Police say two men conspired to commit first-degree robbery by targeting people on Facebook Marketplace.

They say 21-year-old Isiah Bendolph and 18-year-old Shahiem Donald created fake ads using the accounts "YC Spotta" and "YC Shah" to lure victims, mostly to Trumbull Avenue in Bridgeport, on the promise of selling or buying, cars, video game consoles or phones.

Police say one unsuspecting family was led behind a building, where they were threatened with a gun and then robbed.

Bridgeport City Council Woman Michelle Lyons represents the district where police say the robberies took place.

"It's such a sad event happening in their life. It's frustrating, it's horrifying and it's scary," said Lyons of the victims.

Lyons says anybody who plans to use Facebook Marketplace going forward should take advice from the Bridgeport Police Department and insist upon meeting at one location only -- police headquarters at 300 Congress St.

" I believe that's the safest place you could be to have a transaction between two individuals," she said.

Harry Bell, founder of the nonprofit Color a Positive Thought Foundation, grew up on Trumbull Avenue, and says he was heartbroken to hear about this incident.

He says he wants anyone involved in it to remember that Bridgeport is "the city of second chances." 

"If you make a mistake, you can turn it around," said Bell. “Understand what you did wrong but understand that you can correct that."