During the month of November, police responded to a number of cell phone and tablet thefts at various retail locations throughout the city and police believe these stolen devices may find their way for sale online.
Many of the devices are believed to be blacklisted, meaning they wouldn’t necessarily function although appearing new and unused.
The Edmonton Police Service always encourages buyers to use caution when engaging in any online or private sale through an unknown buyer.
Although the precautions below do not guarantee the legitimacy of an item, avoid becoming a victim with the following tips:
- Conduct all transactions in person, in a public location with video surveillance.
- Ask for a bill of sale and identification from the seller. Ensure the identification provided matches the seller.
- Be wary of stolen or blacklisted devices which may appear new or unused. When possible, meet at a location where the devices can be verified.
- Check the Canadian Police Information Centre database to see if an item has been reported stolen: http://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm
- Ask questions of the seller if an item is priced noticeably below market value: Why is the item discounted? Can the seller provide a purchase receipt?
Anyone who has information about suspicious property sold online is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.