What is a safe exchange zone and does Airdrie have it?

In the realm of online shopping, there's often a lingering doubt about the authenticity and condition of purchased items. However, one Alberta community is trying to tackle this concern by establishing a designated spot where residents can safely meet and conduct their transactions.

The Town of High River has revealed a safe exchange zone. This zone provides a neutral, well-lit location that is open to the public 24/7 with cameras (It is also a spot where child custody exchanges can take place) so if something was to go wrong or you were scammed, it would all be recorded. One question being asked by Airdroians is if our city has such a thing.

According to Cpl. James McConnell of the Airdrie RCMP Community Policing Unit, Airdrie currently does not have a safe exchange zone.

"That is something we have considered, but it hasn't materialized yet. We do not have plans in the immediate future for one."

With this being said, McConnell did provide some tips on the best way to handle a situation where you meet up with somebody for a transaction.

"Do not do it at your house, you want a safe and public location. Ideally, you would want a high-lit area with the possibility of security cameras."

Some good places to meet are parking lots of coffee shops and restaurants according to McConnell.

"We also encourage people to bring a friend when they're doing those meets, especially if something seems a little off."

Always inspecting the item you are purchasing is very important to also make sure it's exactly what you thought you were buying.

"We've seen scams where what people have advertised isn't what they're selling. If somebody is using cash, there's the opportunity for counterfeit bills."

McConnell mentioned it might be better to do an e-transfer instead of using cash.

When it comes to scams like this being reported, McConnell mentioned they luckily haven't seen a significant amount.

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM

DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app. For breaking news, weather and contest alerts click here