Police hunting 2 suspects who evaded arrest when officers pounced on bogus Facebook Marketplace transaction

JOHANNESBURG - Police are on the hunt for two suspects who evaded arrest when officers pounced on a bogus Facebook Marketplace transaction in Midrand, Johannesburg.

On Monday, seven men were caught red-handed as they attempted to swindle a prospective car buyer of thousands of rands.

The Facebook user arrived at the meeting point with police as a safety measure.

Once the scammers spotted the officers, they opened fire and a shootout ensued, wounding five of the suspects, while two others fled.

Gauteng deputy police commissioner, Fred Kekana, is urging the public to be vigilant when buying on social media platforms.

"I'd like to caution and sensitise our people. We don't say people mustn't be creative and take time to buy things that are publicised and sold on Facebook on Marketplace through social media but before that, just check the authenticity, engage the the police and say: ‘I saw this, I suspect something, can you check on this’, and the police will do their work through our intelligence."