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16:51 06/06/2023
We’re warning people to be on the look out for red flags to help protect them from social media marketplace scams after a Derby address was falsely given out.
A resident in Allestree contacted us after around 20 people turned up at their door at all different times of the day and night over a two-week period, expecting to collect a motor home or a car which they said they had paid a deposit for.
The sale was arranged on Facebook Marketplace, via the profile of a man which appears to be completely unrelated to the residents.
Using a profile name of ‘Jason Wright’, the man had allegedly given the Allestree address as a pick-up point, and some of the callers had travelled from as far away as Crewe.
Officers are now reminding people of things they should look out for to help them spot if a profile or listing is genuine.
If you think you may have been the victim to a scam like this, and have lost money, you should immediately report the scammer to Facebook, block them and stop any communication. Contact your bank or the payment processor (e.g.PayPal) you have used to try and get your money back.
You should also report it by contacting us on the non-emergency details below or to Action Fraud, the national centre for fraud and cybercrime online here, or on 0300 123 2040: