Facebook Marketplace robbery alert
No one expects to fall victim to a Facebook Marketplace robbery when they choose the popular online platform to sell items.
But there have been a disturbing number of attacks linked to the site, with criminals pretending to be interested in what you’re selling as a ruse to gain access to your home or even rob you in public.
In what started out as a seemingly innocent meet-up arranged via Facebook Marketplace, two men and a woman forced their way into a home in Perth’s southeast. A man was stabbed in the neck and thrown out of his wheelchair, while another resident was also assaulted.
Another brazen attack in broad daylight put a university student in hospital after he was stabbed and robbed when he arranged to meet a potential buyer near an inner-city cafe. The 20-year-old warned people using the platform to be careful.
Then there is the Melbourne pair who staged a fake Facebook Marketplace robbery, with the woman organising to meet the seller of a high-end luxury bag before a man “assaulted” the buyer and fled with the bag. Police say the duo knew each other, sold the bag and split the profits
Facebook Marketplace robberies on the rise
While there has been a rise in Facebook Marketplace scams, with the platform described as “the home of scammers”, the spate of home invasions, violent attacks and attempted robberies has added to concerns about arranging to buy or sell in person.
The more recent Facebook Marketplace robberies come after similar attacks in Brisbane last year prompted police to raise the alarm.
Two men rocked up to a suburban home and tried to pay for a $2000 e-scooter with counterfeit currency and left after an altercation with the sellers. But they returned later with reinforcements and tried to smash their way into the house, first stabbing a dog on the premises and then the sellers, putting them in hospital.
“Our call to people is that if you are advertising expensive items for sale online that you take appropriate measures to ensure your safety,” Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said.
“If you intend on inviting people to your residence to inspect the property there are several safeguards you should take.”
Ways to improve your safety
More than a billion people worldwide use Facebook Marketplace per month, and the vast majority of those transactions would be conducted without a hitch.
But aside from the many faceless scams, where you may not even know who has conned you out of your money, there are risks to selling or buying in person.
It is best to avoid meeting potential buyers at your home address and instead arrange to meet in a safe and busy public place and take someone with you.
This isn’t always possible, particularly if you’re selling something large that is difficult to move or something expensive, that buyers would reasonably want to inspect in person.
In this case, criminologist Dr Renee Zahnow recommends minimising the seller’s access to your property. “Try and get it out the front of your house so the person won’t have to enter and see other valuable items or goods that you might have.”
Choosing the postal route might seem like the safer bet, but there is the risk of the item not being as described or not arriving at all, especially given the prevalence of online delivery scams. If you opt for postage, use a tracked and insured service.
We shouldn’t have to worry about our safety when we’re selling or buying online but it always pays to be cautious. If you have been scammed via Facebook Marketplace, or suspect a scam, make sure you report the scam to Scamwatch and, where appropriate, to the police.
If you aren’t getting the redress you are entitled to, lodge a complaint with us and we’ll help you handle it.
