Facebook Marketplace Fraud Charges

Cannington Detectives have charged a 44-year-old woman in relation to a number of identity and fraud offences spanning from August to November 2022.

It will be alleged the woman advertised stolen vehicles for sale on social media before selling them for the combined total of $65,000.

Three victims were notified they had been defrauded after attempting to register the vehicles.

The 44-year-old East Perth woman has been charged with:

  • 3 x Gain Benefit by Fraud
  • 1 x Made, Used or Supplied Identification Material with Intent to Commit an Offence
  • 3 x Receiving
  • 1 x Possession of Stolen or Unlawfully Obtained Property
  • 1 x Possessed Drug Paraphernalia

She is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on 1 December 2022.

Detectives are reminding members of the public using online selling sites to sell or purchase a vehicle to:

- Request to see photographic identification from the seller in the form of a valid Western Australian driver's licence and that the details match that of the person they are physically purchasing the vehicle from.

- Do not accept the sale of motor vehicles from persons who are selling on behalf of another person and using prefilled Department of Transport Vehicle Transfer papers in a third-party name.

- Do not exchange personal identification details in the form of digital copies of driver licences to unknown persons as they may be used to facilitate the fraudulent application of credit cards and or purchase of motor vehicles.

Please report any suspicious vehicle sales to Police immediately on 131 444.

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