Safety advice around using online selling site issued after reports of robberies

Officers are sharing some safety advice for anyone buying or selling items on Facebook after two reports of robberies this week.

We have received reports of two people being threatened with knives after meeting people they had agreed to sell mobile phones to using the social media network’s Marketplace feature.

The incidents occurred in Long Eaton on 8 April and Derby on 9 April when the phones were stolen after the threats and no payment was received.

We are now urging people to take precautions when selling items in this way, and to report anything suspicious to police.

Safety tips include:

• Check the person’s Facebook profile. Scammers will often pose as someone else, creating fake profiles that have only recently been set up and have very few friends and posts
• If possible, arrange to meet in a well-lit, public place
• Take a friend with you – if you’re meeting a buyer/seller have someone with you and make sure other people know where you are going
• Only use legitimate payment methods and don’t be pressured into using platforms you aren’t comfortable with
• Remember if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to walk away

For more crime prevention advice see Crime prevention advice | Derbyshire Constabulary.

Crimes can be reported to us in a number of ways. See Report | Derbyshire ConstabularyReport | Derbyshire Constabulary for more information.