A New Jersey man was arrested for robbing Facebook Marketplace buyers who responded to his ads for video game consoles after he allegedly hit one of the victims with his car, authorities said.
Yassine G. Rahi, 18, of Bayonne, was charged with a litany of crimes for the March 20 hit-and-run, which left an unidentified 22-year-old with “serious bodily injury,” according to a statement from Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
The young con man met the victim at a pre-arranged meetup spot in the small town of Moonachie at about 5 p.m. that day, the statement said.
But instead of handing over the PlayStation 5 he advertised on Facebook, Rahi allegedly took about $275 from the victim and sped off, hitting the hapless buyer in the process.
When the prosecutor’s office investigated, they found a string of similar incidents in northern New Jersey in which a fake seller using fictitious Facebook accounts would lure PlayStation buyers to a specific area, then steal their cash, according to Musella.
County investigators identified Rahi as their alleged thief, the statement said.
They also linked him to a similar rip-and-run in the New Jersey town of Guttenberg on March 26, according to the Hudson County View.
Local and county authorities finally collared Rahi in Bayonne on April 4, the prosecutor’s office said.
Rahi has been charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, fourth-degree theft and other offenses, Musella said.
He was sent to Bergen County Jail, where he is waiting for a detention hearing.
Musella, Bergen County’s top law enforcement official, said in the statement that the alleged robberies were a reminder that people should be exceedingly cautious when buying or selling goods online.
“While various online platforms offer a convenient way to buy and sell property, they also present opportunities for exploitation by dishonest individuals,” he said, adding that people should meet in safe exchange spots, such as their local police department.
“Always meet in public, well-lit areas, and never meet a stranger alone,” Musella said.
“Trust your instincts – if something feels off or too good to be true, it likely is.”
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April 08, 2024 at 03:42AM
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NJ thief used Facebook Marketplace to lure victims with Playstation 5s -- and hit one with his car: cops - New York Post
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