Christchurch police are urging the public to stay vigilant when using Facebok marketplace, after a spike in criminal activity linked to buy-sell exchanges.

Canterbury District Prevention Manager Inspector Ash Tabb told chrislynchmedia.com incidents have included robberies, assaults, and scams.

“We’ve seen over a dozen events in the last year where there’s been some sort of confrontation after an online marketplace exchange,” Tabb said.

“In at least eight of these cases, there were robberies, and three involved very serious assaults. There’s a real concern for public safety in these situations.”

Tabb explained the patterns they’re seeing. “Whether it’s a buyer or a seller, people agree to meet, and when they do, there’s some sort of dispute,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s about the condition of the goods, or we’ve had cases where someone turns up to view something like a vehicle and claims it was stolen from them years ago. This can escalate into violence, with money or the item being taken.”

The risks go beyond physical confrontations, with scams also on the rise. “A lot of people are being ripped off,” Tabb said.

“We’ve had reports of people paying for items that don’t exist, or sellers taking money from multiple buyers for the same item. In these cases, people often don’t receive what they paid for, and tracking down offenders is difficult.”

When asked about the challenges of dealing with international platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Tabb said, “It can be difficult because they’re such a large organisation.

“What we encourage is using platforms with more robust systems, like Trade Me, where there’s better address verification and action is taken if concerns are raised.”

Tabb urged caution when using any online platform. “If a trader wants to meet you in an unusual location, it’s worth reconsidering. They might not want to be identified, or the items could be stolen,” he said. “Always meet in a public place during daylight hours.”

With the holiday season approaching, police are concerned about an increase in fraudulent and unsafe transactions. “Christmas is a time when people let their guard down,” Tabb said. “They’re looking for bargains or offloading unwanted gifts, but as the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

He added, “We’ve seen situations where people meet in random locations at odd hours, like midnight, and that’s when things go wrong very quickly. We advise people to stick to safe practices and always double-check who they’re dealing with.”

Responding to reports of parcel thefts from doorsteps, particularly during the festive season, Tabb acknowledged it’s a growing issue.

“With the increase in deliveries, there’s definitely a concern about theft when no one’s home,” he said. “If someone’s parcel is stolen, their first step should be contacting the courier company. But we encourage people to report thefts to us on 105 as well. If we’re not aware of it, we can’t act.”

 

Tabb stressed the importance of documenting all interactions when buying or selling online. “Screenshot every image, every message, and every transaction,” he said. “If something goes wrong, it gives us much more to work with.”

He also encouraged people to report suspicious activity. “There have been arrests in some cases where offenders were identified, but we can only take action if people tell us what’s happening,” he said.

Tabb summed up the message with a plea for caution. “Be smart, stay safe, and trust your instincts,” he said. “The online marketplace can be a great tool, but it’s not worth risking your safety or your money for a deal that doesn’t feel right.”