Deltona, FL - Volusia County Sheriff's detectives say that two brothers are suspects in a series of recent rip-offs of West Volusia residents using buy'sell apps like "Offerup" and "letgo." One of them, 27-year-old Marquez Swint (left) was arrested today in an additional DeLand PD case involving the "letgo" app.
The first case for VCSO took place last Friday, October 19, after a Deltona man agreed to meet with "Offerup" user Massaratti Ski. The two met in a Deltona preschool parking lot to sell a Google Pixel phone. The victim realized the $400 in one hundred dollar bills he received for the phone was fake. He followed the buyer to complain, the buyer warned: "I will shoot you in the parking lot."
The next day, Massaratti Ski took advantage of another victim in a Deltona Publix parking lot when he handed the victim four more fake one hundred dollar bills in exchange for a Playstation 4 with games. The suspect got away with the items before the victim realized the money was fake.
That same day, another victim had Massarati Ski come to his Orange City home to buy a motorized bicycle, again with $400 in fake cash. The next victim from DeBary reported that Massaratti Ski bought his moped with fake money and quickly rode away with the title.
The suspect struck again two days later when a DeLand victim told VCSO that someone named Massaratti Ski met him at the tag office and stole the moped.
Marquez Swint was interviewed and charged this afternoon. The charges include robbery, organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and grand theft motor vehicle. VCSO is still looking for Maurice Swint (right).
Investigators warn that even though the buy/sell apps are convenient, they make it easier for criminals to identify potential victims. They suggest using caution when dealing with strangers and to conduct transactions in places with video surveillance.
