A Midway Point woman, 31, remains in custody after being charged with multiple fraud-related offences, with the alleged value of the fraud exceeding $11,000. The charges follow an investigation by Tasmania Police into a series of alleged fraudulent activities on Facebook Marketplace.
Police allege the woman obtained items from sellers on the online platform by arranging to meet and purchase them. It is further alleged that during these transactions, she either presented a fake completed bank transfer or cancelled the transfer before the funds were successfully received by the sellers.
As part of their investigation, Tasmania Police executed a search warrant at the woman’s address. This operation led to the recovery of several high-value digital hardware products. Additionally, police seized a range of other items, including further digital hardware products, computers, drones, jewellery, a gaming console, and a diesel generator.
Tasmania Police are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the owners of the seized items. Members of the public who believe they may have been defrauded of items through Facebook Marketplace in a similar manner are encouraged to contact police. They can do so by calling 131 444 or by attending the Bellerive Police Station with proof of purchase, quoting Case 1963.
The woman is scheduled to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday, 5 October.
Tasmania Police also took the opportunity to remind the public about best practices when conducting transactions on Facebook Marketplace to help prevent similar incidents. They advise sellers to always gather details of the buyer and to confirm that funds have been fully received and cleared before allowing items to leave their possession.
The police recommend using payment platforms that offer buyer protection, such as PayPal. They also suggest always meeting in person for transactions and reviewing a seller’s or buyer’s commerce profile to learn more about them. The public is urged to conduct due diligence when dealing with anyone online, to inspect items thoroughly before agreeing to a sale, and never to send money to individuals they do not know. Police caution that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
It is important to note that a person charged with an offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.