Hamilton, Ontario ,
28
March
2019
|
13:15
America/New_York

Two Hamilton Residents Purchase Fake Phones on Kijiji

Hamilton Police have charged a man involved in selling fake cell phones on Kijiji.

On March 2, 2019, shortly after 8:30 p.m., a Hamilton resident attended the parking lot of 970 Upper Wentworth to purchase a new Samsung Galaxy Note9 for $650.00 which was located from a Kijiji ad. A lone male suspect handed over what appeared to be a newly packaged phone. Shortly after the seller's departure, the buyer realized they had bought a non-operational phone.

Shortly after police identified a second victim who had also located an ad on Kijiji for a new iPhone XR and agreed to meet up with a male at 801 Mohawk Road West to purchase the phone. A male suspect of the same description provided the buyer with a newly packaged phone for $700.00. Only after the suspect left, did the purchaser realize that they also bought a non-operational phone.

Police continued their investigation and located the suspect at a residence in Brampton.

The male suspect was charged with Fraud on March 24, 2019, and released on an Appearance Notice. He is expected to attend John Sopkina Court House in Hamilton on April 23, 2019.

Charged: Male (20-years-old) Brampton resident

  • Fraud Under $5000 x 2

Hamilton Police remind the general public that online purchases should be done carefully. Check out the product thoroughly and inspect it in front of the seller. Always meet in a public place, and never meet anyone alone. Don’t feel uncomfortable by asking direct questions.

The rule “Buyer Beware” should be exercised. If a purchase appears too good to be true it probably is.