On October 03, 2013, Alex Apps, a native Beaufortonian, was murdered in Charleston County while meeting with two individuals under the impression they wanted to purchase his truck which he had listed on craigslist.com. Although thousands of sales are conducted online or through newspapers every day, stories like Alex’s continue to surface around the country. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents to be careful when buying or selling items. Here are some safety tips to help conduct a safe and secure sales transaction:
1. Meet in a familiar public place:
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Law enforcement agency parking lot (during business hours)
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Commercial parking lot (during business hours)
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Places with lots of pedestrian traffic;
2. Park far enough away that the buyer/seller has less of a chance to see your vehicle;
3. Arrive early to observe the buyer/seller’s behavior. If you become concerned, do not go through with the transaction;
4. Never list your address on a sales ad and never meet at your home or the address of the buyer/seller;
5. Do not post any personal information;
6. If it is a large item that cannot be taken out of the home, have other alert adults with you and avoid appointments late at night;
7. Never let someone in your home when you are alone;
8. Sellers should also remember to ignore offers from buyers who want to send a cashier’s check from out of state or outside the country for an amount in excess of the sale price. In virtually all cases, the checks are counterfeit. If you cash the checks and wire the balance to the buyers as instructed, your bank will hold you liable for the stolen money;
9. Don’t be so desperate to make a sale that you give away your safety.
