Kamloops Mounties are bringing in two safe exchange zones where people can complete online transactions.

The two “Buy and Sell Exchange Zones” will be located inside the RCMP detachments at 560 Battle Street downtown and at 915 7th Street on the North Shore.

“The goal of this new project is to provide locations where people can choose to complete their online transactions in a safer and monitored environment, in an effort to help reduce theft, robbery, and fraud,” RCMP Constable Justice Lesuk, the officer responsible for implementing the zones locally, said.

“It’s a simple and straight-forward solution that will hopefully provide buy-and-sell shoppers with more comfort when they get to the actual physical exchange of cash and product.”

Both of these safe exchange zones will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

There will be 24/7 surveillance though it won’t be actively monitored. Mounties also caution they will not be assisting with or mediating any of the exchanges that take place inside either detachment.

“Nor does the Kamloops RCMP take any financial responsibility for trades completed or provide any assurance in the validity of items purchased,” the RCMP release said, though they note they will be nearby in the event something does go wrong.

Mounties also released the following tips for people unable to use the two safe exchange zones:

• Conduct the exchange during the day time
• Don’t go alone, bring a friend or family member to come with you
• Go to a public place that has lots of foot traffic
• Limit the personal information you give out as much as possible
• On either side of the exchange, inspect the items as well as the money to ensure they’re not fraudulent
• Utilize the public website at: https://www.cpic-cipc.ca/index-eng.htm to ensure the items being traded are not stolen