Personal safety:
When you meet someone for the first time, adhere to these steps:
- Meet that person in daylight or a well-lit public area; never in a secluded place;
- Do not meet at your home, and do not accept invitations to their home
- Never tell about your hobbies, your job schedule, or favorite places you frequent
- Exercise common sense caution when you trade, sell or buy high value items, have a friend or relative accompany you, if possible
- Always inform a friend or a relative about your plans to meet and carry a cellular phone
- Follow your instincts. If something seems wrong or you don’t feel safe, refuse the transaction and leave
Ways to report a fraud or scam attempts:
https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/report-fraud
https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety
For California – https://oag.ca.gov/report-crime
For Canada – https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04339.html or call 8884958501 (toll-free)