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At least two people in the U.S. Virgin Islands who expressed their intent while using online marketplaces to purchase goods — which must be completed in-person if those goods are physical — and then met up with the individuals who committed to sell the goods, were faced with attempted robbery by the intended sellers.
These incidents have led the V.I. Police Department to offer its parking lots across the islands to residents to complete transactions that started on online marketplaces.
"Authorities across the nation have repeatedly warned of scams and robberies that can take place if an exchange is conducted at a home or private residence," the police department said. "The VIPD has now seen two incidents where persons in good faith met with potential sellers of items advertised online, only to be robbed when meeting with the seller of the items."
Acting Police Commissioner Mario M. Brooks said, "Not only is [the police department] a public place, if someone has bad intentions, they are more than likely not going to come to the police department to take advantage of you in any way."
"Just this week there was an exchange of gunfire in the Estate Whim area when a buyer met a seller in good faith, and the seller tried to rob the buyer," said the V.I.P.D. "The buyer had a firearm permit. No one was hurt. While one cannot always predict what will happen next, the VIPD, as with other police and sheriff departments nationwide, is offering the parking lots for safe exchanges during daylight hours."
