A man accused of defrauding a Facebook Marketplace seller during a Toronto meeting

A 44-year-old man has been charged with exchanging an envelope containing cash for another envelope containing only paper during a Facebook Marketplace sale in Toronto.

Officers said the accused used the alias “Danny” on the social media platform's buy-sell site and told the victim he was interested in buying some of the items they had posted for sale.

They arranged for a pre-arranged meeting place and the accused wore a surgical mask to hide his identity, police said.

He handed the victim an envelope containing cash for the items and induced the victim to hand over the items in an alleged trade transaction.

According to the police, during that exchange, the accused changed the envelope containing the cash to another envelope containing only paper. After the accused left, the victim realized that there was no money in the envelope.

In a statement released on Thursday, officers said Florian Dinka, of no fixed address, has been charged with fraud over $5,000. The accusation was not tested in court.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them anonymously at 416-808-3200 or Crime Stoppers.