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Jacksonville officers: Thieves lure victims with OfferUp, Letgo apps

Jacksonville officers are urging people to use caution when using two mobile apps.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office sent an email to residents saying thieves are using the apps OfferUp and Letgo to lure unsuspecting buyers and sellers, then rip them off.

Robin Clark is an avid user of the two apps.

“You look for items, and you offer a price or pay in full," Clark said. "You meet up with the person, and then you make an exchange for the item. I used it about a month ago and it went smoothly."

Clark said she has never had in issue before but JSO says there has been an increase in reports of people abusing the apps.

Local apartment complexes sent notice to their residents highlighting the message from JSO.

The letter says suspects have had victims meet them at or near apartment communities in the Emerson Street, Powers Avenue and Sunbeam Road areas to purchase items.

They then steal the property and run.

Action News Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson said it’s not the apps that are bad but the people using them.

He said there are ways to protect yourself.

“You’re buying from a person you don’t know," Jefferson said. "You have to make sure you’re protecting yourself as well as your money. You don’t give any money without the goods, you don’t give any goods without the money."

That’s a rule Clarks said people can’t forget, especially when dealing with these apps.

“Safety is always first,” she said.

Police are asking anyone if who uses the app to make any transactions in a public setting or a police substation.