Sarnia Police officials allege: The Sarnia Police Service continues to receive daily reports of Facebook Marketplace scams and is urging residents to exercise caution when making online purchases, particularly when asked to send deposits for items.
Although these scams are not complex in design, police say they consume considerable investigative resources. Fraud investigators often require multiple judicial authorizations to access the necessary information, and in many cases, investigations trace back to compromised banking accounts of uninvolved individuals.
The scams typically involve a seller requesting a deposit to hold an item—often electronics, vehicles or rental properties. Victims are then left without recourse, as the deposits are irreversible and the seller either disappears or turns out to be using a fake or hijacked account.
Police emphasize that even if a Facebook account appears familiar or trustworthy, it may have been compromised. In legitimate transactions, sellers typically do not request deposits and prefer to meet buyers in person to complete the exchange.
Despite repeated warnings, the number of fraud reports remains high. The Sarnia Police Service is reminding residents to never send deposits for items listed on Facebook Marketplace and to be wary of pressure tactics suggesting others are interested in the item.
Police say these frauds are avoidable and advise the public to stay vigilant when using online platforms to buy and sell goods.
