Inside dangerous Facebook Marketplace meetups that have left at least 13 dead including woman who tried buying fridge
FACEBOOK Marketplace is allegedly filled with scammers who use the platform to commit armed robberies and even murder, leaving at least 13 people dead since the start of the pandemic.
Thousands of scammers reportedly take advantage of the online platform that allows users to buy and sell all kinds of items, as Facebook has been unable to prevent fraudulent and dangerous activity.
Marketplace was launched in 2016 and now has more than one billion users.
The postings on the platform are primarily checked by artificial intelligence before being published, which has opened the way for scammers and networks of fake accounts, according to an investigation by ProPublica.
There are about 400 employees who serve as backup to the AI, but they also have failed to prevent fraudulent or dangerous transactions.
Denise Williams, from Pennsylvania, was allegedly stabbed to death when she went to pick up “a cheap refrigerator” she had seen on a listing on the platform, as reported by KIRO7.
Back in April the 54-year-old nurse’s body was found in Joshua Gorgone’s apartment after her family reported her missing.
Authorities said Williams went to the 26-year-old’s apartment to pick up the fridge meant for her boyfriend.
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Gorgone now faces charges of homicide and aggravated assault.
In March, Joseph Vindel’s body was found shot to death in his car in New Orleans shortly after he went to meet up with someone who had expressed interest in buying his dirt bike.
The 29-year-old realtor had posted his dirt bike on Facebook Marketplace for $2,750, according to FOX8.
Jalen Harvey, 20, was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and obstruction of justice.
Authorities questioned Harvey after seeing his messages with Vindel related to the sell of the dirt bike, and Harvey reportedly confessed to the crime.
The dirt bike was found in his patio, according to police.
In May, more Facebook Marketplace transactions turned lethal.
Casey Parten, 21, and his 24-year-old brother Tyler were allegedly trying to buy a a dirt bike from 16-year-old Ashawn Adams when shots were fired.
Adams died at the scene and Casey Parten later died at a hospital, per CBS46.
Melissa Miller, 54, was also killed in May after posting a computer for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Aaron Aiden Rodriguez is accused of shooting Miller dead in her Kentucky apartment when he showed up to supposedly buy the computer, per WNKY.
Back in June, 17-year-old Edward Stokes was charged with the murder of a South Carolina man who was killed while trying to purchase an ATV he found on Facebook Marketplace, as reported by WisNews10.
Alexander Presley, 34, was allegedly shot in front of his wife and two children as they were robbed while trying to buy the ATV.
Presley’s wife said that after Presley handed $4,600 in cash over to Stokes and loaded the ATV to the couple’s car, her husband was attacked from the back and shot.
Stokes then allegedly pointed the gun at her, before getting in her and her husband’s vehicle and driving away.
Kyle Craig was also killed in June while trying to buy an ATV quad bike he saw on Marketplace.
Police believe the 26-year-old from Mississippi took a big sum of money to the meetup and was robbed and shot multiple times.
A juvenile boy who has not been named was arrested and a second suspect, Montavious Landfair, went on the run, as reported by Newsweek.
Additionally, two teenagers were shot dead in July, 2020, as a result of a Marketplace posting, according to Chicago police.
Charlie Perez, 17, and Enrique Gonzalez were killed when they went to meet up with Devion Jones, 18, who had expressed interest in buying Perez’ father’s Honda Civic.
Jones now faces two counts of first-degree murder, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Aside from these violent crimes, ProPublica also found that Marketplace is used for all sorts of scams, involving anything from lottery numbers and puppies to work visas and even vaccine cards.
Both legitimate buyers and sellers have suffered financial losses, hacked Facebook accounts and stolen personal information as a result.
The Sun reached out to Facebook for comment but had not heard back at the time of publication.
However, the company told ProPublica: “All online marketplaces face challenges, and ours is no exception, which is why we’re always working to prevent new ways to scam and defraud people.
“Any suggestion that we aren’t trying to solve these complex problems or protect people who use Marketplace is not only false but misunderstands our entire approach to safety.”
Experts recommend that anyone selling or buying anything online does not meet at someone’s house for the transaction, but instead use a public space as the meetup spot.
To be even safer, it’s good to bring someone along.
Moreover, many police stations have “exchange spots” in their parking lots specifically designed for these type of meetups, per CNET.
Even if the nearest police station doesn’t have an exchange spot, the parking lot of police stations is the safest place to meet a stranger.
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