Stay Safe While You Trade
Practical tips for buyers, sellers, and service providers, so you can trade confidently on Tigule.
Buyer Safety
Protect yourself when making purchases on our platform:
- Always verify seller profiles and reviews
- Ask detailed questions about the item
- Request additional photos if needed
- Use secure payment methods
- Meet in public places for local pickups
Seller Protection
Keep yourself safe while selling your items:
- Verify buyer profiles before meeting
- Meet in well-lit, public locations
- Bring a friend for high-value transactions
- Don't share personal information unnecessarily
- Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, don't proceed
Payment Safety
Use secure payment methods to protect your money:
- Prefer cash for local transactions
- Use mobile money services (Airtel Money, TNM Mpamba)
- Avoid wire transfers to unknown accounts
- Never send money before seeing the item
- Keep receipts of all transactions
Buy/Sell with Tigule Protection
Use Tigule Protection for high–value trades that need verification, escrow, and admin oversight.
- Buyers pay through Tigule so funds stay in escrow until delivery is confirmed.
- Sellers only release an item after Tigule notifies you that payment cleared.
- All chats, verification photos, and dispute evidence must stay inside the Tigule conversation.
- Our protection team can pause or cancel suspicious deals and refund compliant users.
- Boosted listings remain subject to these protection rules—accuracy and proof of ownership are mandatory.
Secure Transaction Link
Have a deal from Facebook, WhatsApp, or outside Tigule? Create a secure link so the buyer pays through Tigule escrow—funds stay protected until delivery is confirmed.
- Use for deals negotiated on social media or any platform
- Share the link with your buyer—they pay safely through Tigule
- Both parties are protected; Tigule holds funds until the buyer confirms receipt
- Perfect for avoiding payment-before-delivery scams
Safe Meetings
Guidelines for safe in-person transactions:
- Meet during daylight hours
- Choose busy, public locations
- Inform someone about your meeting
- Bring a friend for expensive items
- Inspect items thoroughly before payment
Scam Prevention
Watch out for these common red flags:
- Prices that seem too good to be true
- Sellers asking for payment upfront
- Requests to communicate outside the platform
- Pressure to make quick decisions
- Unwillingness to provide additional photos
Report Issues
Help keep our community safe by reporting suspicious activity:
- Report fake listings immediately
- Flag suspicious user behavior
- Contact us about safety concerns
- Share details of any scams encountered
- Help other users by leaving honest reviews
Service Provider & Customer Safety
Important safety guidelines for hiring and providing professional services
Hiring Service Providers Safely
Protect yourself when hiring professionals:
- Check service provider reviews and ratings thoroughly
- Verify qualifications, licenses, and certifications
- Get written quotes before agreeing to work
- Agree on payment terms and timelines upfront
- Ask for references from previous customers
- Ensure they have appropriate insurance (for major work)
- Keep all agreements and receipts for your records
- Never pay the full amount before work begins
- Communicate through the platform when possible
- Report unprofessional or dangerous behavior
Providing Services Safely
Stay safe when offering professional services:
- Meet customers in public places for initial consultations
- Verify customer identity before visiting their property
- Share your work schedule with someone you trust
- Get clear agreements about work scope and payment
- Trust your instincts - decline suspicious requests
- Carry proper identification and credentials
- Use platform messaging for record-keeping
- Set professional boundaries with customers
- Don't work alone in unfamiliar or isolated locations
- Report threatening or inappropriate customer behavior
Service Quality & Standards
Ensure professional service delivery:
- Provide clear descriptions of services offered
- Set realistic expectations about timelines
- Communicate any delays or issues promptly
- Use quality materials and proper techniques
- Complete work to professional standards
- Respect customer property and privacy
- Provide warranties or guarantees when applicable
- Document work with photos (before/after)
- Address customer concerns professionally
- Follow up to ensure customer satisfaction
Handling Service Disputes
Resolve service-related issues properly:
- Attempt direct communication first
- Document all work done and agreements made
- Keep receipts, photos, and message records
- Contact platform support for mediation
- Be willing to negotiate fair solutions
- For major disputes, seek professional assessment
- Leave honest reviews to help other users
- Report fraud or serious violations immediately
- Consider legal action for unresolved major issues
- Learn from the experience to avoid future problems
Looking For, Shops & Messaging
Safety tips for requests, shops, and in-app conversations
Posting Looking For Requests Safely
When posting what you're looking for:
- Don't include personal details (phone, address) in the request
- Use clear descriptions so serious sellers can respond
- Communicate through Tigule messaging before sharing contact info
