JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is urging buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace to take extra precautions before meeting up after a spike in deals that have gone wrong.
JSO says it has seen 12 stolen dirt bikes over a nine-week period, with incidents typically happening in secluded park settings.
In a recently posted Facebook reel, the agency warned that sellers have been letting buyers test ride dirt bikes — only for the “buyer” to take off without paying. In some cases, buyers have also shown up with empty envelopes, pretending to have cash.
It’s not just dirt bikes, either.
Last week, a deal arranged through Instagram turned violent at the Lake Forest Hills Apartment Complex, where JSO says a man was shot after paying a suspect.
“I think it’s very dangerous because there’s no verification of the safety of the people that are selling it or buying it,” said Christine Penn, a Jacksonville resident. “And especially underage children — they’re very vulnerable.”
JSO has provided a list of seven approved meetup locations — six substations and the Police Memorial Building in downtown Jacksonville. The agency says these spots offer more surveillance cameras, heavier police presence and easier access to help if something goes wrong:
- Police Memorial Building: 501 East Bay St.
- District 1 Substation: 5258-13 Norwood Ave.
- District 2 Substation: 9119 Merrill Road
- District 3 Substation: 8875 Liberty Ridge Drive, Suite 110
- District 4 Substation: 3726 Blanding Blvd.
- District 5 Substation: 1767 Kings Road
- District 6 Substation: 1680 Dunn Ave., Suite 39
If a seller or buyer refuses to meet at one of these locations, JSO says that should be treated as a major red flag.
“I’ve purchased quite a lot of stuff and sold on Facebook Marketplace, but I always try to meet up in a public location,” Jacksonville resident Jake Phillips said. “Make sure it’s the middle of the day, know how we’re doing the payment beforehand, if it’s going to be cash or some kind of other transaction like Venmo.”
JSO also suggests taking screenshots of all exchanged messages and profiles, and snapping a photo of the person before completing any deal.
If something does go wrong, JSO says to call the police immediately.