Woman's House Robbed After Fake Craigslist Post

flanksteak writes "The Seattle Times is reporting that a woman in nearby Tacoma had her rental property stripped of almost everything after someone posted a fake Craigslist announcement that everything in the house could be hauled away no questions asked. When contacted, Craigslist said they would release data about the poster if they were issued a subpoena."

Comments

The Best Idea Ever

[dj245]

I'm a little sorry I didn't think of it first. I would of course use a library or an open wireless AP.

On a related note, I have heard of a story about an ad placed on Craigslist asking for several construction workers for a job and to have their own tools. Workers show up, the guy asks them to deconstruct the house, and leaves. When the homeowner comes home at the end of the day he faces a bunch of angry unpaid construction workers and a demolished house.

That one probably isn't true.

Re:The Best Idea Ever

[sponga]

early 80's?
this happened recently in the last 2 years in Southern California where they demoed the wrong house and the poor Mexican crew had no idea; it especially sucked because all the belongings were in the house and they went through it with a giant bulldozer.

In fact this type of stuff happens all the time around here and especially with parties.
The kids pass out flyers for a party at some elderly persons house who is not home or arrives home when it is prime time for the party; cops show up with the kids running everywhere jumping over the fence and all you have left is a couple of dumb drunk teenage girls who have no idea whats going on. It happens a lot also with houses for sale also since this is such a huge housing market around here.

Another thing that happened around here and I find it funny that it never got news, but when the Dateline came to town in Long Beach,CA and some kids found out about it on craigslist or whatever source. So the kids print up some fliers at school on the printers saying "5 KEGGER, $2 at door girls are free, etc...." and sure enough a bunch of teenage kids show up curiously at the home expecting a party but the cops have to end up moving to a whole new area.

Re:All guilty...

[Sparr0]

I disagree. Most theft statutes require intent. By making the post, the poster effectively stole all of the items from the woman and then gave them away. That people had to come get them is a technicality. They are surely guilty of receiving/possessing stolen goods, but imho they aren't guilty of theft.

I grew up a landlord's son

[toadlife]

I bet my tenant horror stories much more horrifying than your landlord horror stories. Being a landlord, especially one with multiple properties tends to turn the nicest people into complete assholes.

Unfortunately too common

[NMerriam]

I know several people who've been abused through Craigslist -- unfortunately it just proves too tempting an environment for assholes. One friend had his garage pretty much cleaned out (bikes, tools, etc) from a posting on Craigslist saying he was moving and was offering it all free to people who would pick it up.

One friend had her phone number posted when she turned down a second date from some jerk and he posted an ad claiming she wanted men to call her up and tell her how they'd use her -- she was VERY freaked out until I figured out what had happened and got the post removed, then she debated changing her number because guys were calling at 2am and waking her up but I set her up with ringtone groups for which anyone not in the phonebook would get a silent ring. Then she just had to delete dirty voicemails for a few more weeks until the fun wore off and the guys realized she was never calling back.

Re:nothing you can do about this

[bill_mcgonigle]

Blatent criminal activiy is a good reason to release the information. Craigslist needs to do the right thing and expose the perpitrator.

That's the prosecutor's job, not Craig's List. I believe they will do the right thing through the right channels. Satisfying the media's, yours, or my thirst for identity isn't necessarily the right thing, even if we want it.

Besides, Craigslist will probably find the IP is at a coffee house, then there will have to be further subpoenas for more information to find the perp.