Put your safety first when buying and selling online

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) reminds everyone to prioritize their personal safety while conducting online marketplace purchases and sales.

So far this year, there have been 153 personal robberies, up 21.4% from the same period in 2024 (126 reports). Thirty of this year’s personal robberies have stemmed from online buying and selling. These types of crimes have historically increased leading up to and including the holiday season.

Prioritize your personal safety when arranging to meet with strangers for a trade with these safety tips:

• Avoid inviting strangers to your home to complete a transaction.

• Bring a friend and choose a well-lit public place with video surveillance—preferably a Safe Trade Zone.

• Meet during daylight hours. Last-minute changes to the meeting location should be treated as a red flag.

• Walk away from the exchange if you're asked to go to a second, unfamiliar location.

• Avoid meeting in vacant parking lots or secluded areas.

The OPS Safe Trade locations:

• 211 Huntmar Drive (Kanata Police Station)

• 245 Greenbank Road, Nepean (Greenbank Police Station)

• 466 Metcalfe Street (visitors' parking lot behind 474 Elgin Street)

• 4561 Bank Street, Gloucester (Leitrim Police Station)

• 3343 St-Joseph Boulevard (Orléans Police Station)

For more information, visit ottawapolice.ca/safetrade.

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