A MAN had his legs crushed by a car and another was brutally bashed after meeting strangers who answered ads to buy a mobile phone.

In separate incidents, the men met with potential buyers of a phone they had advertised on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree respectively.

DANGERS LURK ON INTERNET SALES SITES

But both were robbed of their phones and violently assaulted.

Police have issued a warning for the public to be careful selling items through social media.

On November 16, a 28-year-old man was lured to the Sandown Park station carpark about 8.30pm, thinking he was meeting a buyer of his iPhone as organised through Facebook Marketplace.

But he was punched and assaulted by three men who snatched the bag containing the phone and ran off.

Dandenong detective Sergeant Craig West said these types of incidents were becoming more common.

“It’s a recent trend we’ve seen and people need to be aware,” he said.

“If you’re selling something online make sure you meet in a public place where other people are around. I wouldn’t meet late at night in an isolated place.”

Earlier this month a seller on Gumtree had his legs crushed when the prospective buyer of his phone fled the scene in a black Mercedes SUV.

Kingston detective Matthew Stuber said the pair met at 10pm on November 6 in a residential street and the victim was holding onto the door counting the cash given to him in an envelope when the fake buyer drove off.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL? WHAT HAPPENS IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL?

“He dragged the victim along and he was pulled underneath the car,” Acting Sen-Sgt Stuber said.

“The car ran over both of his legs and he required hospital treatment.”

The envelope contained counterfeit cash.

In another Gumtree scam a Chelsea resident lost thousands of dollars after believing they were securing a rental property.

The scammer answered an ad the victim put on website Gumtree seeking a place to rent and offered a property in Clayton South.

It was agreed by email that a deposit and first month’s rent in advance would secure the home and the victim transferred $3210 into the stranger’s bank account.

They were to meet for a handover of keys on November 11 but when the house hunter arrived at the property they realised, from a board outside, that it was being let by a real estate agent.

“They’ve then contacted the company in question and found out it was a scam,” Kingston detective Acting Senior Sergeant Matthew Stuber said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.