The West Shore RCMP is urging residents to be careful with what they buy and sell online after the detachment received “numerous reports” of fraud on Facebook Marketplace.
The most common scam example that police received featured someone listing an item for sale, then requesting that the buyer send an e-transfer as a deposit to hold the item.
But, when the prospective buyer goes to collect the item, they find it isn’t there, and they are unable to get their money back.
Police are encouraging residents to be cautious with online sales, especially from people they don’t know.
The West Shore RCMP have released several tips on how to protect yourself from scams when purchasing things online, including Facebook Marketplace:
- Check the seller’s reviews
- Pay for the item in person and inspect what you are buying
- Pay in cash and avoid e-transfer ahead of time
- Do not pay a holding deposit fee
- Meet the seller in a public place
“We wish to warn the public of this type of fraud,” said Cpl. Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP media relations officer.
“There is always a risk to buying items online especially from sellers you don’t know,” she said in a release Thursday.
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