Yes, the internet can be a dangerous place.
I've posted this numerous times, but I'll gladly do it again to help our members...
It's a bad idea to publish your email address and/or phone number in ad text.
Anyone (including non-members) can view the ads. There's a lot of scammers and spammers out there and posting private information exposes you to their chicanery. We watch the ads very closely and try to keep forum dealings on the up and up. There's nothing we can do about non-members who contact you off-site.
The forum has a PM system and an email forwarding function that can only be accessed by other members. Members who contact you through the email forwarding function don't see your email address, unless/until you reply to their email. Both of these contact methods can/should be enabled in your "User CP" (located in the blue band below the header ad, on the left) and you should limit initial contact to those methods. Limiting your dealings to other members allows you to research their history and any classifieds feedback.
