Let me say this again

This week I am again prompted to remind you about Facebook fraud. Facebook Marketplace is an unregulated trading platform. While a lot of legitimate people use it, there are equally those recidivist fraudsters who use it purely to exploit victims for cash.

Senior Constable Deb Hann – On the Beat

Yes, I have mentioned this before, but we continue to get complaints resulting from those who are taken in by opportunists and lose money as a result, sometimes large amounts. These losses could have been avoided.

As always, I do not recommend ever making any large purchases involving online payment through Facebook marketplace, sight unseen. If you cannot meet the seller in person to check the item exists and is as described before making payment in cash or online, you are choosing to expose yourself to financial risk.

Fraudsters will often post a photo of an item online and thereafter effectively re-sell the same item repeatedly defrauding people. In most cases, they were never in actual physical possession of the item they were selling in the first place.

When communicating with sellers, look out for any inconsistencies in the language used in their messaging and location details. If it is an overseas fraudster, there may be spelling errors or use of phrases that are not in common use in New Zealand. I would also question whether a legitimate overseas company would sell high value products via Facebook marketplace.

Fraudsters often create fake profiles to commit crime. Check the profile of the person you are dealing – when did they join Facebook, do they have many Facebook friends or follow any pages that indicate normal social media use?  In short, do your due diligence.

When selling items on Facebook marketplace, be wary of overseas based purchasers giving odd stories about why they are buying an item in Cambridge. Do not give away too much information to sellers in advance.

For example, if you provide a purchaser with your home address for item pickup, and then tell them you can’t meet them at a certain day or time as you will be out or away, you are advertising an opportunity for burglary.

In reality,  you simply do not know who is behind any Facebook profile – unless you know them personally – regardless of the name or photo they display.

Finally in the last seven days Cambridge Police have dealt with the following incidents: 12 reports of car crime, seven thefts (retail and other), three fraud matters, a wilful damage, seven family harm incidents, a parole recall warrant, two bail breaches, two drink drivers and five other traffic incidents.

More Recent News

News in brief

24 April 4.30pm Dead fish found in lake – Breaking News Dead fish have been found in Cambridge’s Lake Te Koo Utu over the last two days. In a media release Waipā District Council said…

Alpha funding stalls

The trust behind Kihikihi’s Alpha Hotel believes it is being thwarted to more funding for extensive restoration on the historic building because of its ownership structure. If the hotel had Waipā District Council’s clout, Alpha…

Empty chair for honoured freemason

Cambridge-based freemasons farewelled one of their own this month at an unusual ceremony that dates back to the late 1800s. The ‘Empty Chair’ ceremony was performed by Lodge Copernicus members to mark the passing of…

Waipā’s own home and leisure show

 #waipahomeandleisure2025 #homeandleisure2025 #cambridgenewsNZ  #teawamutunews #waikatobusinessnews #kingcountrynews See: First Show a success See: Waipa’s own home show