Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have launched a search for three male suspects connected to a violent armed robbery that grew out of a Facebook Marketplace transaction, marking the latest in a string of similar crimes linked to the popular online classified platform. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has publicly renewed its urgent safety warnings for local residents using peer-to-peer online marketplaces, following the May 11 attack that left a 25-year-old victim thousands of dollars in losses.
According to official police reports, the victim, a resident of Mayaro, had arranged a meeting with a person claiming to be a buyer for personal items he listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The pair agreed to meet at Plaisance Terrace in Laventille at roughly 11:45 a.m. on the day of the incident. While the victim waited for the supposed buyer to arrive, three unidentified men approached him and announced a hold-up at the location.
The attackers robbed the victim of a wide range of valuables before fleeing the scene in an unknown direction. Stolen items include TT$7,000 in physical cash, two gold chains valued at TT$12,000 and TT$300 respectively, eight HY brand movie projectors worth a combined TT$1,864, and an Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max valued at approximately US$500, alongside additional unlisted personal belongings.
In an official media statement addressing the incident, TTPS emphasized that this robbery is not an isolated event. It is one of multiple violent crimes reported to local law enforcement in recent weeks that trace back to transactions arranged through Facebook Marketplace. To reduce the risk of similar attacks on residents, the police service is reiterating its longstanding recommendation that all online peer-to-peer transactions take place at designated “Safe Exchange Zones.”
These pre-vetted safe locations include local police stations, well-lit public areas, and sites equipped with active closed-circuit television surveillance, all of which create a far more secure environment for in-person exchanges and dramatically lower the risk of pre-planned robberies. Police also warned residents to exercise extra caution when interacting with potential buyers or sellers who refuse to agree to meet at an approved safe exchange zone.
Alongside the warning, TTPS released a comprehensive set of safety guidelines for residents conducting transactions through any online marketplace platform. First, users should always verify the authenticity of a buyer’s or seller’s profile before agreeing to a meeting, and review past ratings or feedback to flag any patterns of suspicious behavior. Second, users are advised to view unusually low listing prices as a potential red flag for scams or criminal activity. Third, all in-person meetings should be scheduled during daylight hours in busy public spaces with high foot traffic, and isolated, low-traffic areas should be avoided entirely.
Additional guidelines include thoroughly inspecting any items being purchased before completing payment, using secure, traceable payment options whenever possible, bringing a friend or family member to the meeting for added protection, holding off on handing over purchased items until payment has been fully processed and confirmed, and avoiding carrying large sums of cash when meeting for online transactions.
For residents seeking more information on staying safe while engaging with online social platforms and marketplaces, TTPS encouraged the public to access its *Socially Safe* podcast, which is available to stream for free on YouTube and airs on Trinidad and Tobago Television.