Safety Rules

The Place Website allows people to connect and to meet for social or business purposes by using a smartphone and the internet.

The validity of content on users profiles is not checked, confirmed, verified or guaranteed in any way by the Place Website. We make no promise that the information on users profiles is truthful and it is your responsibility to satisfy yourself in this regard at your own risk.

You should take great care about your personal safety when meeting people through the internet and including via the Place Website.

For social connections, meet people in a public place and have a friend who can protect you accompany you to the meeting, and repeat this for all subsequent meetings. Do not meet people in secluded areas. Do not meet people in your home or in a location that you do not know. Do not get into vehicles with people you do not know.

For business meetings follow the same Websiteroach as above, meet in a public place and have a friend or family member accompany you to the meeting and all subsequent meetings.

If the meeting is for trades or other services in your home then you must take even greater care, be accompanied by at least one friend, neighbour or family member who can protect you and tell other people that you will be having a visitor and who they are.

If the meeting is for services in an office or other business premise have a colleague or friend who can protect you accompany you to the meeting and repeat this for all subsequent meetings. Do not meet people in secluded locations.

Before a social meeting check to see if the person is on other social networking sites like Facebook, do an internet search to see if there are other records of the person online.

If the meeting is for business, check the individual as above plus check online for information and reviews about the business, but be aware that some reviews may not be genuine. Most trades and services including but not limited to financial services, healthcare services, gas and electrical services must be authorised and registered by a government appointed professional body. Check that the business and the representative are duly registered.

Most people using the internet are honest about the information they provide. But there are exceptions and you need to know how to keep yourself and your finances protected while meeting people or doing business online.

When creating your profile protect your identity and personal information

Choose a username that doesn’t reveal who you are. Do not include your surname or any other identifying information such as your place of work either in your profile or when you first make contact.

Sexual, provocative or controversial usernames could attract the wrong kind of attention.

Keep contact details private. Do not include your contact information such as your email address, home address, or phone number in your profile or initial communications.

Stop communicating with anyone who attempts to pressure you into providing your personal or financial information or who seems to be trying to trick you into providing it. If this happens contact the Website provider immediately to not only protect yourself but other users too.

Password & Security

Be careful when accessing your account from a public or shared computer so that others can't view or record your password or personal information.

Be wary of opening email attachments from someone you have only just met.

Ensure that you keep your internet security software up to date.

Be Responsible and do your own Research

Place Website does not check backgrounds of users or verify the information they provide. We do not check criminal records of users. A person can also become a problem without having a record. Do your own research to learn more about someone and make informed decisions before you decide to meet.

End the meeting if it is not going well

For social contacts, cut a meeting short if you are not keen. You do not owe the other person anything, no matter how long you have been chatting or what has been suggested.

Report

Any act of violence or abuse should be reported to your local police. If you have been the victim of actual or attempted fraud, report it to the police. If you’re assaulted, raped or sexually assaulted, help is available from the authorities. No matter what the circumstances, sexual activity against your will is a crime. Police and organisations exist to help and support you.

Hiring tradespeople

Make sure companies or individuals you deal with are well-established. Check to see if they are members of a professional body or trade association.

Ask friends or family for their recommendations on tradespeople they have used

Search online reviews of the tradesman on social media or discussion forums, but be aware that some reviews may not be genuine

Try to check their track record and ask for references from previous clients – call the clients to confirm references and if possible, visit them to see the work done

If they have given you a mobile number, check that they have a landline number and a street address

Check if they are covered for damage to your property, or if your own home insurance policy includes this

Carry out the relevant checks to ensure the caller is trustworthy. There is a chance they could be phony so don’t be pressurised into buying on the spot, even if they offer you a very good deal.

Check what are your consumer rights.

Most professionals will give you a ‘no obligation’ quote before you hire them, however some may charge for giving you a quotation so make sure you ask first.

Look for several quotes from different tradespeople. Remember that the cheapest quote does not necessarily mean the best value or quality work. If possible, ask for examples of previous work.

