Online sales have turned violent 48 times this year in Prince George’s County.
There have been assaults, shootings, robberies and even homicides after people connected on social media met up in-person and then things weren’t what they expected, police told News4
“I could be on the site wanting to sell a $2,000 watch for $200. And they say, ‘Meet me at 7 o’clock in the parking lot of this fast food restaurant that you know is kinda isolated.’ These things should be indicators,” said Interim Chief George Nader of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
There’s no doubt you can find some pretty cool — and oftentimes legit — stuff on sites like Facebook Marketplace, but after dozens of incidents, including one in May where two people were shot after a transaction went bad in Laurel, Maryland, the chief has an important and easy reminder.
“If you’re in the Washington Metropolitan area, you’re always 5 to 10 miles from a police facility. Pick that location, and if they’re hesitant, ‘Oh no, I don’t want to go there,’ that might be an indicator that there may be something that they’re looking to do that’s nefarious,” Nader said.
And it’s not just Prince George’s County — This can happen anywhere.
If you drive to your local police station, you’ll probably find a sign like this:
It might take a little more effort, but like the chief said, “Selling or buying this next great deal is not worth you getting hurt.”
Police said another great option if you’re buying secondhand items online is to look into and research the seller — do they have a profile picture? If not, that could be a red flag. Are there any reviews or ratings? Is this their first time selling something? All are good questions to ask before meeting up with someone.
