As popularity of peer-to-peer sales apps like OfferUp and Letgo rise, so are cases of robberies.

  • Robberies related to peer-to-peer sales apps on the rise
  • Orange County has seen a 138% increase this year
  • Law enforcement urges app users to be careful

“I’m hoping people take a look at this and they learn from other people’s mistakes," said Sgt. Joe Covelli, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. “I don’t think they hear enough that really, truly goes on. We’re in the business of robberies, so we continuously see these trends."

For the last 16 years, Covelli has been working robberies. But, the nature of the robberies changed with the prevalence of social media sales apps, like OfferUp, Letgo, Facebook Marketplace and others.

“I tried doing the Craigslist thing and that was kind of sketchy," explained Alex Colina.

Colina decided to use the app, OfferUp, to sell his old aquarium. It was the first of many sales for the Kissimmee native, who noted it was "easy, almost mindless."

  • LAW ENFORCEMENT TIPS FOR TRANSACTIONS:
    • Bring the exact amount of money you agreed upon
    • Chose a well-lit location, during the daytime, full of people
    • Even bring a friend for the exchange

But that ease is exactly what the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says lures people into a false sense of security.

“It is trouble, because you don’t know what the other person’s capabilities are," said Covelli. “These incidents have also turned into a carjacking, people take the car the person came in.”

In 2017, OCSO dealt with 67 peer-to-peer app robberies. The biggest number of those robberies, 37 percent, were based on transactions through the app OfferUp.

The rest happened following interactions on Facebook Marketplace, Letgo and other apps — including dating apps, like Plenty of Fish.

By this time last year, the sheriff’s office reported eight cases. So far this year, they have 19 -- a 138 percent change.

“The common theme is apartment complexes and cell phones," said Covelli. The sergeant added that many robberies occur at night; gas stations and neighborhoods are common backdrops.

But law enforcement said that there are better options, such as pulling up to designated places for e-commerce exchanges at some police stations, like Orlando Police Department.

It's a spot with round-the-clock surveillance, said OPD Detective Michael Stanley. “You’re out in the open here, you’re not in someone’s parking lot."

OPD, too, is seeing an uptick in these types of robberies, a few times a week.

“There’s unfortunately some people out there who prey on other people," said Det. Stanley.

“[People] need to be more aware and use common sense when they’re going to do this," said Sgt. Covelli.

Colina said that he's not surprised to hear of robberies occurring. But, in order to protect himself, he makes most of his transactions at his local Chase bank.

“I feel like if someone is going to try to pull a fast one, the likelihood of them pulling a fast one will be reduced quite a bit," he said. “Safety is number one. I've got a family I want to get back home to. You’ve got to use your head, you can’t just be trusting.”

The sheriff’s office said that they’ve been working with OfferUp, who hosted a class for detectives working these types of cases, teaching about getting search warrants. And they’re not discouraging users, just encouraging safety.