10 Things You Need To Know When Making A Social Media Buy
Robbed at gun point, a portage man just wanted to buy a pair of shoes.
Recently a man was held at gun point and robbed during what seemed like to be simple sales transaction. According to Mlive...
A man who was planning to buy tennis shoes for sale on Facebook was robbed when he met with the person he believed was selling the shoes.
That is a terrifying thought; the gentleman just wanted to buy a pair of shoes and he almost lost his life.
I started to look into things you need to know when making online purchases in person and was surprised how little knew about how to take care of myself.
CNN had some tips, and I believe that they are spot on!
1 Don't reveal personal information
Remember this is a business transaction, so never reveal Social Security numbers, home or business addresses or banking information.
2. Keep your cell phone close
Have a cell phone in your hand during the entire transaction and be ready to call 911 at the first sign of trouble.
3. Don't use your personal email
Use an anonymous email address to communicate with the buyer or seller.
4. Disable caller ID
Disable caller ID when calling the buyer or seller on the phone. Most cell phone and landline carriers offer this by dialing *67 before making the outgoing call.
5. Don't pay in cash
Do not accept cash and do not offer to pay in cash. Use a cashier's check instead and make it a non-negotiable term of the transaction.
6. If it's a high-priced transaction, do it at a bank
The higher the price of the item involved, the higher the risk of the transaction. Conduct these transactions at a banking facility so a banking professional can confirm the funds have been delivered successfully.
7. Always meet during the day
Never conduct your transactions at night.
8. Never meet at home
Find a neutral site to meet -- never at your or someone else's home.
9. Tell someone
Tell a trusted friend or family member what you're doing and have another trusted friend or family member accompany you to the transaction.
10. Always meet in a public place
Most police departments will be happy to accommodate you, and they are open 24/7.
The bottom line is that you need to keep yourself safe!
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