“EPS officers respond to crimes generated from online buy-and-sell activities almost daily,” says Const. Rob Wellon with the Criminal Investigation Section in Northwest Division. “We need Edmontonians to make personal safety their top priority when shopping classified websites.”
“Online Buyer Beware” encourages citizens to make informed choices while using buy-and-sell sites, such as meeting in a well-lit, public location for transactions, questioning prices that seem too good to be true, asking sellers for an original receipt and using caution when purchasing e-tickets.
“We’ve seen citizens transfer payment and never receive an item, or unknowingly purchase stolen property that’s been put up for sale,” adds Const. Wellon. “E-ticket fraud is also a big problem – event tickets are copied and sold to multiple buyers who do not realize they purchased fraudulent tickets until they’re denied entry.”
In rare cases, Const. Wellon recalls instances where weapons have been produced and buyers have been personally robbed of their cash.
“We’ve apprehended individuals for selling stolen property who were carrying weapons at the time of transaction,” says Wellon. “Although this is a rarity, it’s still very concerning and we hope this campaign will serve as a reminder to keep safety front of mind.”
“Online Buyer Beware” was launched in response to the continuous number of online buy-and-sell complaints reported to the Edmonton Police Service.
The online campaign will run from throughout May and June on Kijiji, Facebook and EPS social media accounts. Citizens can find more information, including what do if you are a victim of crime, on the EPS website.
Tips for a safer online buy-and-sell experience…
While shopping online:
- Print the online advertisement and keep a copy for your records.
- Ask questions if an item is priced noticeably below market value. Why is the item discounted? Can the seller provide a purchase receipt?
- Check the Canadian Police Information Centre database to see if an item has been reported stolen: http://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm
- Be wary of e-tickets that can be easily reproduced and distributed.
When conducting transactions:
- Conduct all transactions in person, in a well-lit, public location with video surveillance.
- Ask for a bill of sale and identification from the seller. Ensure the identification provided matches the seller, and take a photo of the ID.
- Do not transfer payment until you’ve seen the item you’re paying for.
If you are a victim of crime:
- If you are a victim, always report the incident to police.
- Report online buy-and-sell crime by attending an EPS community or divisional station, calling the police dispatch line at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.
- Do not report crime to EPS social media accounts.