A COUPLE has warned Facebook users about the resale platform after a terrifying ordeal nearly cost them their lives.
After trying to sell an electric fireplace, the pair faced a dangerous situation that they didn’t anticipate.
Alexis Crews and Christopher Hommel decided to sell an old electric fireplace by posting a listing on Facebook Marketplace, according to a report by local Missouri news outlet, KENS.
Someone named “Hotrod Scott” picked up on the offer but requested that the couple hand-deliver the fireplace to his house in St. Louis.
The man said he would pay the couple extra for the inconvenience.
Since the man’s house wasn’t out of their way, Crews and Hommel decided it wouldn’t be a hassle.
Hommel went to the buyer’s location first and advised Crews to stay in the truck while he helped carry the fireplace inside. The buyer wanted to test if the fireplace worked by plugging it in, a reasonable request according to Hommel.
After the buyer confirmed that the fireplace was functioning, he viciously turned on the couple.
Unexpectedly, the situation took a terrifying turn when the buyer emerged with a pistol pointed directly at him. Hommel expressed disbelief at the extreme response, questioning the buyer about the intention to shoot someone over a simple transaction involving a fireplace worth $240. He highlighted the impact such an action could have, mentioning the potential consequences for both of their families.
“And that’s when he walked closer, and he put the gun to my head and he’s like, ‘You and her better leave now,'” Hommel recalled.
After minutes passed by, Crews told KENS that she started to worry about Hommel.
After calling his phone multiple times, Crews finally saw her partner running towards the car.
Hommel frantically instructed Crews to call the police as they made their exit.
The St. Louis police responded to the harrowing incident immediately.
Authorities also informed the couple that they were not the first to find themselves in such a dangerous situation.
Shocked that this was a repeat occurrence, the couple decided to make a post about the robbery on Facebook to warn others who were buying or selling items in good faith.
Bank tips for avoiding scams
As scams become more sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence, it is important you know how to spot a scam:
- Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
- Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions – be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
- Chase Bank warns customers to “never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.”
- Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
- Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
- Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
- Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.
Source: Chase.com
The post went viral within hours — many consumers shared similar frightening stories.
“There was a cell phone that he stole from a guy. He actually held a AK-47 up to his head, and this was recent,” Crews said. “So he saw the post and he was able to get in contact with the police as well.”
Thanks to the viral post, authorities were able to locate and arrest the suspect.
Crews and Hommel picked up the electric fireplace and brought it back to their house.
However, the incident was hard for either of them to process; Hommel said he was grateful to have made it out of the situation alive.
“I feel like we honestly saved someone’s life. I really do,” Hommel said
The couple advised other consumers to meet buyers or sellers in public spaces to prevent situations like this.
