Section 01Before you meet
The strongest safety tool is patience. Ten minutes of pre-check catches most scam patterns.
- Check seller verification status and last 5 reviews, not just star average.
- Ask listing-specific details that only a real owner can answer.
- Confirm meetup details in platform chat to keep moderation traceability.
- For property, ask for document preview before scheduling inspection.
- If anything feels rushed or vague, pause and verify again.
Meet in public, prefer daylight, and bring someone for medium/high-value deals.
White Beach · Blue Water de Santorini frontageBusy public beachfront meetup point in daytime hours.
Muelle Pier front gatePublic and busy area close to local police kiosk.
Sabang police outpost lobbyRecommended for higher-value deals and paperwork handover.
White Beach tourism centerGood daytime fallback for moderate-value transactions.
Do- Test item fully before payment.
- Share your location with a trusted contact.
- Document transaction timeline in chat.
Don't- Meet alone at private residences.
- Carry visible cash for high-value deals.
- Skip inspection because of time pressure.
Never pay before inspection. Match payment method to deal size.
Deal size
Recommended payment
Why
Under ₱2,500
Cash on inspection
Fast, no fees, low risk.
₱2.5K - ₱25K
Cash or GCash after handover
GCash leaves a clear receipt trail.
₱25K - ₱100K
Bank transfer with receipt
Bank logs provide timestamp and proof.
₱100K - ₱500K
Bank + formal handover flow
Higher amount needs stricter process.
Over ₱500K
Formal legal workflow required
Property/vehicle scale requires paperwork and verification.
Section 04Property and vehicles paperwork
High-value deals fail on missing paperwork, not price negotiation.
For property- Original title / tax declaration consistency
- Current-year tax clearance
- Seller identity matches legal papers
- Barangay clearance and lot survey plan
For vehicles- OR/CR and chassis or engine number match
- Notarized deed of sale
- Valid seller ID and signatures
- Current registration and insurance papers
If you detect multiple warning signals in one conversation, stop and report.
CRITICAL"Send GCash now to hold it" without a meeting first.
Legit sellers in Puerto Galera allow in-person inspection before payment.
CRITICALRequests OTP, PIN, or banking verification codes.
No legitimate seller or GaleraHub staff will ask for these.
HIGHPrice is far below market and pressure is immediate.
Often stolen goods, fake listing, or bait-and-switch pattern.
HIGHRefuses public meetup points and pushes private location only.
Public location refusal is a common scam signal.
MEDIUMNo review history and only stock-like photos.
Could be genuine new seller, but verify much more carefully.
MEDIUMInsists on moving chat off-platform immediately.
Scam operators avoid moderated channels whenever possible.
Section 06If something goes wrong
1Open report flow from listing or message thread and submit evidence.
2Trust & Safety reviews cases quickly, usually within 4 business hours.
3If risk is urgent, call hotline and local authorities immediately.
Safety guide last updated
May 8, 2026. Reviewed quarterly by the GaleraHub trust and safety team.