Sarnia police are urging residents to be more cautious with online transactions after receiving multiple reports of Facebook Marketplace scams.
A spokesperson for the police service told Sarnia News Today four formal reports had been filed in the last few weeks and "a number of additional unreported cases" were uncovered through an investigation.
"It is important that buyers and sellers alike take steps to protect themselves when purchasing online, particularly in a forum like Marketplace where there is not always a way to legitimize sellers or purchases," read a media release.
The Sarnia Police Service has released a list of recommendations to avoid being scammed.
- Do your research by checking the profiles of sellers and buyers. Look for whether the individual is in your local area, if the account was created recently or has no followers, or if you have mutual friends you can reach out to and verify their authenticity.
- Never send a deposit for an item listed.
- Do not prepay for items.
- Confirm payments have gone through, where possible.