Sheriff’s Office Steps Up to Make Online Shopping Safer

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County residents worried about becoming victims of an online scam or targets for a robber who uses online sale websites to reel in marks have a place to turn for help. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has designated four locations within the county as “Safe Exchange Zones.”

Safe Exchange Zones are locations buyers and sellers can meet at to finalize transactions started in the online arena. These locations are quite public and they happen to have a 24-hour law enforcement presence.

“The popularity of online deals, whether you are buying or selling or trading, is not without its dangers,” the sheriff’s office warned on Facebook. “In Hillsborough County, and around the nation, the number of robberies or scams involving online transactions are on the rise. Most of the victims are the sellers.”

To avoid the trouble, the sheriff’s office recommends buyers and sellers agree to meet at one of the county’s four district headquarter locations. They are:

District I

• 14102 N. 20th St., Tampa

District II

• 2310 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa

District III

• 7202 Gunn Highway, Tampa

District IV

• 508 33rd St. S.E., Ruskin

The sheriff’s office also recommends following these tips to cut down on the chances of becoming a victim of crime related to online commerce:

• Get the buyer or seller’s contact information, including telephone number
• Let someone know about the transaction and when and where it is planned to take place
• Bring along a friend or family member
• Don’t make exchanges in secluded areas
• Pick a public location to complete a transaction; daytime meetings are best
• Bring a working cellphone in case there is a need to make an emergency call
• Carefully inspect the item for damage or counterfeiting
• Use a Safe Exchange Zone

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