Authorities also recommend never going alone to meet a stranger. Bringing a friend or family member adds an extra layer of safety and can help spot red flags.
Police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, are urging residents to slow down and take extra precautions when buying or selling items online during this holiday season, particularly through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, where scams and risky meetups can quickly turn dangerous.
Officer Chaudlier Shepherd says one of the most important steps is verifying who you’re dealing with before agreeing to a transaction. That includes checking for a legitimate profile photo, reviewing the seller’s account history and, if possible, calling a listed phone number to confirm the person is real.
Authorities also recommend never going alone to meet a stranger. Bringing a friend or family member adds an extra layer of safety and can help spot red flags. Above all, police say residents should trust their instincts — especially when a deal sounds too good to be true.
“If someone is offering a $1,000 TV for a dollar, that should raise immediate concern,” Shepherd said, noting that unrealistic prices are often tied to scams or setups meant to lure victims into unsafe situations.
To reduce risk, officials encourage completing online transactions at police stations. Many departments allow residents to meet in parking lots or even inside station lobbies. In some cases, officers may be available to stand nearby during an exchange, providing an “extra security blanket.”
Police are also reminding shoppers to stay vigilant when purchasing gift cards, a popular target for scammers. While Prince George’s County Police say they have not seen a recent spike in gift card tampering, residents are urged to examine cards closely before buying them.
If a gift card appears scratched, altered, or otherwise damaged, police recommend returning it immediately and requesting a refund or replacement. Scammers can sometimes drain gift cards before they’re purchased by tampering with the packaging.
Authorities say most scams still originate through phone calls, emails, texts or online messages, and they encourage residents to pause, verify information and report suspicious activity.
For more safety tips or to report a scam, residents can contact the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Call it Christmas in July, Prime Day is a celebration of online shopping deals.
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Have you been holding off on new purchases for your home until this week’s Amazon Prime Day deals? If you’re interested in making your house, condo, townhome, cabin or other dwelling safer, healthier, more accessible, functional, comfortable or joyful – i.e., fulfilling the five facets of wellness design – here are 10 items worth considering today or tomorrow. If you miss these deals, or prefer to shop locally, you can still take inspiration from these suggestions.
Health & Fitness Facet Deals
This facet is about products and home features that enhance your physical well-being. That can include fitness gear, organic products, ergonomic furniture and more. Here are two ideas to increase your health and fitness potential.
Pickleball is a popular sport that gets participants moving fast and continually.
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The fast-moving sport of pickleball, similar to tennis or badminton, can be a great way of enhancing your outdoor space and exercise regimen, without having to fight for court time with the growing numbers of competitors.
Organic towels enhance your hygiene routine without introducing toxic elements into your space.
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Whether you love taking a long, relaxing bath or standing under a rain shower head, pampering your skin with organic cotton towels can make your hygiene rituals healthier. (This idea can also fit into the Comfort & Joy facet.)
Safety & Security Facet Deals
This facet is designed to make your home spaces more resilient, secure and/or private. These two ideas can help.
Adding an exterior, connected security camera can keep your property more secure and your family … [+] safer.
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Outdoor living spaces are getting more elaborate and more widely used every year, it seems, so protecting their safety with a home security system seems like a sound idea. There are numerous options available, both DIY solutions like this one, and elements that are part of a smart home system. This is an affordable way to get the basics covered.
Wildfires, storms, heatwaves, manmade disasters and grid overload can all cause power outages. Having a basic backup can add to your resilience (and functionality) to your home.
Having a power source backup for your home can keep essentials going through the early hours or days … [+] of a blackout.
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Accessibility Facet Deals
Accessibility is defined as making spaces usable for people who might have physical limitations. As we all age, or injure ourselves (maybe playing pickleball!), we can benefit from adding accessibility in our homes.
A portable induction burner makes cooking easier and safer for someone with mobility issues.
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A portable induction burner helps us cook if the range becomes hard to reach, or we’re concerned about the risks of burning ourselves with a gas flame if our vision or balance is failing.
A hands-free trash bin makes waste management easier and healthier.
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Someone with arthritis, Parkinson’s or another health condition that makes it hard to operate tricky or heavy lids will appreciate the ease of accessing their trash and recycling with a hands-free can. For those without these concerns, there are sanitary, safety and functionality benefits in not having to touch a lid with messy hands.
Functionality Facet Deals
Adding functionality to your home includes incorporating elements that help you get and stay organized, and accomplish multiple needs with fewer items.
A camp blanket is a versatile item to keep warm on a chilly night, picnic on or even roll under your … [+] knees for gardening.
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What makes a camping blanket functional? Its versatility offers you the option of one item to picnic on or nestle under on a chilly night, even fold on the ground to cushion your knees when gardening. It can fit into the comfort and joy category too!
Comfort & Joy Facet Deals
This facet is designed to make your home spaces more joyful, comfortable and personalized.
A digital frame lets you display and rotate your favorite photographs.
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How many of us thumb through our old photo albums anymore? Displaying your favorite images in a digital frame is a way to add personalization, delight and beauty to a space. And you can change the images as often as you’d like for different occasions and emotional needs.
Give your outdoor spaces the gift of portable music with a Bluetooth speaker.
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If you’re spending more time than ever outdoors, it’s great to be able to bring your music with you. An outdoor-rated speaker you don’t have to worry about getting hit with the sprinkler, pool water or spilled iced tea adds to carefree fun this summer.
Last Words
It’s always a great time to add wellness potential to your home and life, whether you live in a motor home or mansion! There are no affiliate links in this article, and no advocacy for any of the companies whose items are featured; think of them as ideas and inspirations, rather than researched product recommendations.