Look for quotes instead of estimates: An estimate is an educated guess with no legal standing, and the price could go up during the job. A written quote is binding as long as you don’t make changes to the job’s requirements.

Look for as much detail as possible in the quote. Get a breakdown for the proposed work to be done and ask for the quote to include VAT or other taxes.

Always use a contract when hiring a tradesman or builder as it protects you. Never sign any contract offered to you by a company without reading it carefully, including the terms and conditions or small print.

Make sure you have a clear agreement in writing before the contractor starts the building work or repairs. The agreement should describe what they will be supplying and the payment schedule.

For larger jobs in particular, you could consider getting the contract checked out by a lawyer. Although this may cost you, it could be a small price to pay to ensure that you are protected if things go wrong.

Check the contract to see if you have the right to cancel the agreement. This is known as a ‘cooling off’ period and usually lasts for a specific time frame.

Avoiding Scammers

People are not always what they seem. Social networks and other internet services are targeted by scammers. Scammers are only interested in taking your money. Here are a few examples of common scammer behaviours to watch out for and report:

1. Declarations of love - If someone you are in contact with starts declaring their love for you within a matter of weeks or even days or hours, be cautious. You need to know someone to come to love them. Instant messages of love could be someone trying to get right into your life, possibly for all the wrong reasons. Use common sense and don not be afraid to speak to a friend to get a second opinion.
2. Requests for money - This really should send alarm bells ringing whatever the form the request comes in. Scammers will look to gain your sympathy with the stories they tell.
3. Someone offering you money - These are always scams, as are get rich quick schemes. The only one trying to get rich quick is the scammer as he or she fishes for your bank details or other financial information.
4. Threats and blackmail - Some scammers have tried to threaten money out of people for not showing pictures, webcam footage or messages that they have managed to get out of users online.

More advice for avoiding scammers

- Never ever respond to a request for money.

- Never give out bank account or other details.

- Beware of the sob story - someone telling you how much they want to visit you but need a loan to pay for the ticket/visas. Or stories about a desperately ill family member who needs help with medical expenses.

- The same goes for fantastic too good to be true business deal they are in on – if only they had some extra up-front money.

- Watch out for those profiles that immediately tug on heart strings – supposed ex-serviceman or woman, or those who claim to be recently widowed to gain your trust and sympathy.

- Do not let the passing of time cloud your judgment. These sorts of pitches may take time to come out in messages, time in which you may very well have come to trust and value a relationship with your online contact. That does not make them any less of a lie.

- Our same warning goes for pleas of urgency – about money needed at short notice. Someone asking you to use a wire service to get money to them is up to no good.

- Be wary of long distance and overseas relationships: They can happen but it is an unlikely way for a relationship to start offline so be wary online.

- Notice if a contact seems out of touch or out of kilter: people offering foreign numbers for contact, people who want or need to send messages at unusual hours.

- Be wary if someone seems vague in their communication about their interests, or may often repeat things or seem disconnected. They may dodge questions or make excuses for not meeting or speaking on the telephone. Their profile or communications may also have odd spelling and grammar.

- Do not share pictures or information about yourself or others that gives someone any sort of hold over you. Your private life should stay private until you know someone really well and can start over time to trust them with things.

- If you do find someone trying to menace money out of you – do not. They will just be back for more. Report them; however bad that might feel at the time.

- Do not be afraid to ask a friend – If something does not feel right, especially if the contact is asking for money you might ask a friend or relative if you are not at a point where you think there is something to report to the Website. If they advise you to back off ... listen to them.

Don’t assume scammers are illiterate foreigners you and others will see through in an instant. Scamming is a pretty sick line of business but it is a business for them. They practice tugging at heartstrings, at showing tenderness or a neediness. They tell people what they want to hear.

If you suspect that someone you're talking to may be a scammer, stop your communications and immediately report him or her.

Contacting us

If you would like to contact us to understand more about this Policy or wish to contact us concerning any matter relating to it, you may do via email to info@noveart.me

This document was last updated on January 12, 2020