Purchasing goods from Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace seems like a quick and cost effective way to buy and sell goods. It has given people a great platform to sell their unwanted goods, but has also provided criminals an easier way to get rid of their ill-gotten goods.
In South Australia, it is illegal to receive stolen goods and you can be charged with a form of theft. The maximum penalty for receiving stolen goods is 10 years imprisonment. So it’s important to be aware that websites like Gumtree restrict their legal liability to any sales conducted over their platform, including any conduct that may be regarded as illegal. That means if you purchase a 50” TV that turns out to be stolen, you could be left in a sticky situation.
How to protect yourself
Generally, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! When scrolling through, consider the big picture. If something seems off about the transaction, the seller, or the property then it may be safer to look elsewhere. Even though it might seem like a bargain to buy a brand new 50” flat screen TV for $50 with its stickers still on, it could be a trap for thieves to offload their goods for a quick buck.
Avoid these situations by arming yourself with as much information as you can:
- Request proof of purchase or ask about when/where it was purchased – any stumbling on this point should raise a red flag!
- Inspect the property for markings indicating ownership and check if they match the seller
- For larger purchases, such as a car, check beforehand if there are any records with a governing body; Services SA or websites such as carhistory.com.au will charge you a few dollars to do search, but could ultimately save you a few years in jail.
At the end of the day, buying through these online platforms does offer the same level of protection as purchasing from a reputable store, so always investigate private purchases more densely.
If you are looking to buy or sell any large items and require advice on the best way to do it, speak with Matthew, one of our Whyalla lawyers, by booking an appointment today on 8645 7666.
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