Safe Exchange Zone at Toronto Police Service 31 Division
Buy. Sell. Swap. Meet Safely..
Buying or selling items through online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Craigslist, or other classified websites? Protect yourself by meeting in a safe, public location.
To help reduce the risk of robberies, fraud, and other incidents during online transactions, the Toronto Police Service 31 Division is available as a Safe Exchange Zone for community members.
Why Use the Safe Exchange Zone?
Unfortunately, there have been a number of robberies and thefts involving people meeting to exchange goods purchased or sold online. Meeting at 31 Division’s lobby provides a safer environment and can help deter criminal activity.
Safety Tips
- Meet only during daylight hours whenever possible.
- Tell a friend or family member where you are going.
- Keep communication through the marketplace platform until the transaction is complete.
- Inspect the item before exchanging payment.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Consider electronic payment when appropriate.
- Never invite strangers to your home or go to theirs unless absolutely necessary.
- If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and leave.
Important Information
The Safe Exchange Zone is intended to provide a public, well-lit location for completing online transactions. Toronto Police Service does not witness, supervise, verify, or guarantee any transaction, the quality of goods, or the identity of buyers or sellers. Participants are responsible for conducting their own transactions.
Working together, we can make buying and selling online safer for everyone. We encourage all community members to use the Safe Exchange Zone whenever meeting someone to exchange goods purchased or sold online.