Raleigh man gets taken for a ride with terrifying Craigslist scam

While he escaped serious injury, his shoes were ruined by the asphalt, and he was out a phone and the $900 he expected to receive. That money was set to go toward vet bills for Wallie, a sick rescue puppy he recently adopted.

“We were going to an emergency vet operation, and I was trying to finance that,” Wilson said.

He explained he’s used Craigslist in the past without issues, but will be more cautious moving forward.

“There’s a lot of times where people can get some incredible deals when they do use the Internet to buy things, but there’s also predators on the Internet that look for ways to rob people or either take advantage of them,” Lt. Chris Clayton with Garner Police Department said.

There’s a “Safe Exchange Zone” located outside the Garner Police Department, which is monitored and available for anybody to use to buy and sell items, or for custody drop-offs.

Apex Police Department also has a Safe Exchange Zone.

Wilson says he’s filed a report with Raleigh police. A spokesperson for Crabtree Valley Mall said since the incident is an open investigation, they could not comment further.

In an effort to try and recoup some of those funds, Wilson has set up a GoFundMefor Wallie’s vet bills.

Meetup safety tips

  • Meet in a public place (for example, a fast food restaurant)
  • Be cautious and trust your instincts. If something does not feel right, leave.
  • Meet during daylight hours
  • Tell a friend or family member where you are going
  • Take a friend with you, if possible
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash
  • Do not divulge personal information
  • Be wary of last minute changes in the meeting location

Save any and all communications with the seller/buyer (text messages, emails, voicemails, etc.)

Categories: News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *