CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Six reports in the last month

Police getting more reports of fraud and theft stemming from buy and sell sites

Jun 23, 2022 | 4:12 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Online marketplaces have given people a place to buy and sell all sorts of things like clothes, electronics and vehicles.

They’ve also given scammers a new way to take advantage of people’s trusting natures.

“In the last month, we’ve had six of those types of incidents reported to us whether it’s Kijiji or Facebook,” says Acting Sgt. Brent Bohrn of the Medicine Hat Police Service. The subjects of the reports have been different for the most part, he says.

Bohrn, with the city police community safety unit, says people should do their research on the item and the other party.

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Two common scams on Facebook and Kijiji are to take an item with a promise the e-transfer is on the way or simply not leaving money at the agreed-upon place.

Victims have begun warning others by posting names and profiles of scammers in the groups and elsewhere online.

Bohrn says there’s more recourse for victims if reports are filed and the more reports they get the better the chances they can stop habitual scammers.

“If we’re able to identify them then depending on the circumstances if there’s grounds for a criminal charge for fraud or that sort of thing then we would arrest them and deal with them that way,” he says.

“We can try and prevent it from happening right if we know who the scammers are if it’s like the same person over and over again then we can charge them, put conditions on them to hopefully prevent them from maybe even accessing online devices to continue to scam other people.”

Bohrn encourages the use of the internet transaction zone outside the police station for transactions. It is monitored by video surveillance to lessen the chance of being scammed and help identify people. A similar zone is also outside the Redcliff RCMP detachment.

People should always keep one thing in mind making any transaction, Bohrn says.

“If you’re not willing to part with that item without getting money, don’t let it go without getting money for it. Whether that’s waiting for that e-transfer to go through don’t let that item out of your hands until you’re sure you’ve got the money for it.”

Advice to avoid being scammed

• Call police before making a deal if something seems suspicious or if you’re not certain about something
• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is
• Check for liens on high-value items
• For items being shipped, Canada Post can do cash on delivery