Arima man robbed trying to view car for sale in Laventille

AN Arima man was robbed and his car stolen after he went to meet a man in Laventille to view a car he was interested in buying.

Around 10.30 am on August 6, the victim went to Prizgar Lands, Laventille, to see a gold Nissan Almera which was advertised for sale on a local website.

He arranged to meet the seller at the corner of Furness Withy Road. When he got there, the vendor got into the victim’s car and told him to drive to Fatman Lane to view the Almera.

As he entered Fatman Lane, four men ordered the victim out of his car and robbed him of his Samsung cellphone, $150 in cash and his bank card.

They then got into his car and drove off.

The police continue to caution the public against meeting people in unfamiliar locations to do business.

In a media release on their social media pages last week, the police said the Cyber and Social Media Unit (CSMU) and Crime and Problem Analysis Branch was “once again warning members of the public regarding the prevalence of scams targeting unsuspecting online buyers.”

The release said criminals posing as buyers and sellers use fake accounts to advertise electronics and cars.

It said they sometimes use a woman as the contact person to lure victims to a specific location, where armed accomplices carry out the robberies.