Several people are being duped and robbed as they try to finalise social media sales in dark unknown areas. And the police department is warning people to refrain from carrying out business under these conditions.
In a pre-recorded statement on Wednesday night, police crime prevention officer, Inspector Stephen Griffith, who is also acting public relations officer, said many people were arranging to meet others at night to buy items being advertised on social media, and in some instances were being targeted for criminal activity.
“Several persons arrange for the sale and purchase of items on various social media platforms. In order to finalise these sales, arrangements are made to meet in various locations to complete the physical aspect of the sale. This results in persons travelling alone to areas unfamiliar to them, sometimes at night, where they become targets for criminal activity,” he said.
“Please avoid travelling to places alone with which you are unfamiliar.” Inspector Griffith warned. “Conduct cash transactions in populated places and avoid conducting cash transactions at night.
“Avoid travelling with large sums of money. Purchase items from authentic people or places. Be aware that some items offered for sale may be stolen and remember it is a criminal offence to handle stolen items.”
Griffith told Barbados TODAY in a subsequent interview that people should think twice about the location and time of the sale arrangement before they leave home, noting that if the terms of the arrangement seemed suspicious something was more than likely wrong.
“While some people may not meet these persons, other people are going and when they get at the location what they intended to purchase they do not get and what they had to buy the item with is taken away from them. This message is really to deter people from putting themselves at unnecessary risk and to urge caution when purchasing or buying things that are posted online.”
Griffith said people had creative tactics to entice potential buyers to take up their offers, including offering items such as cellular phones or jewelry at attractive prices.
He added that with the Christmas season approaching, people may be even more susceptible to the schemes as they try to take advantage of items for gifts.
“If you buy something significantly below the market price, you must think carefully about it. You must think about the possibility that this item may be stolen and that handling stolen goods is a criminal offence.
“You have to be wary about the deals you think you may be getting as you could be easily dealing yourself into someone’s hand.”
(sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb)
