Australian councils have begun installing designated safe zones aimed at protecting buyers and sellers using platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree.
It follows a spate of alleged assaults and robberies during online sales, many of which turn out to be scams.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Councils create safe zones for Marketplace and Gumtree buyers and sellers
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The City of Vincent and the City of Stirling, local governments in Perth, are creating designated spaces to make private sales safer.
Both areas in Mount Lawley and Leederville have 24/7 CCTV and extensive lighting.
“One of the reasons why this [Leederville] site was chosen is because of its proximity to the … town centre,” Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon told 7NEWS.
“It’s right next to the train station and we’ve got people who are walking back and forth all the time, so a lot of passive surveillance.
Private sales are not covered under Australian consumer law and police do not have the resources to investigate the growing number of scam sales.
That all means it is up to individuals to keep themselves safe.
Councils are creating safe zones for people buying and selling using Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. Credit: 7NEWSPolice have a number of tips for buying and selling safely. Credit: 7NEWS
The move by councils comes off the back of a series of alleged attacks linked to online sales.
In one, a man was allegedly thrown from the verandah of his home, while in another a man was allegedly slashed during an iPhone sale.
The advice from police is to never stage photos of items you are selling in front of your home or other identifiable locations, never provide your adress and choose a safe place to meet.
Never go alone and make sure you are not followed home.
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