Three Accused of Scamming Facebook Sellers in Lexington County

In Lexington County, police have taken three people into custody for a series of brazen robberies. The suspects allegedly used Facebook Marketplace to trick sellers into meeting them in a secluded area. Once there, the victims were robbed at gunpoint or given fake money. The alleged crimes occurred in South Congaree, a small town near Columbia. The suspects would arrange to buy items like video game systems and iPads, then meet the sellers at the back of a mobile home park. In one case, a seller was given fake money for a video game system. In another, a victim was robbed at gunpoint during an iPad sale. Police cautioned that online marketplaces can be risky. They recommend meeting in public places or at local government facilities if possible. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs also warned about online scams, especially around the holidays. They advised consumers to be wary of prices that seem too good to be true and to stick with trusted websites.