September 13, 2024
Facebook has become an easy place to buy and sell goods - but police warn it’s also become a platform for criminals to take advantage of anyone.
Tauranga Police Inspector Zane Smith says Marketplace has become a place for selling stolen items, items that don’t exist, or using fake bank transfers to ‘pay’ for goods, and this type of offending appears to be on the rise.
“Locally, we have seen people lose thousands of dollars through scams, including paying deposits for tiny homes or vehicles that the seller doesn’t own.
“If you’re using online buy and sell platforms, be cautious and always do your due diligence first. Be especially wary of products that are significantly below a ‘normal’ discounted price or investment opportunities that offer extraordinary returns – especially if they involve cryptocurrencies.”
He said there was some simple advice to follow:
Insist on meeting to conduct transactions and examine the item before completing the transaction.
Meet in a public place and take a friend along with you. DO NOT go into someone’s house or allow them into yours.
DO NOT deposit money into another person’s accounts before you have received the item.
Learn more about the person you are buying from or selling to.
“You can tap on a person’s profile on the product listing page to see if you have any friends in common, their Marketplace activity, and any ratings they may have received,” he said.
“Ensure friends and family, especially anyone vulnerable, understands what to do to protect themselves. Be the person to provide that ongoing support and advice.
“Trust your instincts – if it’s too good to be true or sounds like a scam, it probably is.”
Neighbourhood Support Western Bay of Plenty Chair Kathy Webb said it was too easy to fall for the increasingly sophisticated scams that criminals used to steal people’s money or get into their bank accounts using fraudulent website links.
“Never click on a link that a buyer or seller has sent you - it could well be attached to a fake website that looks exactly like a real courier company. Beware of anyone asking you to allow NZ Post or another company to pick up the goods and pay you via a website,” she said.
Neighbourhood Support works to make homes, streets, neighbourhoods and communities more connected, safer and more caring places.
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