From today’s news:

A man who listed his CD player for sale on Craigslist was robbed at gunpoint when he and a friend arrived at the agreed-upon meeting point, according to a police report released today.

The victim and the man with him were not hurt in the robbery, which happened about 10:30 p.m. Thursday near NE 15 and Martin Luther King Avenue, an officer wrote in the report. A man contacted the victim by phone in response to the Craigslist advertisement about 9:30 p.m. and said he wanted to buy the CD player, according to the report. The man told the victim he would be standing in the yard of a home a couple of blocks east of Martin Luther King on NE 15.

The victim pulled into the driveway and was approached by two men with guns, the officer wrote. The men ordered the victim and his companion out of the car and took their wallets, the CD player and a DVD player. The robbers allowed the victim and his companion to get back in the car and leave. The victims described one robber as about 30 years old and about 280 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans, and brandishing a black semi-automatic 9 mm pistol, according to the report. The victims described the other robber as about 20 years old and about 6 feet tall and 140 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants and armed with a silver semi-automatic 9 mm pistol.” (Link)

I have previously heard stories of people being robbed while trying to sell jewelry and other expensive items through Craigslist, but never something as inexpensive as a CD player. While most of the people buying and selling on Craigslist are good, honest people, the relative anonymity of the service can make it easy for criminals to take advantage of good, honest people.

The best thing you can do to protect yourself is, if at all possible, perform the transaction in a public place during business hours. One of the best ideas I’ve heard involves meeting potential buyers/sellers at the nearest Walmart gas pumps. They’re simple to find, and absolutely crawling with security cameras. Other alternative locations include the lobby of your local bank, or inside a Starbucks. If a buyer or seller is unwilling to meet you at any of those places, you probably shouldn’t be dealing with them anyway. The hassle of driving a few miles out of your way and the few extra minutes it might take is a small price to pay for the safety a public location provides.

Another good rule is, “the more, the merrier.” As another article pointed out, “thieves hate witnesses.” Having another adult come along for the ride is a good idea, and most people would be willing to do so in exchange for a drink from Starbucks. I know I would.

Additionally, any time you are planning on meeting a stranger, let someone know! Even an e-mail would suffice. Just let people know where you are going and who you plan on meeting. I’ve joked about taking a picture of anyone I meet via Craigslist and texting it to someone else, so that if I end up dead someone else would have a picture of the killer.

My final piece of advice (and something you’ve probably heard all your life) is, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Any item with a shocking low price should be treated with caution. Additionally, any offer from a buyer immediately offering you more money than you were asking for a particular item should probably be reconsidered. In fact, any sense of urgency from any buyer or seller should be investigated further and/or seriously scrutinized.

Among other items, I’ve sold two cars, a motorcycle, and multiple arcade games through Craigslist. Last week I sold two acoustic guitars (the buyer and I met at Sonic, out front, under the lights). While I still endorse Craigslist as a safe way to do business, never let your guard down and always exercise caution when dealing with strangers, no matter how friendly they may seem.