A concealed carry permit holder in Illinois defended himself after a would-be Facebook Marketplace robber attempted to steal his vehicle, police said.

According to the Peoria Police Department, the permit holder and a friend met with several other men who were allegedly selling a vehicle via the popular social media platform, Facebook Marketplace.

In a press release, Peoria Police Department’s Semone Roth said once the pair arrived at the agreed meeting spot, they were surrounded by the fake sellers who were armed.

“The investigation has determined that this was an attempted robbery setup and there was no intention to sell a vehicle,” Roth said.

“The Peoria Police Department would like to remind the public to remain vigilant during Marketplace-type transactions,” Roth said. “Use good judgment when it comes to selecting meetup locations that are highly visible and preferably under video surveillance. The parking lot and lobby of the police department are also available to conduct such transactions.”

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. 

She is a native of Massachusetts and is based in Orlando, Florida.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected] and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.