THE BAIS HAVAAD HALACHA JOURNAL: Volume 5776 Issue XVII Yisro BUYER BEWARE Purchasing goods which may be stolen By dapted for print from audio shiur delivered by Rav Yehonoson Dovid Hool, Dayan Bais Din Nesivos Chaim, Rosh Bais Havaad L’inyonei Mishpot Yerusholayim

The purchase of second hand goods has evolved over the last few years. Previously, bargain hunters would browse flea markets or pawn shops in search of a good deal. They would clip classified ads or search garage sales for the perfect find. Today’s online marketplace makes it easy to grab a bargain. People buy second hand cars, purchase used cell phones or obtain collector items over the internet. While some merchants may be qualified by the Better Business Bureau or have excellent online ratings, there is still room for shady transactions. In today’s marketplace of “Buyer Beware,” how much does the buyer have to be concerned over the source of the item? As a matter of Halacha, does a buyer need to worry that he may be purchasing stolen goods?