Minnetonka Police Department: Beware of Craigslist Ads

The following was released by the city of Minnetonka on April 4, 2013:

The Minneapolis Police Department has noticed a trend of victims from western suburbs being lured into Minneapolis when responding to ads.

Classified advertising can be a great way for people to come together and sell or trade goods and services to one another. But it also carries some inherent risks. Many of these transactions are conducted with cash or involve small high value items, either of which can be tempting targets for thieves. Conducting these transactions also involves meeting with people you don’t already know, often in unfamiliar surroundings.

Putting these two together can be a perfect set up for a robbery or a theft.

When responding to a Craigslist or other classified ad follow these safety precautions:

• Always arrange to meet in a well-known, public location. Inside a restaurant or a coffee shop are often good spots. Never agree to meet someone at an intersection or a parking lot.

Don’t let the other person pick the meeting spot. If they can’t come to a place of your choosing, you probably don’t want to do business with them.

• Avoid taking cash to make a purchase, especially for big ticket items. Ask if the seller will accept a cashier’s check, or meet at your bank and conduct the transaction there.

• Trust your feelings and act on them. If you feel uncomfortable at any time while making a transaction, leave immediately.

• Arrive early and check out the location before the other party gets there. If it doesn’t seem right, leave. 

• Ask yourself if this deal is too good to be true. If it is, the item may be stolen, or it may be a setup. Don’t let a great sounding deal tempt you into making a foolish or rash decision.

• Never Go Alone. Most thieves want to get their victims alone. Having one or more friends with you will often deter a criminal from making a move.

• Get as much information as you can about the other person before meeting. At the very minimum get their name and phone number.

• Tell someone where you are going. Always let a friend, family member, or co-worker know about your plans to visit a Craigslist buyer/seller. Make sure they have all the information you wrote down including phone numbers, location, date and time.

Mark D. Raquet, Chief of Police