Concerned about meeting up with strangers to buy stuff? Windsor police are setting up an exchange zone

Have you ever feared being ripped off in a trade or transaction that initiated online?

Maybe you agreed to buy or sell something via Facebook — but had concerns about what might happen during the in-person meet-up part of the deal.

You're exactly the type of person who Windsor police are inviting to use their new Internet Exchange Zone, which should be operational in early April.

"Here's your opportunity if you want a safe space," said Deputy Chief Jason Crowley after a Windsor Police Services Board meeting on Thursday.

"It's well-lit, it's close to the road, and it's on video."

The sign that will be put up at the 'Internet Exchange Zone' on the property of the Windsor Police Service's collision reporting centre. (Dalson Chen/CBC)

The zone consists of two adjacent parking spots in the lot of the collision reporting centre at 2696 Jefferson Blvd.

The location will be under constant video surveillance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Windsor police note that the video feed will not be monitored: No one will be reviewing the recordings on a regular basis.

But if any incident at the location is reported, video evidence will be immediately available to investigators.

A satellite view of the Windsor Police Service's collision reporting centre on Jefferson Blvd. The new 'Internet Exchange Zone' will be in the north end of the parking lot. (Google Maps)

"If anything nefarious happens, it's on camera," Crowley emphasized. "We will investigate any criminality there. Frauds, assaults, anything like that."

One example of a case where such a location would have been useful was the robbery incident that happened in Windsor's east end on the afternoon of March 15.

A 22-year-old male communicated with an individual online about purchasing an item. But when the man met with the supposed seller at an agreed upon location in the 5400 block of Coronation Avenue, he was confronted by two males — one 13, the other 14 — who allegedly threatened him with a weapon and tried to take his money.

"That's exactly what we're talking about here," Crowley said. "This is what we're trying to prevent."

Deputy Chief Jason Crowley of Windsor police speaking with media on March 21, 2022. (Dalson Chen/CBC)

Provincial police have already established several locations of this nature across Essex County.

OPP's Project Safe Trade began in 2016 with two parking spots on the property of the Tecumseh OPP detachment, adjacent to Tecumseh Town Hall.

Since then, OPP have set up similar sites at their detachments in Lakeshore, Kingsville, Harrow, and Leamington.

According to OPP, many thefts and frauds in connection with internet exchanges go unreported.

"If you're doing online purchasing on some social media networks or platforms... you're going to want to come somewhere safe," said Const. Jeff Hare of Middlesex OPP.

Middlesex OPP established their own Project Safe Trade spot earlier this month.

Hare estimates that only around five per cent of fraud victims speak to authorities about it. Most others avoid doing so due to "insecurity and embarrassment," he said.

"They're sending money without actually meeting the seller, without actually seeing the items they're going to buy."

A sign at the Tecumseh OPP detachment promoting the 'Internet Purchase Exchange Zone.' (Dalson Chen/CBC)

LaSalle police created their Internet Purchase Exchange Zone in January 2023. The location is in the parking lot of the LaSalle police station at 1880 Normandy St., which is under constant video surveillance.

"Please be aware that there will be no police involvement in these exchanges, nor will we mediate, document, or be a witness to private transactions. Officers will only intervene if requested, or if the transaction becomes a criminal matter," LaSalle police advised.

According to LaSalle police, the location is "used quite frequently, and we've received some very positive feedback from community members."

A satellite view of the LaSalle Police Service's 'Internet Purchase Exchange Zone.' (LaSalle Police Service)