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Marketplace meetups: how to buy and sell in person safely

Meeting a stranger from an online marketplace? How police safe exchange zones work in the US and Australia, payment red flags, and a quick safety checklist.

Selling an old phone or a piece of jewelry online usually ends with an in-person meeting with a stranger. Most go fine, but the handoff combines two risks: street crime at the meeting spot and payment fraud. After serious incidents, many US police departments now offer “safe exchange zones”.

What is a safe exchange zone?

A marked, well-lit, camera-monitored spot, usually at a police station, where buyers and sellers meet. Victoria Police in Australia runs them at 35 stations, open 24/7 with signage and CCTV. In the Dallas area, NBC DFW lists zones run by Dallas, Richardson, Grapevine, The Colony and Royse City police. The report recalls a December 2024 case in Seagoville, Texas, where a man was killed after meeting a supposed jewelry buyer who, police said, used a fake Facebook profile. Ask your local department whether it has one.

How do you stay safe at the meetup?

  • Keep messages on the platform and share only what is necessary.
  • Meet in daylight in a busy public place or a police exchange zone; bring someone along.
  • Tell a friend where you are going, who you are meeting and when you will be back.
  • Inspect the item on the spot; leave if the plan suddenly changes or something feels off.
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; for expensive items, meet at a police station.

How do you avoid payment scams?

Never accept a screenshot or another person's screen as proof. Check your own banking or payment app and hand over the item only when the money shows in your balance. In Brazil, fake Pix receipts and scheduled Pix transfers that are later cancelled are a common trick; in the US, see our guide to payment app scams and the fake check overpayment scam. Selling a phone? Factory-reset it and remove your accounts first.

More in marketplace scams, Protection tips and the Radar.

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