Online Marketplace Crime Can Be Avoided: Police

BIRMINGHAM, AL - It's quick, it's convenient, it's easy. But it can also be dangerous. The increasing use of online marketplaces where people exchange goods or services via a message board or website had led to a climb in crimes committed with the internet as a common component. Use of sites such as Craigslist, Sell.com and a bevy of social media sites can be a good way to buy or sell goods, but police warn that people need to take precautions before engaging in online transactions.

"You are dealing with strangers, and you don't always know who is on the other end of the phone or computer, said Officer Brian Hale of the Hoover Police Department. "You need to have some thought in place before you proceed."

Hale said one of the most important actions to take is to never meet a buyer or seller at your home or their home. "Always meet in a public place," Hale said. "When you are talking about meeting someone face-to-face who you have never met before, you have to use common sense."

An attack recently in Trussville was the result of an online marketplace scam and robbery attempt that left one person shot and three arrested. In this instance, the person was buying a cell phone from an online marketplace and the "sellers" attempted to rob her. She had met the men in a public place, but had arrived alone. That is another mistake, Hale said.

"I always say there is safety in numbers," Hale said. "Never go to a meeting like that alone. Even if you carry a gun, or you are meeting in a crowded area, there is always a chance it can turn into a robbery."

Another type of scam involved in online trading comes during the transaction, Hale said. The scam involves a buyer writing a check for more than the amount of the item, and then saying it was by mistake, but then asking the seller to cash the check and give the buyer the "change."

"Well, the check, as you can probably suspect, is not good, and the bank will process the payment but then you are left with having to deal with the aftermath."

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Hoover is one of the only cities in the state that has set up internet purchase exchange locations throughout the city. These are safe spots, well-lit and public where people who are completing transactions with strangers from an online marketplace can feel safe.

Hale said the object is to look out for yourself, because the chances are small that the person you are dealing with is looking our for you. "With purchasing anything online, I know it's probably easier, but at the end of the day, you are dealing with complete strangers who rarely have your best interests at heart," Hale said. "When we see this kind of stuff, people taking advantage of folks, we want to make sure people remember the old saying: 'If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.'"

Photo illustration by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)