Ask an Officer

Question: How can I protect myself when meeting someone from whom I bought or purchased something online? Answer: You should always be careful when conducting business online. Whether it’s using your credit card to make an online purchase or meeting someone in person to conduct a transaction, the Versailles Police Department (VPD) urges you to exercise caution and remain vigilant of potential scams and thefts. We’ve all heard of incidents involving people who fall prey to those who wish to take advantage of others. In order to protect yourself during online transactions, make certain to protect your personal information. You shouldn’t have to provide your social security number, date of birth or PIN numbers when buying an item online. People should only deal with reputable online businesses. People need to think of unknown online businesses as comparable to back alley businesses that operate in the shadows. In order to protect its citizenry, VPD is proud to announce the establishment of an E-Commerce Exchange Safe Zone in front of the new police building. The safe zone includes two designated parking spaces in a high visibility area that are subject to video surveillance monitoring. Citizens are encouraged to use this safe zone to meet people with whom they plan to conduct business. The presence of police personnel and video surveillance should be a strong deterrent to any unscrupulous activity. If you have a question you’d like to ask the VPD, please email it to john@woodfordsun.com.