Being a former car salesperson, I’ve listed and sold many used vehicles on Facebook Marketplace with positive success. However, the only one I’ve purchased using the app came from a dealership a few towns over looking to offload a trade-in. Several folks in Mississippi, though, just learned the hard way about just how easy it is to get scammed.

Mississippi police say that on March 12, Kendrick Stubbs of Jackson responded to a vehicle ad on Facebook Marketplace. He approached the deal with a check, which the seller accepted. Stubbs drove off with the car.

It gets worse for a couple of Facebook Marketplace users

Unfortunately, the check was fake.

The seller didn’t realize the check wasn’t real until the next day. By that time, Stubbs had relisted the car on Facebook Marketplace and quickly sold it.

The crimes didn’t end there.

Police say Stubbs followed the car buyer home. Then, he stole the car…again.

As of April 3, authorities had a warrant out for the suspect’s arrest. Charges include several felonies: vehicle theft, false pretense, and embezzlement of a car.

Here’s the lesson

I’ll venture to say that accepting a check from a stranger and letting them leave with something of yours (especially as high stakes as a car) isn’t advisable.

A check isn’t a secure form of payment; it’s just a paper IOU. If it’s no good, it holds the same value as a post-it. This key transaction, while there’s a clear set of victims here, set off the unfortunate series of events in the first place.

Verify a buyer or seller’s identity and follow state title laws. I’m unsure whether the folks selling and buying with Stubbs here had a notary present, etc.

Please help your loved ones understand how to lower their risks of getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace.