The WA Government is urging people to be aware of Facebook marketplace scams after one victim lost $700 for what was assumed to be a transaction for car parts.
According to Kelly O’Donnell from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety, the Consumer Protection’s ScamNet team has identified a trend in the sale of fake auto parts through Facebook.
“There is a concerning trend for scammers to impersonate genuine auto wreckers, and car and motorbike parts businesses,” she said.
“Typically, they offer parts, tyres and second-hand engines at too-good-to-be-true prices and will ask for payment in full plus shipping costs via bank transfer.”
Ms O’Donnell said one victim encountered a “two-pronged attack”, whereby the fake parts business had been recommended by another Facebook user, so it appeared legitimate.
“The victim became suspicious when the scammer asked for the second lot of money to be transferred to a different bank account. After questioning this he was blocked and his $700 was gone,” Ms O’Donnell said.
Ms O’Donnell said people were advised to remain sceptical when making purchases through Facebook Marketplace and to conduct thorough research into business profiles before making any purchases.
“When it comes to paying, do not pay via bank transfer,” she said.
“Instead, look for secure payment options like credit card or PayPal, which offer better protection and allow for chargebacks in case of issues.”
Ms O’Donnell encouraged anyone who had been scammed via Facebook Marketplace to report it via the ScamNet website. She also said reporting fake business pages could assist in getting them shut down.
