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Facebook Marketplace scams going terribly awry is becoming an increasingly alarming new trend, it seems.

Earlier this month, two brothers, aged 19 and 30, were murdered in Nelson Mandela Bay after responding to a Facebook advertisement for a television set.

Then, on Saturday, a Kraaifontein couple was severely traumatised after surviving an assault in which they were stabbed and robbed in Crossroads, Nyanga.

IOL reports that Pieter Loedolff and Angelique Hawkins-Loedolff were hoping to buy a Playstation 5 console they found on the Marketplace, but when they went to seal the deal, their worst nightmare came true.

“It was R4 500, marked down to R3 850. We communicated with them and made our way to a Crossroads house,” said Hawkins-Loedolff. “When we stopped there, a lady came out and showed us to go, but it was too late.”

Image: Screenshot

All of a sudden, three guys surrounded them, with one guy holding a gun and a rock at Angelique while the other was busy stabbing her husband, “asking where’s the money”.

“The more my husband tried to get back in the car, the more they pulled him out and then I lay over the hooter to get the neighbours’ attention.

“They took my phone and then ran away.”

Distraught and confused, the woman struggled to make her way out of the area and got lost.

“My husband was losing a lot of blood so was losing consciousness. We saw them run over a field. I was shouting at residents to tell me how to get out as well and all they did was look at me.”

Thankfully, they managed to find a hospital where Pieter was treated for his stab wounds.

Angelique said she was aware of Facebook scammers but didn’t think she would be driving into a trap.

“I always read about Browns Farm being notorious for these events. I would like for other people to know, it’s not just Browns Farm, it’s also the areas near the airport or such as Crossroads where we were,” she said.

“How we are still alive, I don’t know.”

They said they still haven’t heard anything from the police and that reporting at Nyanga police station might prove useless. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said the circumstances surrounding the incident were under investigation and no one had been arrested yet.

“The Western Cape police are concerned about these incidents where people who have used online platforms to advertise or buy goods fall victim to robberies or more serious crime after being lured by criminals acting as buyers to make a delivery in certain areas.

“It is on this basis that we felt the need to caution the public in general that it is not safe to venture into an unfamiliar area to make a delivery, or meet a potential buyer of an item which had been advertised on an online platform such as Facebook Marketplace.

This is why cybercrime experts warn Facebook Marketplace buyers and sellers to perform their in-person transactions at a public place where there are CCTV cameras. Specialised Security Services (SSS) founder, Mike Bolhuis, advises doing more research on the seller before venturing out.

“Although online platforms have made conducting business more convenient, it is crucial to remain vigilant to ensure your safety. If you have any doubts about a transaction, please contact SSS for a thorough investigation,” he says.

He said it is best to thoroughly check the seller’s profile and history on Facebook, including reviews and ratings, if available.

“When you are going to buy online, you’ve got to meet at a public place, I don’t mean restaurant or street corners. Go to the nearest shopping mall, if you’re going to be working with large sums of cash, meet in a bank, ask the tellers to check the money.”

“Never invite someone to meet at your house and never go to theirs either.”

With this method, everyone can feel safe. And as always, better safe than sorry.

[source:iol]