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A Michigan woman says she lost her life's savings after she was robbed of $15,000 trying to buy a car on Facebook Marketplace

Close up of someone hands holding and counting American dollar banknotes in her hand
Close up of someone hands holding and counting American dollar banknotes in her hand Boy_Anupong / Getty Images

  • Nijme Fardous drove from Michigan to Ohio to buy a used truck from Facebook Marketplace, WLWT5 reported.
  • Fardous was held at gunpoint by the seller and was robbed of $15,000 according to the outlet.
  • Cincinnati police say that Fardous was one of many other victims of the seller's scam. 
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A Michigan woman says she lost her life savings after she was robbed at gunpoint at a meet-up with a used car seller from Facebook Marketplace.

Nijme Fardous drove from Dearborn, Michigan, to Cincinnati after she saw an ad on Facebook Marketplace for a 2020 Ford Explorer listed for $15,000, WLWT5 reports.

According to the outlet, Fardous sent the seller, who police identified as Amanda Renn Griffin, 32, $500 before leaving Michigan with her parents to meet up and the rest of the money in cash. 

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Fardous told the news outlet that something seemed off when Griffin arrived at the meet-up in the truck she was expecting to buy.

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"So, we go to the parking lot. I get into the truck with her, and we're counting the money," Fardous told WLWT5.

Griffin, who arrived with her boyfriend in a separate went to her boyfriend's car during the exchange and came back to hold a gun to Fardous head, according to the outlet. 

Fardous said that Griffin demanded that she exit the truck and then took off with her boyfriend and the cash, WLWT5 reported.

Cincinnati Police Det. Charles Zopfi told the outlet that Fardous was not the only victim of Griffin's scam. 

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"Researching through her Facebook account, I know of at least six to eight other individuals that were victimized," Zopfi told WLWT5.

According to the outlet, Zopfi advised online buyers and sellers to do their transactions at the police station to ensure their safety. 

"What we're asking people to do whether you're buying or selling, arrange with whoever you're dealing with, to do the transaction at any police station. I don't think there's a police station in the state of Ohio that wouldn't be willing to have you do it there," Zopfi told WLWT5.

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