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The Niagara Regional Police Service would like to warn the public about a Facebook Marketplace Scam that has been on the rise.

Detectives have received information that fake sellers on Facebook Marketplace are posting items for sale on a fake Facebook account however they are asking the buyers for an e-transfer as a deposit before receiving the item. Once an e-transfer deposit is sent the account goes down and the seller no longer replies to the buyer.
 
Detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service are offering some tips to keep yourself safe:
 
• Do not send an e-transfer prior to getting the items
 
• Locate and verify the sellers contact information (address, phone number, email) before you buy.
 
• Look for customer reviews and ratings from third-party sources.
 
• Pick-up items and provide the payment in person, whenever possible.
 
• Review all email information to make sure they are coming from a legitimate source.
 
• Never transfer funds in order to receive a payment for an item you're selling.
 
• Do an online search to see if anyone has already reported the fraudulent buyer or seller.
 
If you suspect you have been a victim of a scam, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system at 1-888-495-8501.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111 option 3 ext. 1002200.