Learn About Buying and Selling Online
Lots of young people are curious about buying or selling things online; maybe they’ve seen older friends do it or found a “bargain” in a game or on a website. It can be a good way to learn about money, but it’s also where scams can happen.
In a nutshell
Buying and selling online means using the internet to trade things like clothes, toys, game gear, or collectibles. It happens on websites and apps such as Trade Me, Facebook Marketplace, or in-game stores.
For tamariki and rangatahi, it might start small like swapping items in a game, or wanting to buy a second-hand gadget.
It’s fun to look for deals, but it’s also easy for people to pretend to be sellers or buyers. That’s why it’s important to check everything carefully before hitting ‘buy now’, and ensure your settings require you to provide parental approval for in-app purchases.
5-minute whānau safety check
- We’ve agreed on the permissions that are needed before buying or selling anything online
- We only use well-known, trusted websites or apps and never random links or messages
- We check what the total cost is before buying (including shipping or extra fees)
- We know not to share bank details or passwords with anyone
- We’ve talked about how to spot a scam (deals that seem too good, sellers who rush or pressure you)
What to expect
When your child starts exploring online shopping or selling, you might notice:
- Excitement about a “great deal” or hard-to-find item
- Asking to buy things they’ve seen in ads or on social media
- Messages about trades or giveaways from strangers
- Overconfidence, for example thinking they can “spot a scam” easily
If your child seems too sure something is safe, says “everyone buys from here,” or wants to send money quickly, then that’s the time to slow things down. Check the website together before any money changes hands.
What's the up-side?
Some benefits of buying and selling online include
Learning about money
Buying and selling online helps rangatahi understand value, saving, and budgeting, with adult support.
Responsibility and independence
They learn that online purchases need careful thought, like checking seller credentials, and returns, refunds and privacy policies.
Creativity and sustainability
Some young people like to upcycle or resell things and that's a great way to re-use items and earn pocket money.
Digital literacy skills
They practise reading listings, writing messages politely, and checking if listings and profiles look real or fake.
I liked learning how to price things and take good pictures for selling, it felt grown-up
Youth Participant
No Single Online Experience – Youth Roadshow Report 2025
What's the flip-side?
Buying and selling online can be positive, but it also brings risks. These are common issues to talk about
Scams and fake listings
Some websites or sellers look real but aren’t. A scammer might take the money and never send anything.
Pressure or rushing
Scammers often make it sound urgent: “Only one left!” or “Buy now or miss out!”
Fake payment pages
Some scammers copy real websites to trick people into typing in card details.
Sharing personal details
Sellers might ask for things they don’t need, like a home address, school name or phone number.
Meeting in person
Sometimes people suggest meeting to trade, which is a safety and security risk if you don't know the person.
Not knowing what’s real
Fake products and copied images of items that actually belong to other people are common.
Safety Check
Use the settings
- Use trusted payment options like PayPal, credit cards or site-based payments that can be refunded.
- Turn on purchase notifications from your bank or app to spot issues early.
Check websites
Review sites together to check for authenticity. Real sites usually start with https:// and have no spelling mistakes. If it looks odd, don’t go there and don't enter any payment information.
Be confident to say no
Remind your child that good sellers don’t rush people. It's OK to take your time on deciding about a purchase and to check with a parent first.
Protect privacy
Don't share contact or payment details online unless it is a verified site that you trust, and never through private messages or texts.
Check other listings
Search for the same item on other websites to see if it exists elsewhere. If you’ve found it listed as much cheaper than normal, it’s likely to be a scam.
Top Tips
Click on each block to learn more about how you can support your whānau to buy and sell safely online.
Start a conversation about their online purchases or sales to learn more.
- “What do you like about finding things online?”
- "What are you seeing online lately that you want to buy?"
- “How can you tell if a website is safe to buy from?”
- "Why do you want to list some of your things for sale?"
When you shop online, involve them. Show how you check reviews, compare prices, and decide whether a deal looks right.
Help them practise their critical thinking by making a small purchase or reviewing a listing that you think might be fake. Talk about what made it look safe or suspicious.
Encourage them to come to you before spending or sharing details.
Model good habits and don’t rush into a purchase, and always read fine print together.
Celebrate when they spot a scam or make a smart choice to build confidence.
Need help right now?
If you would like any advice or support about keeping your whānau safe online Netsafe can help.
Contact the helpline for free, confidential and non-judgemental advice and support.
