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Tejas Manoj left home at about 5:30 a.m. for DJ decks advertised on Facebook Marketplace at $1,100—far below the approximately $2,500–$3,000 retail range reported for comparable equipment. The listing appeared to be in Perth’s CBD, but the alleged seller sent him more than 200 kilometres to Kellerberrin, with an 8–9 a.m. collection window and a demand for bank transfer before pickup.
When Manoj arrived after roughly two and a half hours, the seller stopped responding. A note on the homeowner’s door said the address was being used in Marketplace scams and that the residents had no connection with the sale. Manoj kept his $1,100, but lost about five hours and a tank of fuel—and was exposed to the risks of travelling alone to an unverifiable private address.
PerthNow reported the incident on July 9, 2025.
What happened, step by step
| Stage | What the report said |
|---|---|
| Search | Manoj, a 20-year-old Perth retail worker and aspiring DJ, was looking for DJ equipment on Facebook Marketplace. |
| The bargain | DJ decks were advertised for $1,100, compared with a reported retail range of about $2,500–$3,000 for comparable equipment. |
| Location change | The listing appeared to be in Perth CBD, but the alleged seller directed Manoj to Kellerberrin, a Wheatbelt town more than 200 kilometres away. |
| Pressure | He was told to arrive between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and to transfer the money before collection if he was not paying cash. |
| The journey | Manoj left at approximately 5:30 a.m. and arrived around 8 a.m., after a roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive. |
| The reveal | The seller disappeared. A warning at the property said the address was being used in scams and the residents were not involved. |
The report also said the account had about 10 listings using photographs sourced from other websites, and that the image for the decks appeared elsewhere online. It does not establish who operated the account, how the address was obtained, or whether every listing came from the same person.
Did the buyer lose the $1,100?
No. Manoj had not transferred the money before travelling, so he reportedly retained it. His losses were time, fuel, inconvenience and potential exposure to an unsafe encounter. Friends told PerthNow they feared he could have been robbed or assaulted at the address.
#1 Best Overall
This distinction matters: he was successfully lured into the scam setup, but the reported incident did not result in the advertised $1,100 being taken from him.
Why the scam looked convincing
A dramatic discount
A price well below the apparent market value creates urgency and makes a buyer more willing to overlook inconsistencies. IDCARE manager Kathy Sundstrom identified unrealistic prices, deposits, gift cards and requests for licences, passports or other credentials as warning signs in the PerthNow report.
Rank #2
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A location that appeared to verify the seller
The public listing suggested Perth CBD, while the private conversation produced a distant pickup point. A real residential address can make a transaction feel verifiable even when the occupants have nothing to do with the goods.
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An 8–9 a.m. appointment narrowed the buyer’s options. After a long drive, a buyer may feel pressure to complete the deal or send money simply because so much time and fuel have already been spent.
Copied images and multiple listings
Reused photographs can make a nonexistent or unavailable item look genuine. Multiple unrelated listings using images from elsewhere can indicate that the account is collecting responses rather than selling possessions.
The homeowner was also an apparent victim
The residents at the Kellerberrin property were not presented as sellers or accomplices. Their notice said the address had been used repeatedly in Marketplace scams. Unrelated buyers arriving at a private home can create fear, confrontation, harassment and reputational harm for people whose address was copied without permission.
Rank #4
The report does not establish whether the address was deliberately selected, copied from another advertisement or obtained in another way. The practical lesson is the same: an address is not proof that the person messaging you owns the goods.
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Red flags to check before travelling
- A price dramatically below comparable items.
- The seller’s displayed location changing during the conversation.
- A remote or private pickup point that does not match the listing.
- A narrow collection window or claims that another buyer is waiting.
- A request for a deposit or payment before you have inspected the item.
- Gift cards, cryptocurrency, irreversible bank transfers or other unusual payment methods.
- Photographs found on retailer sites, older listings or listings in another city.
- Requests for a driver licence, passport or other credentials.
- A seller who becomes unreachable when you arrive.
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
A safer pre-trip process
1. Prove the item exists
- Ask for a current photograph with a handwritten note showing the seller’s name and date.
- Request a live video demonstrating the equipment operating.
- Run a reverse-image search and search distinctive phrases from the listing.
- For electronics, request the serial number and check it where possible.
A reverse-image match is not conclusive proof of fraud, but it can reveal a stock photograph, an old advertisement or another seller offering the same item.
2. Check the seller independently
- Review account age, ratings, reviews and other listings.
- Look for inconsistent names, locations and explanations.
- Ask why the price is below market value and assess whether the answer is specific and credible.
- Do not treat a profile photograph, claimed identity or address as proof of ownership.
3. Make the meeting safer
- Insist on a public, well-lit meeting place; for high-value goods, a bank or police-station-adjacent location may be more appropriate where available.
- Bring another adult and tell someone where you are going.
- Do not travel alone to a remote home carrying substantial cash.
- Cancel if the seller changes the location, refuses a reasonable public meeting or increases the pressure.
4. Pay only after inspection
- Test the item and check that its condition and accessories match the listing.
- Ask for proof of purchase and ownership history where relevant.
- Check whether the device is locked, financed or reported stolen.
- Confirm an electronic payment in your own banking or payment app, never from a screenshot or email.
Cash avoids an immediate transfer to an unknown account, but it does not remove personal-safety risks. Inspection and a safe meeting still matter.
Marketplace protection is not automatic
Using Facebook Marketplace does not by itself make a transaction escrowed or refundable. Meta says Purchase Protection applies only to eligible purchases made through its supported on-site checkout; person-to-person cash, offsite and some local transactions are excluded. Check the payment method’s terms before relying on any protection.
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- Stop communicating with the suspected scammer and send no further money or documents.
- Save screenshots of the listing, profile, messages, phone numbers, email addresses, payment instructions, bank details, photographs and pickup address.
- Contact your bank or payment provider immediately if money was sent; ask what recall or fraud steps are available.
- Report the listing, seller and messages to Facebook. Meta’s reported desktop path is Marketplace listing → Options → Report Listing → Scam; mobile labels can differ by device and account.
- Report theft, intimidation, harassment, impersonation or a safety threat to local police.
- If identity documents were shared, begin identity-protection steps with the relevant government or identity-support service.
- If safe, alert occupants of an address being misused so they can protect themselves and document incidents.
- Ignore anyone promising to recover your money for an upfront fee; recovery scams target recent victims.
Meta’s reporting guidance covers suspected scams involving sellers, buyers and listings. Australian users can also follow Scamwatch’s instructions for reporting scams on Facebook services.
The practical test for any “bargain”
Do not count a physical address, convincing profile and low price as three independent proofs. In this case, the address belonged to an uninvolved resident, the location shifted, the images were reportedly reused and payment was requested before inspection. Verify the item, seller and meeting arrangements separately—and walk away before travelling or paying if any one of those checks fails.
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