow companies that supposedly hold your money. It's almost always a trap.

  • Don't leave the platform to pay

    If a seller or buyer pushes you to WhatsApp, Telegram, or an external website to pay — stop and walk away.

  • No pressure, no rush

    Scammers create urgency: "Other buyers are waiting", "only available now." Legitimate sellers give you time to verify.

Arnaques courantes

What scammers really try.

These scams have appeared in new variations for years. Once you know them, you\'ll recognize them instantly.

The "PayPal Friends & Family" trick

When selling

The buyer asks to send payment as "Friends & Family" — supposedly to save fees. Problem: there's no buyer protection, and the buyer can later reverse the charge via their bank, leaving you with nothing.

Signes d'alerte
  • Buyer insists on "F&F" or "gift"
  • Won't pay through the platform
  • Offers full price immediately without negotiation
Comment vous protéger

Insist on "Goods & Services" or cash on collection. Better to pay 2% in fees than lose 100%.

The fake shipping service

When selling or buying

You receive a link to a supposed "delivery platform" that will hold your money in escrow. The site looks real but is phishing. As soon as you enter credit card or banking details, they're stolen.

Signes d'alerte
  • Unknown shipping or escrow website
  • URL has typos or a strange domain
  • You're asked to "verify" or register a card
Comment vous protéger

Ship only with DHL, DPD, Hermes, Swiss Post, etc. — directly through their official website or branch office.

The counterfeit bottle

When buying

A rare bottle at an unbeatable price. The label looks authentic, but the wine is counterfeit — refilled, relabeled, or a replica. Without provenance documents or original purchase records, you have no recourse.

Signes d'alerte
  • No provenance or purchase history available
  • Label irregularities, poor print quality, misspelled producer name
  • Price well below market value for the vintage
Comment vous protéger

Request provenance documents, original receipts, or auction records. For high-value bottles, use a verified merchant or professional authentication service.

The overpayment scam

When selling

A buyer "accidentally" overpays and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment is later reversed (e.g. stolen card) — you're left with the loss.

Signes d'alerte
  • Payment above the asking price
  • Request for immediate refund
  • Buyer wants urgent resolution
Comment vous protéger

Never send money back until the original payment is 100% credited and non-reversible. When in doubt: ask your bank.

Phishing via SMS or email

When selling or buying

You receive a message that looks like it's from sellawine.com, your bank, or PayPal: "Verify your account", "Confirm the payment." The link leads to a fake login page.

Signes d'alerte
  • Sender address is strange or slightly off
  • Urgency ("act now or your account will be blocked")
  • Unusual request to enter credentials
Comment vous protéger

Don't click links from emails or SMS. Always open platforms directly in your browser and log in there.

The "courier picks up" trick

When selling

A buyer abroad wants your bottle and sends "their own courier." You're asked to pay shipping or insurance fees upfront — which you'll never see again.

Signes d'alerte
  • Buyer abroad buys without inspection
  • You're asked to front shipping costs
  • Communication only by email, poor language
Comment vous protéger

Don't front anything. For valuable bottles: hand over in person or use an established, insured shipping service that the buyer pays directly.

Checklists

Vérifier avant chaque transaction.

Two simple lists for more safety. Print, screenshot, or just keep them in mind.

Pour l'achat

  • Reviewed the seller's profile (ratings, member since, other listings)
  • Checked bottle photos carefully — label, capsule, fill level
  • Requested provenance documents or original receipts for rare bottles
  • Asked questions through the platform inbox
  • Agreed on a public meeting place or insured shipping
  • Inspected the bottle before paying and noted serial numbers
  • Paid with cash or PayPal "Goods & Services"

Pour la vente

  • Created clear photos and an honest description
  • Checked the buyer's profile and history
  • Did not share personal data (address, ID card)
  • Only accepted payment once visible on your own account
  • Shipped only via official, trackable carriers
  • Wrote a receipt or handover protocol for valuable bottles
  • Reported suspicious inquiries via the report button
En cas de problème

Que faire si vous êtes arnaqué.

01

Secure evidence

Screenshot all messages, the listing page, the other party\'s profile, emails and payment receipts as evidence.

02

Report the listing

Via the report button on sellawine.com or through our contact form — we investigate and block fraudulent accounts.

03

Contact your bank

For transfers, call your bank immediately and try to reverse the payment. The faster, the better.

04

File a report

File a police report online or at the nearest station. With evidence, it takes just a few minutes.

Dans le doute : ne concluez pas la transaction.

If something feels off, it usually is. Better to miss a deal than fall for a scam. sellawine.com is big enough — the next buyer or seller will come.