SUOOG is a direct, peer-to-peer classifieds platform — that means a few smart habits make a big difference. Six practices for you, plus the platform-level protections we run, keep every transaction safe.
Choose a well-lit, high-traffic location: a mall, coffee shop, or transit hub. Many Canadian police stations offer designated Safe Exchange Zones with cameras.
Always examine the item. Power on electronics, check serial numbers, test functions. A legitimate seller will never rush you through an inspection.
We recommend cash or Interac e-Transfer, sent in person after inspection. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or crypto.
SUOOG staff will never ask for your password or verification codes. Be wary of links in email or SMS asking you to "log in to receive a payment".
If a deal feels off, pressure-tactics are used, or someone wants to move the chat to an unverified platform, walk away. Fraudsters use urgency to bypass your judgment.
For electronics, jewelry, or other high-value items over $1,000, bring someone with you. For high-value transactions, verify the item in person and ensure secure payment methods are used.
Sellers can choose to verify their identity for a one-time fee via Stripe Identity (government ID + selfie match). A verified seller earns a blue checkmark on every listing they post. Treat it as one signal, not a guarantee — the badge only confirms a real identity at the moment it was granted; it does not guarantee that the item or the transaction will be safe. Always inspect in person and use a safe payment method. If we receive a credible abuse report we can revoke the badge at our discretion.
A seller’s phone number is hidden until a logged-in buyer with a verified phone number and an address on file (the same requirements as posting) taps Text Seller (which hands the number straight to the buyer’s own messaging app) or clicks Reveal Phone Number. The number is never embedded in the listing HTML and cannot be scraped by automated tools. To further deter harvesting, both buttons draw from the same limit: each account can reveal up to 30 seller numbers per hour; the counter resets at the top of every clock hour. If you genuinely need to reach more sellers, wait until the next hour and the limit lifts automatically.
Every successful password change — whether via Account Settings or the Forgot Password reset flow — triggers an automated email to your address confirming the change. If you ever receive one without having changed your password yourself, your account may be compromised. Reset it immediately via Forgot Password and email us at contact@suoog.ca.
Every listing is automatically screened — its text and photos are checked for contact details, prohibited items, and inappropriate images — before it goes live. Every edit — including edits that only add a paid add-on like Urgent Badge or Shop Icon — sends the listing back through moderation as Pending, so a bait-and-switch edit after the original approval can never reach the public feed without a fresh review. The remaining visibility days are preserved across the re-review.
Your reports keep the community safe. We review every report and remove fraudulent listings or accounts within hours. Being harassed by a seller or buyer after a phone reveal? Save the messages, screenshot the listing URL, and forward both to us — we can suspend the offending account and revoke their verified status. For criminal fraud also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — 1‑888‑495‑8501.