Western MA Sheriff's Department Warn of New Facebook Marketplace

Massachusetts is full of a lot of really good people, unfortunately, there are still some bad ones out there as well. In an age where people have access to others in so many ways, coupled with ever-growing technology, scams are on the rise.

According to CNBC, there has been a 61% increase in attacks and scams over the past year, and each year, these methods become increasingly sophisticated. The news outlet reports that last year, consumers lost an estimated $5.8 billion to fraud.

The Sheriff’s Office in Berkshire County is alerting the public to the latest ongoing scam reported recently by multiple concerned residents.

In this latest ploy, an individual is contacting members of the community and claiming they must sell personal items on Facebook Marketplace to help cover a family member’s medical and assisted-living expenses. These scammers are using stolen Facebook profiles to appear legitimate or are contacting individuals by phone using spoofed phone numbers.

Berkshire County Sheriff's Office Facebook

Residents are strongly advised not to engage with these individuals on Facebook or elsewhere. Please use caution when buying or selling items on Facebook Marketplace. If you do not recognize a phone number, do not answer the call.
The Sherriff's Office reminds residents to never provide personal or financial information to unknown individuals. Scammers can use this information for a variety of criminal activities.

LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore

The iconic (and at times silly) toys, technologies, and electronics have been usurped since their grand entrance, either by advances in technology or breakthroughs in common sense. See how many things on this list trigger childhood memories—and which ones were here and gone so fast you missed them entirely.

Gallery Credit: Stacey Marcus

Source: Western MA Sheriff’s Department Warn of New Facebook Marketplace Scam

Categories: Articles, Local News