Halton police offer safe trading zone for residents of Oakville, Burlington, Milton

If you’re leery of making face-to-face sales after connecting online, Halton Regional Police might have a solution for residents of Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills.

Police have set up a Buy & Sell Exchange Zone to provide additional peace of mind to those who are buying, selling, or trading property online. If you are meeting new people while finalizing online transactions, police encourage you to use the exchange zone.

The clearly-signed Exchange Zone is situated in the visitor parking lot at the 20 Division facility, 95 Oak Walk Drive in Oakville.

“If you are unable to meet at our Buy & Sell Exchange Zone, please consider completing your transactions in well-lit, public and popular locations to avoid being a victim of crime,” said a police spokesperson.

Halton police also offered several other tips to protect yourself during an in-person transaction:

• Complete your transaction during daytime hours only
• Use the buddy system when possible. Bring a family or friend with you, or at the very least, let someone know who you will be meeting, the time, and the location of the exchange
• To reduce the potential of falling victim to fraud, never complete a buy and sell transaction by mail
• When meeting in person, always inspect goods you wish to purchase before giving money to the seller
• Limit the amount of personal information you provide.
• Stop. Pause. Think. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is.