With the ever-increasing number of online classified transactions comes the increased concern for safety for users of Craigslist and other sites.
According to safetradestations.com, 105 killings have been linked to Craigslist through 2015. While the site offers an important service, user safety should be of paramount concern.
With that in mind, Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett announced this week that the Russellville Police Station is now a safe trade zone that can be used by the public for online transactions.
“I was asked by some local residents to initiate the program,” Hargett said. “We have cameras all around the police department and it creates a safer area for transactions between buyer and seller. The public can come anytime and use the station as a meeting place for online transactions.”
There's no fee for using the police department as a meeting place. It's just a way for the parties to feel more secure about not having problems meeting someone they may not know to exchange goods for money.
“There's no need to contact us in advance or make any reservation. We put up a small sign to reserve a parking place for parties coming to meet at the police department,” Hargett said.
Although Hargett said he didn't recall any local robberies relating to parties meeting for online transactions, he said there have been a few instances where a buyer paid for goods online and the seller did not show up to deliver.
“The key is not to pay for anything until you meet with the seller and actually see the item. That way you don't have to worry about it,” Hargett said.
“There are so many scams out there today, especially targeting the elderly. Sweepstakes are a popular one. If you didn't enter one, you're not going to win one. You never have to send money to pay taxes on winnings,” he added.
There is a national registry of police stations that may be used as meeting places for the public at www.safetradestations.com.
“Anyone who's not willing to meet at the police station is likely not someone you'd want to do business with anyway,” Hargett said.
According to SafeTrade, meetings between buyer and seller should only be at a police station, sheriff's office or similar law enforcement facility. The parties should meet only during daylight hours, unless the police department has offered inside facilities 24 hours a day like they have in Russellville.
If it's not possible to meet at the station, like in the case of buying a used car that isn't running or the purchase of a large piece of furniture, meet at the police station to exchange and photocopy each others' identification papers, such as drivers licenses. Email the information to a friend, or to someone trusted and not to yourself. If you're selling at home, or going to someone's home, never be outnumbered. Make sure you have two or three people there and let the other person who is coming know you will have others with you. There's safety in numbers.
Always make sure the person who comes doesn't go anywhere on your property unescorted, not even to the bathroom. And never let more than one group come to your home at once to buy or sell.
The Russellville Police Department is located at 400 North Jackson Ave., in Russellville. The phone number is 256-332-2230.
“We know there are people out there looking to take advantage of others. People have been scammed in other areas. There's definitely a need for this service,” Hargett said.
