“Online sale gone wrong” leads to three arrests

Taylor Clark

Gatineau Police reminded the public to exercise caution when entering private sales after three people were arrested following “an online sale gone wrong” in the Gatineau sector.

Officers responded to a call regarding a robbery in a parking lot at 25 chemin de la Savane on the evening of September 21. Police gathered that the individuals met at the location to make an exchange following an online sale.

The press release indicated the two sellers showed up with what appeared to be a firearm and a bladed weapon. “One of them then pointed the gun at the buyer, leading to an altercation between the three individuals,” said police.

All three people were injured during the altercation, with one of the sellers, a 25-year-old man from the Montreal area, still hospitalized as of September 23. The buyer was released without charge, while the 25-year-old seller and the accomplice, who is a minor, will face charges of armed assault, conspiracy, and robbery.

The investigation is ongoing.

Neutral zones

Police advised the public to utilize public spaces during busy hours or secure exchange areas to facilitate transactions following online sales. Secure exchange zones have been deployed to the parking lots of the police stations in the Gatineau and Hull sectors. Identified by blue markings and permanent signage, the neutral zones are under camera surveillance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tips for sellers

As a seller, the police said you should always try to find out about the buyer before making the transaction. If their profile was created recently or provides little information, you should be suspicious. A seller should ensure the validity of the payment before handing over an item to a potential buyer, even if the buyer would like to inspect it before buying.

Tips for buyers

Like being a seller, buyers should learn about the seller before making a transaction. If the seller’s profile provides little information or was created recently, be wary. One should also be cautious if the asking price is much lower than the item’s value, especially if the seller indicates the item is new or rarely used. Asking questions and requesting more photos was also important. Reverse image searches can be done using search engines like “Google Images” to see if the item is listed somewhere else. Buyers should always ask to see the item before making a payment to spot any anomalies from a distance.