Buying second-hand items online can save you a lot of money, but it can also be scary and dangerous. You don't know the person you're buying from or whether the item is stolen. So the Augusta Police Department has come up with a way to help.

If you've never purchased anything this way, here's how it works. You see an item for sale on Craigslist or one of the 'swap it or sell it' sites on Facebook, and you contact the owner via email or Facebook comment. Once you agree on a price and state that you want to buy it, you then need to meet the person in order to exchange cash for merchandise. Most people will ask to meet in a public place, but even that can be scary. I mean, you have no idea who this person is or whether they're safe and honest.

Then there's the 'stolen merchandise' possibility. I once saw a post on Facebook with a picture of dozens of pairs of women's underwear for sale, with the tags still attached. I immediately thought that, either someone had a generous Grandmother who just bought the wrong size, or maybe they were stolen. Unfortunately, it's not always that obvious.

So the Augusta Police Department has set up what it's calling 'The Online Exchange Zone.' Mainers are invited to use the Police Department's lobby and parking lot as a place to do those in-person exchanges. The hope is that if the person is selling something stolen, they're not going to want to bring it to the PD and will back out of the deal. (and even if they don't back out, if they're hesitant to meet there, maybe YOU should back out)

The building is staffed 24/7 and there are surveillance cameras everywhere that are always recording activity in the area. Put all of those factors together and someone with less-than-honorable intentions is going to shy away. One note - no weapons of any kind are allowed in the Online Exchange Zone.

Augusta Police offer a few tips on avoiding buying stolen items:

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Ensure you see a picture of the item before you schedule to meet. Sellers offering stolen products often avoid providing images.
  • Write down item information and price, then research the item online. Take note of the original retail price.
  • Take note of accessories included in the sale. Sole items listed without the necessary accessories may be an indication that the item is stolen.
  • Inspect the item and look for a serial number. Stolen items have serial numbers removed or altered.
  • Stay Safe and use the Augusta Police Department's Online Exchange Zone to complete your online transaction.

 

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