Charlotte woman warns others after man swindles her out of car during Facebook Marketplace meetup

A Charlotte woman, Katonya Douglas, fell victim to a scam when she attempted to sell her 2005 Mercedes CLK Convertible through Facebook Marketplace. After communicating with a potential buyer, Douglas arranged to meet him at a local DMV, where he paid her $1,700 in cash as part of the $4,500 sale price. They completed the transfer of the car title, leading Douglas to believe the transaction was legitimate.

However, the buyer claimed to send the remaining $2,800 via Zelle, and Douglas received a notification confirming the payment. When the funds failed to appear in her account the next day, she realized she had been scammed. "I knew then, that I had been taken for a ride," she said, expressing her frustration and disappointment over the situation.

This unfortunate experience illustrates the risks associated with online transactions, particularly those involving digital payment systems like Zelle, which Douglas now cautions others to avoid. "My advice would be to use cash; accept cash, cash is king," she advised, emphasizing the importance of verifying payment before handing over vehicle titles.

Zelle responded to the situation by stating that they cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy policies, but they encourage users to contact their banks if they suspect fraud. Douglas has since filed a police report, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are investigating the case as a potential fraud incident.

As the investigation unfolds, Douglas hopes her experience raises awareness about the potential dangers of online selling transactions and the importance of using secure payment methods.