Buying or Selling on Craigslist? Ways to Buy and Sell Safely

By Nicholas Cardoso

Five people in Georgia have been reportedly murdered in the last month after arranging to meet with strangers over Craigslist ads that led to attempted robberies.

But these people haven’t been the only one to get more than they bargained for when using Craigslist.

Craigslist, to some, has become associated as much with violent crime as with thrifty deals. The anonymity of the Internet, combined with some lax safety measures, have combined to create a marketplace for criminal activities that continue despite continued warnings.

Peter Zollman, ad consultant and founder of AIM Group, a consulting service for interactive media and classified advertising, has referred to Craigslist as a “cesspool of crime.”

In a 2011 study into crime connected with Craigslist, AIM found 20 murders in connection to the site since its inception in 1995. Additionally, the study reported 74 robberies and at least 31 assaults during that one-year time span between February 2010 and February 2011.

Those numbers appear to be increasing.

A report released by AIM in June of 2014 reported “more than 40 slayings and 30 convicted killers have been linked to Craigslist,” according to CBS News.

“It’s not Craigslist’s fault,” Zollman said to CBS News. “But they could be doing much more to prevent these behaviors.”

Consider, over just the past two years:

• In 2013, 63-year-old Clarence Gardenhire was killed by two men who attempted to rob the man after tricking him into believing he was meeting them to buy an iPhone at an abandoned house in southeast Atlanta. The two men were recently sentenced to life in prison.
• In September 2014, a Roswell, Georgia, man was killed while attempting to sell his Sony Playstation 4 on Craigslist by a 20-year-old man and his 16-year-old girlfriend. Daniel John Zeitz, 28, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the side of his chest, police said. Police said the man admitted they were at the scene to rob Zeitz of the PS4 he listed on Craigslist.
• In January, a Georgia couple was killed while attempting to buy a vehicle on Craigslist. Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns was charged in the murder of Elrey “Bud” Runion and his wife June Runion. Police discovered the couple shot to death in a wooded area of Telfair County. Investigators believe Elrey Runion planned to meet Towns about buying a 1966 Ford Mustang, but suspect Towns’ planned to rob him of the money he would bring for the car.

Despite instances of death, assault, rape and robbery in connection with Craigslist, people continue to use the popular website. Craigslist’s website says “the overwhelming majority of craigslist users are trustworthy and well-intentioned” and that the incidence of violent crime is “extremely low.” However, the website offers buyers and sellers tips on how to stay safe.

The website suggests users:

• Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe.
• Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
• Be especially careful when buying/selling high-value items.
• Tell a friend or family member where you’re going.
• Take cell phones along if you have one.
• Consider having a friend accompany you.
• Trust your instincts.

Additionally, police departments around the country have started offering their parking lots or building lobbies as safe places for Craigslist transactions. Police in Woodstock, Georgia, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Department have offered their police stations as a safe place for Craigslist transactions, according to MSNBC.

Zollman said while most major e-commerce and transactional sites like eBay have security and safety measures in place, Craigslist does not, according to CBS News.

“They make hundreds of millions of dollars a year,” Zollman added, “yet they do almost nothing to effectively promote safety.”

Zollman suggested Craigslist sponsor a safe sale event at police stations around the country and strengthen the warnings on its site, CBS News said. “Do your transactions at a police station,” Zollman said to CBS News. “It’simple enough and more and more police departments are suggesting it.”

Multiple attempts made to contact Craigslist via telephone and email inquiries were unsuccessful.

Read Also

• Craigslist Deal to Sell Pit Bull Ends in Fatal Shooting
• Robbery Motive for Craigslist Couple’s Murder: Sheriff
• Roswell Man Killed in Fatal Craigslist Robbery
• Three Face Murder Charges After Body Discovered