From the Algonquin Police Department: Need a safe place to conduct your internet/social media sale or purchase? Look no further than your local police department. Our parking lot is under 24/7 video surveillance. Our lobby is open Monday through Friday 8-5 should you not feel safe during the transaction. Otherwise, you can call 911 if it is an emergency. Thank you to OfferUp for donating our signs.
Some other tips:
• Beware of scams, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is
• Tell a family member or friend where and when you are making the transaction as well the name of who you are meeting and your anticipated return
• Check the profile of the seller including any reviews or feedback
• Use a secure payment method like PayPal, Venmo, or a platform-integrated payment system and avoid exchanging large amounts of cash
• Trust your instincts, if anything seems off leave immediately
• Be aware of your surroundings and stay vigilant during the meetup
• Check the item thoroughly before handing over payment, carefully inspect the item to ensure it matches the description and is in the condition you expected.
• If you are the seller and are accepting cash, make sure you inspect the currency to make sure it is not counterfeit, look to make sure the serial numbers are not the same or that it is not movie prop money
• Bring a friend
