Gulfport police encourage safety regarding online reselling apps as spring cleaning heats up
GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) –Facebook Marketplace and other resell apps are growing in popularity and when a big deal is irresistible, it’s important to exercise safety.
WXXV’s Elizabeth Keen stopped by the Gulfport Police Department to learn more about how buyers can protect themselves and how Coast agencies can help if something goes wrong.
Spring cleaning season is upon us, and as temperatures heat up, so do online deals.
Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Poshmark give sellers a chance to profit off of unwanted goods, while buyers have a chance to save big. However, when it comes to meeting strangers with money on the line, Lt. Jason Ducre with the Gulfport Police Department said there are tips everyone should keep in mind.
“Make sure you meet at well-lit places,” Ducre explained. “Don’t meet anybody in a dark alley. If it seems like it’s not right, trust that little voice in the back of your head. Try to bring people with you, that way you’ll have power in numbers, if you will. You’ll have witnesses.”
Additionally, local police stations and fire departments are considered a safe meeting spot for buyers and sellers looking to do an exchange.
“We do have cameras that are on 24/7, so if something were to happen, we’re going to catch it on camera,” Ducre said. “It’s also a police department, so if something happens in front of our police department, we have instant access to police officers.”
Sometimes things do go wrong, and it’s unavoidable. Ducre advised anyone purchasing from online platforms to keep a record of any conversations or transactions made.
“Make sure you screenshot it, so if something does happen or something were to happen, you have evidence and you can say, ‘Hey, this happened, this is the person,'” Ducre explained. “A lot of times, we’ll have incidents where somebody gets ripped off, and the person will close the account or block the account, and then we have nothing to go on. So, take screenshots. Have receipts.”
