Christchurch Police warning Facebook users about buying or selling electronics on the social media’s ‘marketplace.’

Police say they’ve dealt with five cases in the city where offenders create fake profiles and advertise a high-end iPhone or iPad on Facebook Marketplace at a price “that’s almost too-good to be true.”

The offender then arranges a meeting place to make the sale. 

However, police say, in these cases, no sale has taken place and multiple victims have had their own cell phones or cash stolen from them.

In other cases, the offenders will contact the seller of a genuine listing, arrange a time and place to meet, and then steal the item instead of paying for it.

“Canterbury Police are working under the assumption that the five incidents are linked and involve the same offenders.”

In one case on September 23, a person agreed to meet the offender to sell an iPad they had listed on Facebook Marketplace.

Two offenders have met with the victim and run away with the iPad – and have then assaulted the victim who has given chase.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a scam should make a report to Police on 105 or visit their local station.