The South African Police Service issued a warning this week about a new trend involving the advertising of goods online, which has resulted in multiple robberies in Tshwane. According to police, this trend is especially prevalent in the Loate policing precinct in Winterveld.

Police warned that criminals bait people by using social media and in particular Facebook’s Marketplace, a buy and sell platform.

The ‘seller’ arranges a meeting place and time with an interested buyer, who is met at the agreed location by a young man. The young man then takes the buyer to a secluded place to supposedly meet the seller.

It is at that second location where victims are accosted by armed men who rob them of belongings and force them to transfer money through their banking applications before the suspects flee the scene, according to Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.

He says some victims were also robbed of their vehicles.

Masondo urges members of the public to be extra cautions when conducting these types of transactions.

“Those that utilise online shopping should only do so through reputable companies or applications and should be vigilant,” he warns.

Masondo offered the following advice:

• Always approach a prospective online buyer or seller with caution.
• Verify the buyer or seller’s online profile.
• Do not disclose any personal information about yourself.
• Avoid meeting a prospective buyer or seller in secluded areas, rather in public spaces.
• If you have any doubts about the buyer or seller, rather end your conversation online.