In Southern California, officials are warning of a new Facebook Marketplace scam that left several victims not only without a significant amount of change, but also without the used vehicle they thought they had purchased.
This week, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department arrested three suspects in the scheme that illegally sold rented vehicles on Facebook's popular used shopping platform.
The suspects are accused of renting an undisclosed number of vehicles and then selling them to buyers for cash. The suspects allegedly provided buyers with cloned keys and false vehicle documentation, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
After the transactions, the suspects followed the victims and stole the vehicles, when they then returned to the rental agency and took the cash. Detectives said the scam occurred multiple times in several Southern California counties. The suspects were not immediately identified.
Sheriff's officials said they are looking for additional victims who may have purchased a vehicle from the suspects, and asked anyone involved to call the Regional Auto Theft Prevention Task Force at (800) 299-8727.
As scams on Facebook Marketplace continue to increase and become more complicated, digital professionals are warning users to be especially careful when making any transactions.
To ensure safe purchases, cybersecurity network Gen, which owns and operates the Norton and LifeLock brands, recommends users follow its seven self-protection tips when using Facebook Marketplace or similar secondhand shopping platforms.
- Keep all communications within Facebook Marketplace.
- Pay using a verified payment method through Facebook Checkout; never use a third-party payment app like PayPal or Venmo.
- Make sure the seller's Facebook profile is real before purchasing; avoid new accounts and accounts without a profile picture.
- When selling products, refuse overpayments and instead request the correct amount.
- Keep your personal information secure: Never give out personal information like your phone number, credit card or bank account numbers, or Social Security number.
- Stay away from a deal that seems too good to be true; It probably is.
- Never click on a suspicious link or complete a transaction on an external website.
Customers should also be on the lookout for offers that look suspiciously cheap, sellers asking for a deposit, or offers from a Facebook profile with no friends or limited activity.
