Selling your cards safely in Hampton Roads
Meeting a stranger to sell something valuable should feel boring and safe. Here is how we meet, how to get paid without getting scammed, and the official police exchange zones around Hampton Roads.
How we meet
At our two spots
The Norfolk Police First Patrol Division, an official exchange zone with a lobby open 24 hours, or Town Center in Virginia Beach, busy and well lit in the evenings. At Town Center we text you the exact spot when we set the time.
At a card show
Text ahead and we meet you inside, surrounded by other collectors and dealers.
At your place, for bigger collections
So you are not carrying boxes across town. Family or a friend is welcome to be there, and you only share an address after you have the offer.
Bring someone with you. A friend or family member is always welcome. We would bring one too.
Under 18? Sellers under 18 need a parent or guardian at the meetup who approves the sale.
Police exchange zones around Hampton Roads
Several police departments around Hampton Roads mark spots for exactly this kind of meetup, and our Norfolk spot is one of them. The others are good options when we come to you for a larger collection and you would rather not meet at home. These come from each department's own page, last checked October 4, 2026. Hours can change, so check the page before you go.
Norfolk
First Patrol Division
3661 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23502
Lobby open 24 hours, holidays included. Parking is limited, so use the front lobby.
Second Patrol Division
2500 N Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA 23502
Reserved exchange parking around the clock. Lobby open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed holidays.
Third Patrol Division
901 Asbury Ave, Norfolk, VA 23502
Reserved exchange parking around the clock. Lobby open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed holidays.
Newport News
Police Headquarters
9710 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23605
Two marked exchange spaces in front of the building, under 24-hour video surveillance. The city asks that exchanges happen between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Chesapeake
Any of the five police precincts
The city says online buyers and sellers can meet in the parking lot of any precinct, or in the lobby where there is one. The precinct list is on the city website.
Williamsburg area (York County)
York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office
159 Goodwin Neck Road, Yorktown, VA 23692
A dedicated exchange area in the parking lot in front of the Public Safety Building, under 24-hour surveillance. Deputies do not take part in the exchange.
Source: York County, Safe Exchange Zone
In Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Hampton we did not find a current official exchange zone page. Our two spots and local card shows are busy, public places, or you can call the police non-emergency line and ask whether you can meet at a station.
Getting paid safely
You are paid in cash at the meetup, once you have looked over the cards together and agreed on a price.
However you are paid, check it before you hand anything over. Count cash where you are. For a payment app, open your own app and see the money there; a screenshot on someone else's phone proves nothing.
The U.S. Secret Service has a short guide to spotting fake bills, and the FTC lists the most common scams against people selling online.
Red flags from any buyer
- Asking you to ship cards before you are paid
- A "payment sent" screenshot instead of money you can see in your own account
- A check for more than the price, with a request to send back the difference
- Asking for a verification code sent to your phone
- Pushing to change the meeting spot at the last minute, or to meet somewhere quiet
- Pressure to decide on the spot
Your information
You never need to give an address to get an offer. The form asks for your name, one way to reach you, and your closest city. Photos are stored privately and only used to make your offer; the privacy policy explains how long they are kept and how to have them deleted.
Hi, I'm Nick. You deal with me from the first text to the handshake, and I will always tell you where and when before we meet.
Questions about selling safely
Do I need to give you my address to get an offer?
No. The offer form asks for your name, a way to reach you, and your closest city, never an address. You only share an address if you want us to come to you for a bigger collection, and only after you have the offer.
Can I bring someone with me?
Please do. Bring a friend or family member to any meetup. Sellers under 18 need a parent or guardian at the meetup who approves the sale.
What is the safest way to get paid for cards?
However you are paid, check it before you hand anything over: count cash where you are, or see the money in your own bank or payment app, not a screenshot. Never accept a check for more than the price, never share a verification code, and never ship cards to someone you have not been paid by.
Ready when you are
Send photos and get a free offer within 12 to 24 hours. You pick the spot that suits you, and you can still say no.