Leboncoin: a handbag sale turns into a hostage situation

Two young women travelled to Yvelines, between Paris and Trappes, to sell a second-hand handbag to a private individual via the Leboncoin website. The transaction turned into a nightmare when they realised that the buyers were not going to let them go any time soon, and they found themselves taken hostage.

A story of money and a bag gone wrong

A transaction that seemed harmless at first glance turned sour for two young women aged 18 and 22 on the night of Wednesday to Thursday 24 June 2020. It all started when a buyer responded to their ad for a handbag on the Leboncoin website.

The two friends then went to the meeting point at around 9.15pm, in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, to meet the potential buyer who had come forward in response to their advert on Leboncoin, to sell him the second-hand handbag.

But it's when they arrive at the meeting point that the nightmare begins. The buyers pretend to know one of the two young women, accusing her of ripping them off at a previous sale.

Apparently, according to a source close to the case, the previous transaction involved another bag that did not meet their expectations, and they demanded to be compensated. Difficult to negotiate in these conditions, the tone quickly escalated between the two parties, and the buyers decided to use the full force of the law.

The kidnappers use the hard way

So the buyers decide to take it out on them by taking their car keys and phones. And if that wasn't enough, they forced them to stay with them.

To get their way, the kidnappers contacted the husband of one of the two women and tried to blackmail him by demanding that he go to the Plaine-de-Neauphle high school in Trappes with money in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Suspects arrested without difficulty

At the time of the ambush, the suspects, who were in two cars, were intercepted by the police and five men (the three kidnappers and two accomplices) were arrested. The men, aged between 25 and 27, were not carrying any weapons.

Fortunately, the two women were released unharmed. Surveillance was then set up in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, leading to the arrest of two more people. In all, 7 people were arrested and taken into custody at the Trappes police station.

How can you protect yourself against scams between individuals?

We've already written an article on what to do if you've been the victim of a scam on a classified ad site, which we invite you to read. This article will give you essential information on the right reflexes to adopt in the event of a scam between private individuals or even an attempt.

And to protect yourself from these dangerous scams, which unfortunately occur all too often during transactions between private individuals via classified ad sites, we advise you to use a secure payment solution that will allow you to keep track of the seller and check their identity before the transaction. This is totally possible with Obvy, a secure payment method designed for the purchase and sale of goods and services between private individuals, which protects you from all payment scams. So if there are any nasty surprises, you'll have all the information you need to take the necessary steps.