Seller beware: N.B. woman tells cautionary tale of online sale gone wrong
A young woman in New Brunswick is telling a cautionary tale about selling items online.
Emily Brannon says she had a disturbing interaction with an unknown man while trying to sell some clothing in a popular online marketplace.
Brannon was cleaning out her closet and put her prom dress up for sale on Kijiji.
A man responded to the ad on Friday, saying he was looking to buy the dress for his daughter. But then, the call took a turn.
“I knew immediately, once his tone changed, that I screwed up and shouldn’t have given him my address,” recalls Brannon. “I panicked, and didn’t know what to do. I just instinctually called 911. It was really scary.”
Brannon says the buyer on the phone threatened harm to everyone at her address.
After calling 911, she shared her unsettling experience online.
“We always tell people, first of all, if they have a contact number that’s one thing, but not to give out the address, and don’t send any money to anybody that you don’t know who they are. And if you’re buying or selling, to always meet in a public place,” says Sgt. Andre Pepin of the N.B. RCMP.
Police also say it’s best to have another person with you, rather than meeting a potential buyer alone.
After sharing her story, Brannon says she received an outpouring of support, and discovered that these kind of incidents are far more common than you might think.
“A lot of my friends, have friends of friends, that it’s happened to as well,” says Brannon. “It’s sad that it happens to other people, but it’s good to know that those people are still safe, even though they got that call too.”
Brannon says police have been following up with regularly since the incident.
She says this was her first time posting an ad to sell an item online, and after her experience, will likely be her last.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.