Communities like Craigslist, OfferUp, Fb Market and others are nice for locating low- or no-cost stuff that one can decide up instantly from a close-by vendor, and for eliminating helpful issues that don’t deserve to finish up in a landfill. However when coping with strangers from the Web, there may be all the time a danger that the individual you’ve agreed to fulfill has different intentions.
Almost all U.S. states now have designated secure buying and selling stations — principally at native police departments — which be sure that all transactions are dealt with in plain view of each the authorities and safety cameras.
These secure buying and selling locations exist as a result of typically in-person transactions from the Web don’t finish effectively for a number of events concerned. The web site Craigslistkillers has catalogued information hyperlinks for at the least 132 murders linked to Craigslist transactions since 2015. Many of those killings concerned high-priced objects like cars and shopper electronics, the place the potential purchaser apparently meant all alongside to kill the proprietor and steal the merchandise supplied on the market. Others have been motivated just by a need to harm individuals.
This isn’t to say that utilizing Craigslist is uniquely dangerous or harmful; I’m certain the overwhelming majority of transactions generated by the location finish amicably and with out bodily violence. And that most likely holds true for all of Craigslist’s rivals.
Nonetheless, the danger of a deal going badly when one meets whole strangers from the Web just isn’t zero, and so it’s solely smart to take a number of easy precautions. For instance, selecting to transact at a delegated secure place akin to a police station dramatically reduces the probability that anybody wishing you hurt would even present up.
I lately stumbled upon certainly one of these designated alternate locations by chance, therefore my curiosity in studying extra about them. The one I encountered was at a Virginia county sheriff’s workplace, and it has two parking spots reserved with an indication that reads, “Web Buy & Alternate Location: This Space is Beneath 24 Hour Video Surveillance” [image above].
In line with the listing maintained at Safetradestations.com, there are 4 different such designated areas in Northern Virginia. And it seems most states now have them in at the least some main cities. Safeexchangepoint.com additionally has a searchable index of secure buying and selling areas in america and Canada.
Granted, not everybody goes to dwell near certainly one of these designated buying and selling stations. Or possibly what you wish to purchase, promote or commerce you’d slightly not have recorded in entrance of police cameras. Both method, listed here are a number of tips about staying secure whereas transacting in actual life with strangers from the Web (compliments of the aforementioned secure buying and selling web sites).
The most secure alternate factors are simply accessible and in a well-lit, public place the place transactions are seen to others close by. Attempt to prepare a gathering time that’s throughout daylight, and contemplate bringing a good friend alongside — particularly when coping with high-value objects like laptops and sensible telephones.
Safeexchangepoint.com additionally advises that police or retailers that host their very own alternate areas usually gained’t become involved within the particulars of your transaction except specified in any other case, and that many police departments (however not all) are prepared to verify the serial variety of an merchandise on the market to ensure it’s not recognized to be stolen property.
In fact, it’s not all the time sensible or attainable to haul that previous couch to the native police division, or a used automobile that isn’t working. In these conditions, safetradestations.com has some first rate strategies:
- Meet at a police station the place you possibly can alternate and photocopy every others’ identification papers, akin to a driver’s license. Do NOT carry money to this location.
- Photocopy the license or identification paper, or use your telephone to {photograph} it.
- Electronic mail the ID data to a good friend, or to somebody trusted (to not your self).
- For those who’re promoting at house, or going to somebody’s house, by no means be outnumbered. For those who’re at house, be sure to have two or three individuals there — and inform the one that is coming that you should have others with you.
- At house or an condominium, NEVER let somebody go wherever unaccompanied. At all times ensure that they’re escorted.
- By no means let multiple group come to your private home at one time to purchase or promote.
- Watch out for frequent scams, like checks for an quantity greater than the quantity of the deal; “cashier’s checks” which can be cast and offered when the financial institution is closed.
- In case you are given a cashier’s verify, cash order or different equal, name the financial institution — on the quantity listed on-line, not a quantity the customer provides you — to confirm the validity of the verify.
