Cyclists across the United Kingdom have been warned of a rise in crimes targeting people selling bikes online. A police force which has seen numerous cases in its area raised the alarm about theft, fraud and robbery offences, with criminals appearing to be “making a business” out of finding victims selling bikes through online marketplaces.
West Yorkshire Police said it had seen several cases involving people travelling to the Bradford South area to sell an e-bike, only to be the victim of theft, fraud and robbery offences. Several sellers travelled from other parts of England, the force warning people across the country “to be cautious” when meeting to buy or sell items from online marketplaces.
In October, we reported that two teenagers from Manchester were jailed over a series of violent robberies which saw victims lured to locations and attacked, the pair deliberately targeting people who were looking to buy a bike from Facebook Marketplace.
The cases highlighted by West Yorkshire Police involved people selling bikes online, specifically electric bikes, which they had brought to the Bradford South area. However, they were met by criminals posing as potential buyers and experienced threats, robbery, or fraud via fake banking apps.
Some sellers had travelled from the North East, the Midlands and Kent, prompting West Yorkshire Police to urge people nationally “to be vigilant”.
“We’re seeing an increase in this particular crime in Bradford where people are stealing these e-bikes when they are trying to be sold on legitimate social media sites,” Andrew Queen, a detective inspector, said.
“The people involved in these kinds of crimes are taking quite sophisticated steps to pose as the buyer, they are creating fake profiles and even stealing other people’s identities. These e-bikes are worth a significant amount of money and sadly people are making a business out of stealing and selling on the bikes. I would ask people who are selling e-bikes to be cautious and help protect themselves of this kind of crime.”
While details of individual cases have not been disclosed, the force suggested sellers would meet the person they believed was interested in their bike, but were “threatened and the e-bike stolen with no payment”.
In other cases, West Yorkshire Police suggested fake banking apps were used to trick sellers into believing they were going to receive the money for their bike. Sellers may think they are putting in their bank details or seeing evidence of the ‘buyer’ sending them money, but no transfer has taken place.
West Yorkshire Police advised anyone looking to sell a bike online to arrange to meet in a well-lit area with CCTV coverage.
“If you do not know the area, do some research beforehand. If they are a legitimate buyer, they should be happy to meet somewhere that suits both parties,” the force said.
The advice also suggested taking a photo or video of the person you are dealing with, checking money has definitely been received before parting with a bike (checking with your bank if unsure).
“Trust your instincts and if in doubt don’t go ahead with the sale,” West Yorkshire Police concluded.
In October, two 18-year-olds from Manchester were sentenced to three-and-a-half years and four years in prison respectively, as police linked them to a series of violent robberies between December 2024 and January 2025.
A series of violent attacks saw victims lured to locations and attacked, the pair deliberately targeting people who were looking to buy a bike from Facebook Marketplace.
Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald from Greater Manchester Police called the string of offences “carefully planned attacks on innocent members of the public, that left their homes in the morning to go and buy a bike”.
2 thoughts on “Concern criminals “making a business” out of targeting cyclists selling bikes online”
This article seems a bit confusing. Is it about people selling bikes or buying them? Also, surely if selling you would expect the potential buyer to come to you to see the bike, not meeting up a dark alley.
Both. In some cases sellers have been robbed of their bikes, in others robbed of the cash they were bringing to buy a bike.
In a buyer’s market one does have to try to accomodate potential buyers as much as possible; several times over the years I’ve agreed to meet people outside my home who want to see a bike I’m selling, mainly commuters into London who’ve asked if we can meet in their lunch hour. Obviously it’s advisable carefully to check their bona fides first (I usually ask where they’re working and call them back on their office line) and to meet somewhere busy; central railway stations, which usually have a substantial police presence, are a good bet.