Don't Be a Craigslist Crime Victim! - How to Buy and Sell Safely

Don’t Be a Craigslist Crime Victim! - How to Buy and Sell Safely: Episode 13 - Show Notes:Who Is the Safe Living Today Podcast For?If you are keen to stay safe in your home, online, and when you’re out and about in your world, this is your show. Host Stephen Carter has more than 40-years experience in law enforcement, as a senior Corporate Security Executive, and a Safety Expert.This, “Don’t Be a Craigslist Crime Victim!" Episode:Have you ever used Craigslist to buy or sell an item? Millions of postings and transactions have occurred on Craigslist. The good news is the vast majority of transactions occur honestly and safely. Sadly, not all transactions are safe and legitimate.Headlines:- “Anne Arundel County Man Charged With Murder in Craigslist Robbery”;- “Glenn Burnie Maryland: A Millersville Man is Arrested in Connection to a Craigslist Robbery and Murder”;- “Baltimore Police Arrest Suspect in Connection With a Sykesville Man Who Came to Baltimore to Sell a Dirt Bike Posted on Craigslist”;- CNN Story: "A South Georgia Man Was Charged With Murder in the Death of a Couple Who Went Missing Last Week After Contacting a Car Seller on Craigslist”;- “Man Charged in Craigslist in West Hartford Sex Assault Makes Multiple Confessions”.In the last case, the suspect claimed, “I just came to get a bike and animalistic instincts kicked in”. Stacking Odds in Your Favor:How can you stack the odds toward safety in your favor when buying or selling on Craigslist?The number one way to ensure your safety in my view is to meet in a public place to transact a sale. The best place is to meet in the lobby of a police station. Howard County Maryland Police Department has a formal program that allows buyers and sellers to meet in the station lobbies. Many other police agencies have similar programs.Actions to help ensure your safety include:- Meet in a public place such as a police station, the lobby of a bank, the food court area of a busy shopping center, a busy coffee shop, or a large store such as a Walmart. People pay little attention to what happens on parking lots, but do pay attention to what happens inside a store.- Avoid meeting on parking lots, in secluded locations, or in private homes unless absolutely necessary to inspect or sell a large item (see additional precautions below).- Use extreme caution when buying or selling items of high value. Ensure you know exactly what you’re buying or selling. Ensure the item is in working order.- Let friends and family know where you’re going and with whom you’re meeting. If possible, take at least one friend or family member with you to witness the transaction.- Both you and anyone who accompanies you should have a cell phone readily available.- Trust your instincts. If there is a tiny voice in the back of your head suggesting something’ is wrong, stop the transaction and take action to assure your safety.- If you’re looking at a large item such as a sofa or washer that requires you to go to the seller’s home, take at least one person with you and preferably two people. One person should accompany you into the residence while the second person waits outside. Everyone should have cell phones at the ready. If you’re selling a large item, have at least one adult with you when a potential buyer is in your residence.- If someone is coming into your home, to the extent possible ensure you have the full name, address, and phone number of the person coming to your home. - If you’re selling an item, take only cash; no checks.- If you’re responding to an ad for a home or apartment rental, be extremely cautious. Scammers will post ads to attract renters to residences they do not own. Listen at time stamp 7 minutes 11 seconds for details about these frauds and how to avoid becoming a victim.Never Miss an Episode:To ensure you never miss an episode of the, “Safe Living Today” show, go to http://SafeLivingToday.com, scroll down to the links to subscribe on iTunes (now Apple Podcasts), subscribe on stitcher.com, or to subscribe on Android. You can also listen to this and prior episodes on YouTube on the http://SafeLivingToday.com website.To email the host, create an email addressed to, [email protected].