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Wiltshire Police have issued a warning to people using Facebook Marketplace to sell items after the incident.
The person, from Ludgershall, sold an old mobile phone through Facebook Marketplace, with the buyer agreeing to pay for the item and postage.
Instead, after receiving proof of postage the person buying the phone blocked the victim without paying for the phone.
The victim contacted Wiltshire Police, who collaborated with another police department and the security help desk of Royal Mail. The parcel was intercepted successfully, removing it from the postal network and reuniting it with the seller.
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PC Matthew Jacob from Amesbury Police said: “The public’s safety is our priority, and we’re committed to tackling online fraud.
“If you ever encounter suspicious activity, stay cautious and report any suspicious activity to us, your bank (if you sent any money), or Action Fraud on 03001232040. Together, we can make our community safer!
“We’re here to protect and inform you about online fraud, especially on Facebook selling sites. Be vigilant against scammers; they may be very convincing with a normal-looking profile, may ask you to send items on next-day signed delivery, may also ask you to show Royal Mail receipts etc.
“Remember, it’s NOT easy to retrieve sent items from the Royal Mail network due to various reasons, and it’s not always possible to intercept them on time.”
You can find more advice here.
