Selling Something Online? Wauwatosa Police Share Tips

WAUWATOSA, WI — The Wauwatosa Police Department has released a list of safety tips for buying and selling items through services like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and Ebay.

Last week, a Wauwatosa woman reported that her iPhone was stolen after agreeing to meet someone in a parking lot for a Facebook Marketplace transaction, according to police logs. When she met the other person, they pushed her and took the phone from her hands, police said.

See Also: Car Theft, Battery and A Stolen iPhone: Wauwatosa Crime Logs

The department, located at 1700 N 116th St., is a safe and well lit area that is open 24 hours a day, police said.

Here's a list of tips for buying, trading and selling online:

• Never meet in a secluded area.
• Always meet in a public place.
• Try to use a paperless payment system like Venmo, CashApp and Paypal when available.
• Don't pay for things in advance.
• Never invite strangers to your home or go to a stranger's home.
• If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
• Always be cautious when purchasing or selling items.