Not sure how many of you buy from Craigslist, but this would have to be a worst case scenario for anyone answering a for sale ad.
http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/919724.html
Craigslist ads result in three robberies in same neighborhood
By CHRISTINE VENDEL
The Kansas City Star
The ad on Craigslist touted a top model iPhone for just $300.
A 27-year-old Kansas City man jumped at the chance to buy the phone.
He called the phone number from the ad, gathered $300 and met the buyer Sunday at Fifth Street and Forest Avenue.
But instead of a great deal, he got a gun pointed in his face.
The same thing happened to a 21-year-old man three hours earlier and five blocks away.
Kansas City police also are investigating the October robbery of a 25-year-old man who responded to an iPhone ad on Craigslist, an online classified service.
All three holdups were within seven blocks of each other north of the downtown loop.
Kansas City police said they recalled two other Craigslist-related robberies in the past two years, including one where a woman was robbed of several thousand dollars when she tried to buy a car.
But those crimes appeared to be isolated, police said — unlike the recent trio huddled in the same neighborhood.
The criminals used the same phone number in two of the ads. One phone number from the ads also was used to advertise an Xbox 360.
Detectives are working leads in all three cases and think there may be more victims who haven’t reported the crimes out of fear or embarrassment.
Descriptions of the suspects in each crime varied. Police think two to six people could be working together.
A Craigslist spokeswoman did not answer questions, but the company Web site offers personal safety advice and tips on how to avoid scams. The site also notes that most users are trustworthy and says, “the incidence of violent crime has been extremely low.”
The most recent Kansas City victim said he had a bad feeling when he pulled into the dark parking lot near Fifth and Forest about 8:30 p.m. and saw two men looking around. Something about their actions made him fearful.
“I thought about driving away. I almost left,” he said. “I don’t know why I stayed.”
The men asked the victim to get out of his car. He refused, thinking he would be safer in his car, with his father.
One man walked up to the car holding a plastic bag, purportedly containing the iPhone. The second man then ran to the window and pointed a gun at the victim’s head.
“Gimme the money! Gimme the money!” the gunman shouted. “Don’t look at me!”
The gunman stole the victim’s cash and cell phone. The robbers fled into a nearby housing project.
Three hours earlier, another victim had pulled into a lot near Fifth and Charlotte streets. After approaching from behind, a robber pressed a gun to his neck and said: “Give me the money!”
Two suspects ran north with $350 and the victim’s cell phone.
On Oct. 31, a similar heist happened about 4:25 p.m. at Fourth and Holmes streets. The victim parked and began talking to the man who he thought was going to sell him an iPhone. A second man appeared from behind a building and ran to the victim’s car, pointing a gun at the victim’s face. The gunman stole $400.
The most recent victim said he had never been robbed before and didn’t realize he was putting himself in danger.
“I thought it was busy around there and people lived around there,” he said. “This was my lesson.”
Robbery Detective Steve Shaffer said the Craigslist robbers are fishing for victims online.
“Robbers who pick victims randomly may or may not find someone with cash,” he said. “These guys are assuring their victims have cash and basically dictating the amount.”
Shaffer said online buyers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and of sellers who insist on meeting after dark and in unknown areas.
He recommended buyers meet sellers in well-lighted, well-populated areas, preferably business parking lots during the day and preferably at stores with video surveillance systems. Bringing a friend or relative helps, but did not prevent two of the three recent holdups.
If buyers feel something isn’t right, Shaffer said, buyers should be prepared to drive away.
“A good deal just isn’t worth it,” he said.
The only thing good about Craigslist are the escorts.