Attorney General Rokita warns Hoosiers to play it safe when buying or selling online

Attorney General and avid Facebook Marketplace user Todd Rokita is advising Hoosiers to put personal safety first when meeting strangers in person after negotiating online to buy or sell items.'

The warning follows a recent victory by Attorney General Rokita’s appeals team upholding an armed robbery conviction stemming from an agreement made on Facebook Marketplace to buy a cellphone.

“Hoosiers buying and selling through online forums should never let the allure of a good deal get in the way of good judgment,” Attorney General Rokita said. “If an online transaction requires meeting a stranger in person, play it safe. Choose a secure, well-lit and well-traveled public location with plenty of people around. Consider meeting on the property of the local police station or sheriff’s office. No bargain is worth risking your safety.”

In Smith v. State, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the defendant’s conviction for armed robbery following an encounter arranged through Facebook. The victim (the seller) and defendant (the buyer) agreed to meet at the defendant’s house near the University of Indianapolis to complete the sale of a Samsung cellphone. Instead of paying for the phone, however, the defendant forcibly took it and pulled a knife when the seller tried to get it back. The seller then fled.

The defendant challenged his conviction, but the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected his arguments — siding instead with Attorney General Rokita’s appeals team.

“Like many Hoosiers, I enjoy the convenience of shopping Facebook Marketplace,” Attorney General Rokita said. “But this case is a stark reminder that an ordinary online transaction can turn dangerous when you meet a stranger face to face.”

Attorney General Rokita offered the following tips for in-person meetings between online buyers and sellers:

• Meet during daylight hours whenever possible.
• Choose a busy, well-lit public location.
• Consider meeting on the property of a local law enforcement agency or location they have designated as a safe-exchange area.
• Avoid inviting unknown buyers or sellers to your home.
• Tell a friend or family member where you are going and whom you are meeting.
• Consider bringing another person with you.
• Trust your instincts and walk away from a transaction if circumstances seem suspicious or unsafe.

Read the Indiana Court of Appeals opinion online.