Teenagers arrested for Facebook Marketplace scam, attempted robbery

Police have arrested six teenagers they say attempted to rob a man selling an item on Facebook Marketplace. File photo.
Police have arrested six teenagers they say attempted to rob a man selling an item on Facebook Marketplace. File photo.
Image: Esa Alexander

A group of teenagers are under arrest for allegedly luring people wanting to sell household goods into a trap to rob them.

The teenagers laid the bait on Facebook Marketplace, said Western Cape police. Spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala said the Nyanga crime-prevention unit bust the suspects, six teens aged between 15 and 17, on Wednesday.

“The victim was delivering a system, ordered on Facebook Marketplace, in Brown’s Farm, when he was [accosted] by six males who stoned the vehicle in an attempt to rob him.

“Police officers witnessed the ordeal and arrested the suspects and confiscated their cellular telephones.

“The suspects had lured the victim to the location under the guise of being potential customers.”

Gwala said 15 more conversations with possible victims were found on the suspects' cellphones.

TimesLIVE


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