Last month, the Evesham Township Police Department (ETPD) received a report from a victim who stated that they sold a rare Pokémon card for $24,200 after arranging the transaction through Facebook Marketplace.
The transaction took place inside the ETPD Safe Exchange Zone, located in the lobby of police headquarters at 984 Tuckerton Road. During the transaction the suspect paid the victim using cryptocurrency, which was later determined to be fraudulent, according to authorities.
Following an extensive investigation, ETPD officers identified the suspect as Christian Elam, 26, of Philadelphia. Elam was charged with third-degree theft by deception, and second-degree computer-related theft. ETPD coordinated with Homeland Security, and Elam was taken into custody upon returning to the country from overseas. He is currently lodged in the Burlington County Jail pending court proceedings.
The Evesham Police Department reminded residents that their “Safe Exchange Zone” is available for online marketplace transactions. The designation is a safe location that citizens can use for child custody exchanges, or to legally make private property sales and purchases through sites like Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Market Place.
The safe transaction zone was created and implemented in April of 2015 to help protect residents as robberies, thefts and scams become more prevalent with online transaction sites. For larger transactions, residents may also use the police department parking lot, which are also under video surveillance. The lobby and surrounding parking lots are well-lit and monitored by state-of-the-art surveillance system. The lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Police department personnel do not participate in transactions, act as witnesses, provide legal advice, or settle disputes between parties. Transactions involving weapons, drugs, or drug paraphernalia are prohibited. While the Evesham police will not provide police personnel or staff to witness these transactions in person, the building’s video surveillance and proximity to police headquarters is meant to increase the public’s peace of mind when they meet strangers to buy or sell an item.
Additional safety precautions for residents are:
- Police encourage residents to meet at the police station.
- The police station is open 24 hours a day, but police encourage residents to not do transactions at night.
- Residents should never meet in a secluded area, invite strangers to their home, or go to a stranger’s house.
- Use instincts; if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
- Always be cautious when purchasing or selling a high priced item.
Those who wish to use the zone are asked to notify a department representative at the front desk during normal business hours or Central Communications via the white phone in the lobby after hours.
