Gatineau police have created two “neutral zones” for members of the public to carry out online sales and other transactions under video camera surveillance, the service announced Thursday.
Both are in parking lots near police stations: one at 590 Gréber Boulevard in the Gatineau sector and the other at 777 de la Carrière Boulevard in the Hull sector. They are identified by large, painted blue markings on the pavement and permanent signage.
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The goal of the initiative is to “prevent fraudulent transactions as well as physical attacks that may occur in the context of purchases or sales on popular online sites,” police said in a media release. The secure exchange areas can also serve as neutral ground for parents wishing to transfer children in shared custody.
Surveillance cameras at those locations will be in operation all day, every day, although the images captured may not be observed in real-time, police advised, so anyone feeling their safety has been compromised should immediately dial 911.
The Upper Ottawa Valley section of the Ontario Provincial Police announced a similar initiative on Tuesday. Its “community safety zone” is at the Pembroke detachment at 77 International Drive in Pembroke.
The idea is to move online transactions away from secluded parking lots, personal residences or other areas and bring them to a public place, an OPP release said. It added that the OPP would not mediate transactions, provide documentation or be a witness to transactions, but an officer would respond if requested, intervening only if a transaction became a criminal matter.
The Ottawa Police Service does not have a similar “neutral” or “safety” zone, but in a statement to this newspaper said its recommendation for the past several years had been that people using online sites to buy or sell items avoid going to a buyer or seller’s home and instead meet in a well-populated spot for exchanges, including police station lobbies, although officers would not monitor or engage in the transactions.
All three police services offered tips for buyers and sellers in online transactions.
• Make sure you meet at times when businesses are open and people are around.
• Consider a last-minute change in the meeting location as a red flag, and, if possible, don’t go alone.
• If available, check the vendor rating before deciding to make a purchase, or do some research on whether they have been flagged by others as either a good or bad experience.
• A seller should attempt to find out more about the buyer before making a transaction. Be wary if their profile seems to have been created very recently or gives little information.
• Take time to check the merchandise to ensure you are purchasing what was advertised and it is in the agreed-upon condition.
• Always ensure the validity of the payment before giving an item to a potential buyer.
• If the asking price is much lower than the item’s actual value, beware, especially if the seller indicates the item is new or almost new.