The Saskatoon Police Service can now offer the public a designated safe place to conduct property transactions from online sales.
Buy and Sell Exchange Zones have been installed in the visitor parking lot on the west side of SPS Headquarters. These parking spaces offer a place for community members to meet and exchange items and payment after arranging the transaction from buy and sell sites.
Staff Sergeant Matt Bradford of the Economic Crime Section says the focus of this initiative is to increase public safety and reduce crime. “By implementing a Buy and Sell Exchange Zone, the Saskatoon Police Service saw an opportunity to improve community safety and provide a dedicated space to conduct legal buy and sell transactions. Our goal is to prevent buy and sell frauds and reduce the number of citizens being victimized by this kind of fraudulent activity.”
Other buy and sell safety tips:
- Meet in a well-lit, non-secluded, public place like SPS Headquarters.
- Bring someone with you.
- Only pay for the product once you have viewed it and met the seller.
- Conduct transactions in cash; avoid using cheques and money wiring services.
- Report theft, fraud or suspicious activity to the buy and sell website and Police: https://saskatoonpolice.ca/onlinereporting/fraud/
- Ensure the item you are purchasing is not stolen property by utilizing CPIC: https://www.cpic-cipc.ca/
While Police are available to respond to criminal matters, they are unable to assist in negotiating civil property transactions.
