Buyer & Seller Protection

The Safe Transaction Guide

How to buy and sell heavy machinery safely in Australia. Follow this protocol and your transaction is protected from first contact to final handover.

3
Phases
100%
PPSR Verified Listings
🛡
Deposit Protected
$0
Commission on Sale
1
Phase One

The Good Faith Deposit

Once you've viewed the listing and confirmed the PPSR certificate is clean, a holding deposit secures the machine and signals to the seller you're a serious buyer. On Verified Rigs, all deposits are protected by Deposit Guardian — your money is held safely until you're satisfied.

Protected by Deposit Guardian
Deposits up to $5,000 are held securely by Deposit Guardian — Australia's specialist machinery deposit vault. Funds are only released when you confirm you're satisfied with the machine.
✅ Funds held until delivery confirmed
✅ Full refund if sale falls through
✅ Expert dispute mediation if needed
⚠️ Before Paying Any Deposit
Always confirm you have seen the Verified Rigs PPSR Certificate and the Proof of Life timestamped photo for the machine. Never pay a deposit on an unverified listing.
Next Step
2
Phase Two

Independent Inspection

Before transferring the balance, get an independent 50-point mechanical inspection from a qualified machinery inspector. This step protects you from buying a lemon and gives you legitimate grounds for price renegotiation if issues are found.

🔍
50-Point Mechanical Check
Engine, hydraulics, undercarriage, electrics and structural integrity — all independently assessed
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Written Report
Detailed written report you can use for price negotiation or as a condition of purchase
🤝
Not the Seller's Mechanic
Unbiased — our inspectors work for you, not the seller
Request an Inspector →
Final Step
3
Phase Three

The Final Handover

This is where most machinery scams happen. To protect both buyer and seller we recommend the Simultaneous Exchange method — payment and release happen at the same moment, on-site.

The Simultaneous Exchange — Step by Step
1
Driver arrives at the seller's location — buyer's transport driver or the buyer themselves
2
Machine confirmed — driver verifies the machine is present, matches the VIN, and is ready to load
3
Balance transferred — buyer sends remaining balance via Osko (Instant Pay) while driver is on-site
4
Machine released — seller confirms funds cleared, machine is loaded and released to buyer
🚨 Critical Warning for Sellers
NEVER release a machine until funds are cleared in your account.
Screenshots of bank transfers can be faked. Osko receipts can be doctored. The only proof of payment that matters is the money appearing in your account. Do not load the machine until you can see the funds.
📱
Pro Buyer Tip

Request a Live Video Walkthrough Before You Travel

Before committing to travel — especially interstate — ask the seller to do a live FaceTime or WhatsApp video call next to the machine. A genuine seller will have no hesitation. A scammer running a volume operation won't want to spend 20 minutes on a live call for every target.

🎯 What to Ask the Seller to Show You on the Call
✓
The hour meter — running
Start the machine live on camera and show the actual hour meter reading. This is very hard to fake in real time and confirms both that the machine runs and that the hours are genuine.
✓
Walk around the whole machine
Ask them to walk slowly around every side. You're looking for rust, damage, missing parts or anything that wasn't visible in the listing photos.
✓
The VIN or serial number plate
Ask them to hold the camera steady on the VIN plate so you can confirm it matches your PPSR certificate. No genuine seller will refuse this.
✓
Proof of location
Pan the camera around to show the surrounding property — shed, house, paddock, street. This confirms the machine is where the listing says it is.
✓
Any known issues
Ask the seller directly on camera "are there any issues I should know about?" Their hesitation or body language tells you as much as their answer.
✓
Service records or log book
Ask them to hold up any physical service book or receipts on camera. A machine with a documented history is worth significantly more.
⚠️ Video Confirms the Machine Exists — Not That the Seller Owns It
A video call is a powerful tool but it is not a substitute for a PPSR check or identity verification. A dishonest person could stand next to a machine they don't own. Always confirm ownership through your PPSR certificate and use Deposit Guardian to protect your funds until you have physically confirmed the machine at handover.
📱
FaceTime
Free for Apple users — high quality video
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WhatsApp Video
Free, works on all phones, reliable in rural areas
🤙
Facebook Messenger
Widely used — good for rural connectivity
Stay Alert

Red Flags That Signal a Scam

🚩
Seller won't do a PPSR check
Any legitimate seller will welcome a PPSR check. Resistance means something is hidden.
🚩
Price is too good to be true
AI-generated photos of fake machines listed at 40% below market value is the most common scam.
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Seller is overseas or unavailable
"I'm on a mission overseas but my agent will arrange delivery" — classic advance fee fraud.
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Pressure to pay quickly
"I have another buyer coming tomorrow" — urgency is a manipulation tactic. Legitimate sellers are patient.
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Won't allow inspection
Any seller who refuses an independent inspection has something to hide about the machine's condition.
🚩
Requests bank transfer or crypto
Untraceable payment methods protect the scammer, not you. Always use a protected payment service.
Optional But Recommended

Should You Use Deposit Guardian?

We don't force you to use it — but here's the honest comparison so you can decide for yourself.

🏦 Direct Bank Transfer
✗Money leaves your account immediately
✗Irreversible — no recall once sent
✗Refund depends on seller's goodwill
✗No dispute mediation if deal falls through
✗PayPal does NOT cover machinery purchases
Cost: $0 upfront — but potentially your entire deposit if things go wrong
Deposit Guardian
✓Funds held securely until you confirm receipt
✓Full refund if sale doesn't proceed
✓Expert dispute mediation included
✓Works on all Verified Rigs listings
✓Up to $5,000 deposit protected
Cost: 5% deposit protection fee — paid by the buyer
Real World Example
You're buying a $180,000 excavator. You put down a $5,000 deposit.
Deposit Guardian protection costs you $250 (5% of $5,000).
That $250 means if anything goes wrong — you get your $5,000 back.
On a $180,000 purchase, that's a no-brainer.
🛡 Secure My Deposit with Deposit Guardian →
Or proceed with a direct bank transfer at your own risk.
Every Transaction Protected By
Deposit Guardian
Every listing on Verified Rigs uses Deposit Guardian for holding deposits. Your money stays safe until you confirm you're happy — or you get it back.
Learn More →
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Still Have Questions?

Our team is here to help. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced seller, we're happy to walk you through the process before you commit to anything.