Facebook Marketplace warning as woman left $10K out of pocket after inadvertently buying stolen car
A Tasmanian woman unknowingly purchased a stolen Fiat Ducato van on Facebook Marketplace, losing $10,000 in the process. Leanne Roney, from Port Sorell, bought the van from Michael Bowerman, who pleaded guilty in court after purchasing it. Bowerman received a fine and community service, but was not ordered to reimburse Roney. Despite contacting authorities and police, Roney faced challenges in recovering the vehicle and money due to the intricacies of the rent-to-buy program used by the van's actual owner, Asset Rental Group.
Consumer groups urge the government to implement stricter anti-scam measures, including the inclusion of platforms like Facebook Marketplace within the federal scam prevention framework.
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