LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police are warning those who use social media to buy and sell goods to remain cautious when meeting up with strangers to exchange purchased products.
LMPD Major Corey Robinson said there's been a "definite uptick" in social media transactions where users use online forums or groups, like Facebook's Marketplace, to buy or sell goods.
According to LMPD, there have been more thefts related to these online transactions.
"They'll meet up and then that meeting turns into a robbery or turns into a business deal gone wrong," Robinson said. "Oftentimes leaving the victim without the product or the money they came with."
Robinson said that the best thing users can do to ensure a safe transaction is to pay for products without cash. He recommended using pay services like Venmo, Cash App or PayPal.
However, Robinson said if you must do an in-person cash transaction do so in a safe environment like a police station or one of LMPD's MetroSWAP zones.
MetroSWAP zones are located outside some of the police department's divisions and have 24-hour video surveillance. There are locations at:
- 2nd Division - 3419 Bohne Avenue
- 3rd Division - 7219 Dixie Highway
- 7th Division - 7201 Outer Loop
- 8th Division - 2927 Goose Creek Road
"We're seeing all too often transactions in alleyways, transactions off beaten paths, transactions at people's residences," Robinson said. "And they're going way too wrong, far too often."
Robinson said that if you do fall victim to one of these online scams, report it to LMPD as soon as possible.
"You have to let us know so we can investigate it properly for you," he said.
Here's how to maximize safety at LMPD's MetroSwap locations:
- Agree to meet the person only at a MetroSWAP station.
- Meet only during daylight hours.
- Tell someone you trust where you are meeting and at what time.
- Meet in the parking lot, there are two designated parking spots at each location.
- Make the interaction brief and to the point.
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