CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ISSUES WARNING OVER RISING FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE SCAMS
Local law enforcement is urging residents to exercise extreme caution when buying and selling items online following a surge in fraudulent activity. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office issued a stark community alert regarding deceptive practices currently targeting users on Facebook Marketplace.
According to officials, scammers are frequently employing a “pay now, pick up later” tactic. Fraudsters often pressure victims to create new accounts on peer-to-peer payment platforms like Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo, or other banking applications, under the guise of securing a transaction.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes critical safety measures for online transactions:
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Never share sensitive financial information or banking details with anyone over the phone.
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Be highly cautious if a buyer or seller requests that you set up a new payment platform account specifically for the transaction.
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Closely monitor all aspects of your sales and purchases to catch unusual requests immediately.
Residents are reminded to stay vigilant, thoroughly vet buyers and sellers, and report suspicious activity to local authorities to help prevent online fraud in the community.