- Verify respondents' profiles and reviews before meeting
- Meet in public for exchanges; use Tigule Protection for higher-value items
Responding to Looking For Safely
When responding to a Looking For request:
- Check the poster's profile and activity before responding
- Keep conversations on Tigule; don't move to WhatsApp or other apps too soon
- Provide clear details and photos of what you're offering
- Meet in public for handovers; avoid secluded locations
- Use Tigule Protection for high-value transactions
Buying from Shops
Shops have storefronts with ratings and reviews:
- Check shop ratings and read recent reviews before purchasing
- Shops may have multiple listings—verify item details and photos
- Use secure payment methods; prefer Tigule Protection for larger orders
- Contact the shop through Tigule messaging for questions
- Report misleading shop listings or unprofessional behavior
Safe In-App Messaging
Stay safe when chatting on Tigule:
- Keep conversations on Tigule; don't move to external apps until you're comfortable
- Don't share phone, address, or bank details too early
- Be cautious of links—don't click suspicious URLs or enter passwords
- Never send money via channels requested only in chat (e.g., direct transfer before seeing the item)
- Report users who pressure you to go off-platform or share sensitive info
Leaving & Reading Reviews
Honest reviews help the community:
- Leave factual, honest reviews after a transaction
- Read multiple reviews before buying or hiring
- Be wary of accounts with no reviews or only perfect ratings
- Report fake or abusive reviews to support
Event & Ticketing Safety
Secure ticket purchases, safe event hosting, and e-ticket best practices
Event Attendee Safety
Stay safe when purchasing event tickets:
- Verify Event Details: Always check event date, time, venue, and organizer information before purchasing
- Check Organizer Profile: Review organizer's profile, past events, and ratings
- Read Event Description: Ensure the event matches your expectations
- Save Your E-Ticket: Keep your ticket email and QR code safe - tickets are non-transferable
- Arrive Early: Arrive at least 15-30 minutes before event start time
- Bring Valid ID: Some events require ID verification
- Check Refund Policy: Understand the event's refund policy before purchasing
- Report Issues: Contact Tigule support immediately if you encounter problems
- Use Official Channels: Only purchase tickets through Tigule's platform
- Beware of Scams: Never buy tickets from third-party sellers outside Tigule
Event Organizer Safety
Protect yourself and your attendees when hosting events:
- Accurate Information: Provide complete and accurate event details (date, time, venue, description)
- Set Clear Policies: Establish and communicate refund, cancellation, and entry policies clearly
- Validate Tickets: Use Tigule's QR code scanner to validate tickets at entry
- Secure Venue: Ensure your event venue is safe and accessible
- Communicate Changes: Immediately notify all ticket buyers of any event changes or cancellations
- Handle Refunds: Process refunds promptly if event is cancelled or rescheduled
- Protect Attendee Data: Keep attendee information confidential and secure
- Follow Local Laws: Comply with all local regulations regarding event hosting
- Emergency Preparedness: Have emergency contacts and procedures in place
- Document Everything: Keep records of ticket sales, communications, and event execution
E-Ticket Security
Understanding digital ticket security:
- Unique QR Codes: Each ticket has a unique QR code that can only be used once
- No Screenshots: Screenshots of tickets may not be accepted - use the official ticket email
- Track Your Tickets: Access your tickets anytime from "My Tickets" page
- Report Lost Tickets: Contact support immediately if you lose access to your ticket
- Validation Process: Tickets are validated at entry using Tigule's secure scanner
- Non-Transferable: Tickets are tied to the buyer's account and cannot be transferred
- Anti-Fraud Protection: Tigule's system prevents duplicate ticket usage
- Secure Storage: Your ticket data is encrypted and securely stored
Refunds & Cancellations
Understanding refund policies and procedures:
- Organizer's Policy: Each event has its own refund policy - read it before purchasing
- Event Cancellation: If an event is cancelled, organizers must issue full refunds
- Commission Non-Refundable: Tigule's 2% commission is non-refundable even if event is cancelled
- Processing Time: Refunds typically take 5-10 business days to process
- Request Process: Submit refund requests through Tigule's system with your ticket tracking number
- Dispute Resolution: Tigule can mediate refund disputes between organizers and attendees
- Documentation: Keep all ticket purchase confirmations and communications
- Contact Support: Reach out to Tigule support for assistance with refund issues
Important Service Safety Notice
TiguleMarketplace is a platform connecting you with service providers. We do NOT employ these professionals or verify their credentials. Always conduct your own due diligence before hiring anyone.
You are an independent professional. Maintain appropriate licenses, insurance, and qualifications. Follow all applicable laws and regulations for your profession in Malawi.
Need Help Immediately?
If you feel unsafe or encounter suspicious behavior, contact us right away!
Available 24/7 for safety concerns
