The Yellowknife RCMP are investigating an attempted armed robbery that took place around 11 p.m. on November 21st. RCMP received a call from the complainant who reported that they had been threatened with a handgun after arranging to buy items off of Facebook Marketplace. The complainant had responded to an add listing Apple Airpods for sale. Arrangements were made for the complainant to meet the seller at a parking lot near a business on Old Airport Road. When the complainant arrived, the seller was with another person. After viewing the product, the complainant indicated that they did not want to complete the sale. The suspect then brandished what appeared to be a handgun and threatened the complainant. The complainant refused to provide any money and the suspects fled in a vehicle.
The information that the complainant provided indicated that the items the suspect presented for sale was not the same item pictured in the listing. This matter remains under investigation with assistance from the Yellowknife General Investigation Section. RCMP have determined that the posting was made under a fake name and attempts to identify the suspects are on-going.
The RCMP would like to caution people who are buying items from online marketplaces. While the vast majority of these sales are legitimate, there are a few things people can consider to ensure that these transactions are safe for both buyer and seller.
- Scrutinize the listing. If the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
- Arrange to meet in a public place during business hours.
- Bring someone else with you when you meet for the sale.
- Ask for additional photos. A person with a legitimate item to sell should be able to send additional photos of the item.
- When selling, make sure you get the money or the e-transfer before handing over the item.
- Be wary of payment plans or delayed payment. If the buyer wants to make payments, or pay in the future and you agree to this, the police are likely not in a position to help you recover the item or the money. In these instances, an extension of credit is given, this constitutes a civil contract that then has to be addressed through a civil court,
Anyone who has information about the reported attempted armed robbery is asked to contact the Yellowknife RCMP at 669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.nwtnu.crimestoppersweb.com. In the event of an emergency call, 911.