Police are once again urging caution when buying or selling items through Facebook Marketplace.
This comes after several incidents of involving a fraudster scamming sellers were reported to Salmon Arm RCMP.
Media relations officer Const. Andrew Hodges, said the fraudster, described as a white male, approximately 40-years old, has met with sellers in Canoe and around 50th Street NE. Hodges said the fraudster has been going after e-bikes and e-scooters, and will claim to have sent an e-transfer to the seller before meeting to acquire an item. Sellers, however, are then unable to receive the e-transfer as it's cancelled after they have left the item with the fraudster and departed, said Hodges in a May 4 media release.
"While using e-transfer is convenient, it does allow opportunities for both buyers and sellers to be scammed," said Hodges. "Salmon Arm RCMP continue to discourage the public from sending or receiving e-transfers from people you do not know, unless it is money you are willing to lose.
"We recommend using cash as much as possible, meeting in public places or even your local police detachment parking lot, and ensuring you have received payment in full before handing over any item(s) you are selling."
Marketplace-related scams were reported to Salmon Arm RCMP earlier this year, including one where the "buyer" had convinced the seller he had sent an e-transfer in the amount of $1,250 for the purchase of a laptop. The seller let the buyer leave with the laptop before the e-transfer was received. The e-transfer was reportedly never received."
