Police issue warning after Facebook Marketplace attacks

Police have issued a warning to Australians looking to buy or sell items on online marketplaces after a string of attacks linked to meet-ups.

The warning comes after a "savage" home invasion in Brisbane over the weekend, which saw a group of armed men attempt to rob a marketplace seller, ABC News reports.

Authorities claim offences relating to online marketplace transactions in Brisbane have increased in frequency from once a week to multiple times a day. As such, it's more important than ever for Australians to exercise caution when shopping on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and similar websites.

We have a full guide on how to stay safe while shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, but here's a summary of our top tips.

There are pros and cons to all payment methods when shopping on online marketplaces. Cash is easiest, but it can make you a target—particularly if you're carrying a large sum.

PayID is quick and easy, but it's also the top choice of scammers, so we'd recommend avoiding it altogether.

Our top choice is PayPal as it has built-in security features, but even still, it's not perfect. Bank transfers can also be a solid choice, but waiting times can leave one party at the mercy of the other.

When selling or buying small items, meet in public if possible. For larger items, try to move them outside the front of your home. Essentially, you want to avoid letting anyone enter your home and potentially spotting other valuable items.

If you live in a complex, simply give the buyer or seller the general complex address instead of your unit number and ensure the transaction takes place in a common area.

Regardless of where you meet, be sure to do it during daytime.

A buyer or seller may try and coerce you to discuss your meet-up or payment plans over the phone or in a different messaging app. If they refuse to continue interacting via the marketplace app (where you can get everything in writing), walk away.