Buyer beware on marketplace

Aspiring artist Nicky Taylor is warning others about the risks of buying on Facebook marketplace after being scammed out of almost $500.

Taylor, of Blenheim, bought art supplies from two different sellers on Facebook marketplace this month but has yet to receive any of it.

One of the sellers took her money and blocked her while the other is simply refusing to reply to her messages after being paid.

Taylor said she had reported the theft to police, but she wanted to warn others about how easy it was to lose money on the marketplace.

‘‘One of the guys is still advertising the items as available for sale. Family and friends of mine have got in touch with him, asking if the paints are still available, and he says yes,’’ Taylor said.

A spokesman for Facebook said the issue of scams and fraud was not unique to the social media company.

‘‘It has plagued the internet for years,’’ he said.

‘‘We work to get ahead of scammers and that includes making investments in our enforcement and putting in place real world consequences, including taking legal action. We encourage people to report this behaviour when they see it.’’

However, Taylor said she and her family reported the cases to Facebook and had heard nothing.

‘‘It just shouldn’t happen,’’ she said.

Facebook marketplace listings in New Zealand increased 21 per cent last year.

A police spokeswoman said it is not able to quantify the number of complaints to police about Facebook marketplace, because reports were categorised by offence, not how the offence occurred.

‘‘Online scams, including those operating on Facebook marketplace, are common,’’ the spokeswoman said.