The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Tshwane has warned members of the public to exercise caution when buying items through online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace following a growing number of incidents in which buyers have been robbed after arranging meetings with sellers.
According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk, criminals are increasingly using online marketplaces to lure unsuspecting buyers to isolated areas, particularly in parts of northern Tshwane, where they are robbed of cash, vehicles and other valuables. Police say scammers typically advertise high-value items such as vehicles, smartphones, electronics and furniture at attractive prices to entice potential buyers.
“Once a deal is made, prospective buyers are often persuaded to travel to secluded locations where the advertised goods can allegedly be viewed or collected,” said van Dyk. He urged members of the public not to allow the excitement of securing a bargain to override their safety.
“The SAPS urges members of the public not to allow the excitement of a bargain to cloud their judgement. Before committing to any purchase, buyers should verify the identity of the seller and insist on meeting in a safe, public environment where there are other people present,” he said.
Police recommend that transactions with strangers be conducted at shopping centres, busy public venues or police stations. Van Dyk said police are also seeing cases in which victims are persuaded to pay deposits for goods that do not exist, only for the seller to disappear after receiving the money.
Van Dyk said police continue to monitor these crimes and urged anyone who encounters suspicious online advertisements or becomes a victim of fraud, theft or robbery linked to online marketplaces to report the matter to their nearest police station without delay. “Criminals are constantly adapting their methods and are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way they deceive members of the public,” he said.
SAPS has advised online shoppers to follow several safety precautions, including avoiding advance payments before inspecting goods, not attending meetings alone, informing family or friends of their whereabouts and immediately withdrawing from any transaction that feels suspicious or unsafe.
