Police in the Tunapuna district are investigating a larceny trick after a man was allegedly defrauded of $8,000 in a fraudulent online vehicle sale involving a fake advertisement on Facebook Marketplace.

According to reports, the victim’s wife first came across an advertisement last Friday for a white Nissan Wingroad purportedly being sold for a down payment of $8,000, followed by monthly instalments of $1,900 over 24 months.

Believing the offer to be legitimate, she forwarded the seller’s contact details to her husband, who later made direct contact with the purported dealer via WhatsApp.

The victim reportedly received a call from a female voice using a local mobile number, during which instructions were given for an $8,000 down payment to be made via direct deposit to a specified Republic Bank account.

Later that morning, the man visited a Republic Bank branch in Tunapuna and deposited the requested sum into the account provided.

After the transaction was completed, the suspect allegedly promised delivery of the vehicle at Grand Bazaar. However, when attempts were made to follow up, all communication ceased and subsequent calls went unanswered.

The promised vehicle was never delivered, and the advertisement was later determined to be fraudulent.

No vehicle was ever seen or received by the victim.