Let Caution Be Your First, not Middle Name

I previously touched upon the chance that when you sell online, you might be contacted by someone trying to scam you, asking you to ship to someone in another country.  An incident in my home town of Ottawa made me strongly aware of another danger – one far more immediate and even life threatening. http://news.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/abc/Local/ON/ContentPosting?isfa=1&feedname=CBC_LOCALNEWS&date=true&newsitemid=ot-ottawa-bracelet-galipeau-plainhill-attack

This woman, who lived in Orleans, Ontario, was selling a piece of jewelry through an online site to raise money.  There are several sites, they all caution you against the online scammer.  She was contacted by someone who tried to talk her down repeatedly from her price.

On Monday, August 17th around 9 PM her doorbell rang.  Her family believes she stepped outside with the jewelry to show a prospective buyer.  Moments later, she was found by the police in a pool of blood, about 40 meters from her home.  A quote from the Ottawa Sun says that police aren’t sure if she was dragged by a silver or white sports car, or thrown from it, refusing to give up the jewelry.  She is now in an induced coma.

Please, when you are selling anything online, proceed with caution. 

Meet buyers (or sellers) in the daytime, in a public place. 

Tell someone where and when you are going to meet a respondent to your ad, and don’t carry large amounts of cash with you. 

If possible, bring a friend to wait discreetly nearby in case of trouble.

Never ever give someone your home address.

I’ve sold online for quite a while now, and fortunately have had no problems.  I wish all of us the same luck, and hope we all remember that a friendly voice, or nice voice or email can hide a very ugly monster.

On this poor womans behalf, and that of her family, please exercise caution.  And if any of you have a lead that could lead to the apprehension of the greedy animal who did this to her, please contact the Ottawa police.

Add a comment August 19, 2009