West Shore RCMP are warning the public after receiving several reports of fraud on Facebook Marketplace.
In the fraud, prospective buyers are asked to e-transfer a deposit to hold an item, but when they try to collect it at a designated spot, the so-called seller isn’t there.
“We wish to warn the public of this type of fraud,” said Cpl. Nancy Saggar. “There is always a risk to buying items online, especially from sellers you don’t know.”
Victims are typically losing from $50 to $100, she said.
Saggar said police are dealing with about 10 of the fraud reports from the last month and a half, with many coming in the past week.
Police offered these tips for purchasing online from Facebook Marketplace and other platforms:
• Check for reviews of the person doing the selling.
• Pay in person and inspect what you are buying.
• Pay in cash and avoid using e-transfers ahead of time.
• Don’t pay a deposit to hold an item.
• Meet the seller somewhere public.
jbell@timescolonist.com
