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Southern Alberta woman warns against Facebook scammers using random addresses

"Buyers beware." Claresholm resident Paula Berard wanted to receive her Facebook Marketplace purchases this week when several people After showing up on your doorstep, you've reinforced that well-known warning.

On Monday afternoon, two separate people came to her house within two hours of her looking for the same gazebo.

"That's when I realized something was a little off," she said Berard.

Rikki Smathers was her one of those people.

Thinking she had found the perfect arbor, she reached out to her seller on Facebook Messenger and asked if she could see it the next day.

“She actually asked for a deposit.

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Smathers said he sent the deposit because the person seemed trustworthy.

The next day, she received a message that the etransfer had been canceled by mistake.

"When I resent the etransfer, well, I was going to send the full amount," Mr Smathers said. rice field. "I sent you the full $160. I'm on my way now. I'll be there at 2."

See you soon," Smathers said.

When Smathers showed up at her address and she spoke to Berard, she realized she had been tricked.

Bellard said she had one common misconception among all the victims she spoke to.

"You can't get scammed in Claresholm, which means it's not a very big place, so it should be safe," she said Berard.

READ MORE: Social Media Scammers Cause Edmonton Business Problems

Smathers The encounter made her think twice.

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"This will probably cause you to give up." I posted on my Buy, Sell and Deal Facebook page and warned others that profiles posting these items were fraudulent.

Rikki Smathers posted a fraud warning on her Buy Sell and Trade Facebook page in Claresholm. Rikki Smathers

Berard said she moved to Claresholm in March. fake deal.

But after her three incidents in just one week, she hopes her own story will serve as a warning to others.

Do not prepay. Look at that first," said Bellard. “None of us can afford to throw money away.”

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