FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating numerous reports of Facebook Marketplace and other social media scams, according to a media release from Garden City Police.
Police offered several examples of the scams that include COVID-19 relief, rentals for sale and fundraisers to help people in need.
In many incidents, the scammer will send a photo with their Driver’s License or another form of identification to gain the trust of the victim, express urgency to act, and convince the victim into switching to a third-party option for payment.
A recent victim of an online marketplace scam reported to police of losing several thousands of dollars.
Police urged the public to continue to be vigilant with your online marketplace shopping. If you think it is a scam or if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
Ask questions, do not give out your personal or financial information, and do your own research before you commit to anything. At the bare minimum, if you see something suspicious on any social media marketplace, report it as spam/fraud through that platform.
If you have questions or believe you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report it to your bank and contact police.