A busy daytime meeting generally gives you better visibility and makes it easier to see the person you’re meeting, inspect the item, and notice what is happening around you.
Ottawa Police and other Ontario police services recommend conducting in-person marketplace exchanges during daylight hours when possible.
If you absolutely have to meet later, choose a location that is well lit and visible rather than an empty parking lot.
And if the other person suddenly says, “Let’s meet somewhere else,” be careful.
A last-minute location change can be a warning sign.
You are under no obligation to follow someone to a second location simply because you’ve already agreed to buy or sell something.
If the new location makes you uncomfortable, cancel the transaction.
Bring Someone With You
The buddy system is one of the simplest safety measures you can use.
Instead of meeting a stranger alone, bring a friend or family member if possible.
Even if the other person is completely legitimate, having someone with you provides another set of eyes and makes the situation less isolated.
Ontario police services commonly recommend bringing a trusted friend or family member when completing online marketplace transactions.
If you cannot bring someone, at least tell a trusted person where you’re going, who you’re meeting, and approximately when you expect to return.
You can also share the person’s marketplace profile and the conversation details with them.
Inspect the Item Before Paying
Safety isn’t only about personal security.
You also need to protect yourself from being scammed.
If you’re buying an expensive item, don’t rush the transaction.
Inspect the product carefully before handing over your money.
If you’re purchasing electronics, check whether they turn on and function as advertised. If you’re buying a designer item or collectible, examine it carefully for signs that it may be counterfeit.
For vehicles, larger appliances, or expensive equipment, take the time to verify important details rather than relying solely on the seller’s description.
Halton Regional Police specifically recommends inspecting goods before giving money to the seller.
And if the seller is rushing you with statements like “I have someone else coming in five minutes,” don’t let the pressure make the decision for you.
A legitimate seller should generally understand that a buyer wants to verify what they’re purchasing.
Be Careful With Payment
Payment is another important part of the exchange.
For cash transactions, count the money carefully before completing the deal.
For electronic payments, make sure you understand exactly when the payment is considered complete.
Be especially cautious if someone sends you a suspicious payment notification or asks you to click an unfamiliar link to “release” your money.
Scammers can create convincing fake payment confirmations.
Don’t hand over an expensive item simply because someone shows you a screenshot claiming that they’ve paid.
Verify the payment through the appropriate official banking or payment application before completing the transaction.
Never Let Someone Pressure You Into Going Home
This is one of the most important rules.
If someone says they need to see the item at your house, or asks you to follow them somewhere private, you can simply say no.
Police services specifically recommend avoiding transactions at private residences and using public locations instead.
You don’t owe a stranger access to your home just because you’re selling them something.
The same applies if you’re the buyer.
If a seller insists on meeting somewhere isolated, consider walking away from the deal.
There are plenty of other listings.
No bargain is worth putting yourself in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation.
What If the Other Person Refuses the Safe Location?
This doesn’t automatically prove that they’re a criminal.
There can be perfectly innocent reasons someone may prefer another location.
However, if you specifically suggest a police-designated exchange area and the other person becomes unusually resistant, aggressive, or insists on moving somewhere secluded, treat that as a warning sign.
You can simply cancel.
Brantford Police explicitly lists refusal to meet at its designated Buy and Sell Safe Exchange Zone as something that should raise concern about the transaction.
Trust your instincts.
You don’t need to prove that someone is dangerous before deciding not to meet them.
These Zones Aren’t Just a Pembroke Thing
The handshake-style symbol may catch your attention because it isn’t something you see everywhere, but the broader idea has been adopted by multiple police services.
Ontario has several variations of these programs, including “Safe Trade Zones,” “Buy and Sell Exchange Zones,” and “Project Safe Trade.”
Ottawa Police operates designated Safe Trade spaces at several police locations. Halton Regional Police has Buy & Sell Exchange Zones in Oakville and Burlington. Brantford Police also maintains designated spaces for online marketplace exchanges.
The names and signage can vary from one community to another.
So if you spot a handshake symbol, exchange-zone sign, or similar marking near a police station, it may be worth checking the local police service’s website to understand exactly what that particular location is intended for.
The Handshake Symbol Is Actually a Pretty Smart Idea
At first glance, a handshake painted on a parking space might seem like just another piece of confusing road signage.
But once you know what it represents, the meaning becomes much clearer.
The handshake represents an agreement between two people.
One person has something to sell.
The other wants to buy it.
The symbol simply provides a safer setting for that exchange.
It doesn’t guarantee that the person you’re meeting is trustworthy. It doesn’t mean police will supervise the transaction. And it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of fraud.
What it does is give people a better alternative to meeting strangers at home, in isolated parking lots, or in unfamiliar locations.
And that can make a surprisingly big difference.
The Bottom Line
If you ever see a handshake symbol painted on a parking space near a police station, don’t assume it’s reserved for employees or ordinary parking.
It may be a Safe Trade or Buy and Sell Exchange Zone, specifically intended for people meeting someone they connected with online to exchange goods.
The Pembroke OPP introduced its Safe Trade spaces at 77 International Drive as a community safety zone for online transactions, and similar programs exist in other Ontario communities.
The next time you sell an old phone, buy a piece of furniture, or find that vintage item you’ve been searching for, consider looking for one of these designated spaces in your area.
Meet in public.
Bring someone with you when possible.
Keep your messages and transaction details.
Inspect the item before paying.
And if something about the meetup feels wrong, don’t be afraid to walk away.
The handshake symbol isn’t a guarantee of safety—but it is a useful reminder that where you meet can be just as important as what you’re buying or selling.
