When meeting to exchange goods bought online, be safe and careful

Nothing is scarier than getting together with a buyer (or a seller) to exchange dollars for a product advertised on Craig’s List, eBay or another online service… and then be mugged or robbed. There are certainly plenty of news stories on this subject, but the danger continues. Here are some recent reports:

Don’t be a victim! The Phoenix Police Department has released an advisory. It’s good advice. Follow it.

Phoenix Police Media Advisory:

Internet Exchange Related Crimes

The Phoenix Police Department has recently experienced reported crimes specific to the usage of internet exchange sites that allow sellers to advertise items for sale and then interact with buyers. Subsequent to the online interaction, the two parties usually meet and exchange money for goods in a private party transaction at an agreed-upon location. However, due to circumstances surrounding the nature of these interactions, many criminals are using them for their own purposes

Specifically, the Phoenix Police Department has seen an increase in robberies of one of the involved parties by the other party during these exchanges. However, crimes as serious as homicide and kidnapping have been linked to these transactions. Although no strategy is 100% effective when trying to be safe, there are a number of steps one can take to ensure the transaction is done under the safest possible circumstances. The department is urging those involved in these private, internet-based sales transactions to consider the following while finalizing the deal and making safety their primary consideration:

If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The location of the exchange should be somewhere in public that has many people around like a mall, a well-traveled parking lot, or a public area. Do not agree to meet at someone’s house, a secluded place, a vacant house, or the like.

Try to schedule the transaction while it is still daylight, or at least in a place that is very well lit.

Ask why the person is selling the item and what type of payment they will accept. Be wary of agreeing to a cash payment and then travelling to the deal with a large sum of cash.

Bring a friend with you to the meet and let someone who isn’t going with you know where you are going and when you can be expected back.

Know the fair market value of the item you are purchasing.

Trust your instinct! If something seems suspicious, or you get a bad feeling, pass on the deal!

Other good advice that I’ve seen:

Never agree to meet in a second place, when you show up at the agreed-upon place and receive a text message redirecting you somewhere else.

Never give the other party your home address. If you must do so (because they are picking up a large item from your house), bring the item outside; don’t let them into your house. Inform your neighbors what’s going on.

Call your local police department and ask if they can recommend an Internet Purchase Exchange Location, also known as a Safe Exchange Zone.

Be careful out there, my friends.