Palmdale Sheriff Detectives have seen an undesirable trend with online sellers and buyers. Typically the majority of these individuals are legitimately looking to buy and sell their items however there are individuals looking to take advantage of people by stealing the merchandise or money when the transaction takes place.
We ask if you decide to buy or sell merchandise via Apps or a Website to take all necessary precautions before meeting the individual. Here are some safety tips that may help you avoid becoming a victim:
- ALWAYS meet during the day and in a well populated public place. Never meet at your home or the individual’s home.
- TELL someone where you are meeting and what time the transaction is supposed to take place. If possible, have someone accompany you. There is safety in numbers.
- NEVER give your home address, business address, social security number or banking information to anyone, under any circumstances. Home burglaries and identity theft can easily take place with this type of information.
- Have your cell phone close by during the entire transaction. Be ready to call your local police department or 911, at the first sign of trouble.
- DO NOT use your personal email address and disable caller ID when calling the buyer or seller. You can do this by using *69 prior to dialing the number.
- Use a cashier’s check instead of cash. Make the cashier’s check a non-negotiable term of the transaction. If it’s a high-priced transaction, do it at the bank.
- Go with your gut!! If the individual does not want to meet in a public area or is asking for information that does not apply to the transaction consider this a RED flag!
If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the personal safety during an online sellers and buyers exchanges, please contact Deputy Jodi Wolfe at
[email protected].
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website
http://lacrimestoppers.org
Written by:
Deputy Jodi Wolfe
Palmdale Sheriff’s Station
750 East Avenue Q,
Palmdale, Ca. 93550
(661) 272-2520
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.Palmdale.lasd.org
Twitter: @jwLASD
Facebook.com/Jo Wolfe
