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
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.