Chicago police are warning about armed robbers who are using fake social media car listings to lure victims to meet-up locations, where they are robbed at gunpoint. It’s the latest in a string of similar warnings from police about social media marketplace robbery schemes.
According to the new alert, at least two victims were targeted after responding to online ads for a Toyota Highlander. Each victim arranged to meet the supposed seller at a designated location, only to be robbed of their cash upon arrival by a man armed with a handgun.
The first robbery occurred around 2:15 p.m. on July 14 in the first block of East 103rd Street. The second happened just before 4:30 p.m. on July 27 in the 1700 block of West 119th Street.
CPD said the offender used a fake social media account to advertise the vehicle and arrange the meetings. Victims were not harmed, but the department emphasized the danger of conducting cash transactions with strangers.
Police described the offender only as an unknown individual armed with a handgun.
As the investigation continues, police urged the public to use police stations as meeting points for online sales and purchases. Anyone with information about the holdups is asked to contact Area Two detectives at 312-747-8273 or submit tips anonymously at CPDTIP.com using reference #P25-02-020CA.
Earlier this year, two men were charged with robbing people who responded to online ads. In December, a man received a four-year sentence for robbing a victim during a bogus PlayStation sale. One year ago, four people were robbed during four different online sale meet-ups in the 5100 block of South Dorchester. That was preceded by six robberies of people who were lured to the 6300 block of South Morgan to complete a bogus online transaction.
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