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Police have arrested a man after he allegedly used Facebook Marketplace to fleece people of goods worth more than $150,000.
Yesterday morning, June 5, officers from Waitematā West Police’s tactical crime unit, assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad, conducted a search warrant at a Massey address.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting says police had been looking for the male who was wanted in relation to 17 dodgy deals between November, 2024, and April this year.
“This man was allegedly involved in Facebook Marketplace deals for 17 different vehicles or high-value items, including phones and jewellery.
“We allege this person has attended public places to meet the sellers and do ‘bank transfers’ described as looking very real, including using fake IDs and fake driver’s licenses.
“Unfortunately, the sellers have let the vehicles/goods go with the offender before later realising no transfer has occurred.”
Bunting says the alleged offender has obtained goods worth about $150,000.
“Several vehicles have been recovered and further enquiries are ongoing.”
He says police are not ruling out further charges.
“While it’s a very effective buy and sell platform, it’s also a successful hunting ground for criminals to buy items using a fake bank transfer or sell items that don’t exist and don’t deliver.
“These types of scams can be difficult for police to investigate, so we’re urging those who use the buy and sell platform to exercise caution and do their due diligence first.”
Police encourage anyone choosing to use the buy and sell platform to follow the following advice:
- Insist on meeting to conduct transactions and examine the item before completing the transaction
- Meet in a public place and take a friend
- Do not go into someone’s house or allow them into yours
- Do not deposit money into another person’s account before you have received the item
- Ensure cleared funds have arrived in your account, don’t rely on the seller’s ID, screenshots or viewing funds being transferred on an app
- Learning 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
- Ensure friends and family, especially anyone vulnerable, understand 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
If you believe you are or have been a victim of fraud, contact police at www.police.govt.nz/use-105, or call police on 105 and report the matter.
If you’ve handed over your bank details, contact your bank and immediately suspend your account.
A 36-year-old man was due to appear in Waitākere District Court yesterday facing 17 charges of obtaining by deception.
