The Dangers Of Craigslist | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Dangers Of Craigslist

How College Students Can Buy And Sell Online Safely

280
The Dangers Of Craigslist

You’ve been searching the local listings on Craigslist when you come across a listing for a laptop. As a college student, the $600 dollar laptop is affordable and exactly what you need for school. You contact the seller and agree on a meeting point to purchase the laptop.

This exchange sounds like the typical experience thousands of people have every day through Craigslist’s online marketplace. For one particular college student in San Diego, however, an exchange just like this one took a not-so-typical turn.

When Garrett Berki arrived to pick up his laptop, three men got out of the car and robbed him of his money. As he tried to get a license plate number while they drove away, one pulled out a gun and shot him.

For Berki, what should have been a simple exchange between a buyer and seller turned into a grisly homicide. And this particular murder is not an isolated incident.

While it’s true that ‘Craigslist Killings’ only occur during a small percentage of purchases, the number of murders and robberies has been increasing. Just recently, the count for murders linked to Craigslist exchanges surpassed 100, according to the Advanced Interactive Media Group (AIM).

While some murders were simply robberies gone wrong, as with the Berki case, there have been instances where intended killers sought their victims through Craigslist. Three men were murdered after being lured to a farm in Ohio where they were responding to a listing on Craigslist searching for farmhands. Three women were robbed, and one killed, after responding to a Craigslist posting.

Craigslist is an especially attractive option for criminals because of the anonymity that users can take advantage of when buying and selling. Whether you are buying or selling an item, you have no idea who the stranger on the other end of the deal could be. Craigslist has been criticized for the lack of safety and authenticity of listings on their sight.

So what should you do to avoid becoming the victim in the opening scene of the next Criminal Minds episode when looking to buy or sell things online?

One way to stay safe is by setting up meeting points in open, public places,such as the parking lots of police stations or shopping centers. Don't go alone, and get details about who you are dealing with before you meet them in person.

Another way to stay safe is to consider alternative websites or apps to Craigslist. A safer alternative site designed specifically for college students is a recent startup called Twazer.

Twazer is an online marketplace for locally buying and selling secondhand. Unlike Craigslist, where anyone can post anything, pretending to be anybody, you must have a Twazer account to buy or sell. Accounts have to be linked to Facebook or Google Plus, so that you know exactly who you are buying from. You can also message other users directly through the app without needing to give out your cell phone number or email.

Twazer profiles can be built with items and reviews, giving legitimacy to buyers and sellers. With Twazer, you can know exactly who you are dealing with. Twazer also has added safety features that Craigslist does not guarantee. You can flag a user, and the item and user will be taken down while the Twazer Team reviews the claim.

Not only is Twazer the safer option, but it has many added benefits as well. Twazer will not take a cut of the profit from the item you're selling, and because it is targeted toward college students, the app helps promote community building.

Twazer is a safe, efficient, and fun way to buy and sell secondhand, especially for college students.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl with a hat

This is for the girls who have dealt with an emotionally, mentally, physically or verbally abusive father.

The ones who have grown up with a false lens of what love is and how relationships should be. The ones who have cried themselves to sleep wondering why he hurts you and your family so much. This is for all the girls who fall in love with broken boys that carry baggage bigger than their own, thinking it's their job to heal them because you watched your mother do the same.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf Quote
"DESTINY IS FOR LOSERS. IT'S JUST A STUPID EXCUSE TO WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM HAPPEN." - BLAIR WALDORF.

The world stopped in 2012 when our beloved show "Gossip Girl" ended. For six straight years, we would all tune in every Monday at 9:00 p.m. to see Upper Eastside royalty in the form of a Burberry headband clad Blair Waldorf. Blair was the big sister that we all loved to hate. How could we ever forget the epic showdowns between her and her frenemy Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or the time she banished Georgina Sparks to a Christian summer camp? How about that time when she and her girls took down Bart Bass? Blair is life. She's taught us how to dress, how to be ambitious, and most importantly, how to throw the perfect shade.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Moments Every College Freshman Has Experienced

Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

115
too tired to care

We've all been there. From move-in day to the first finals week in college, your first term is an adventure from start to finish. In honor of college decisions coming out recently, I want to recap some of the most common experiences college freshmen experience.

1. The awkward hellos on move-in day.

You're moving your stuff onto your floor, and you will encounter people you don't know yet in the hallway. They live on your floor, so you'll awkwardly smile and maybe introduce yourself. As you walk away, you will wonder if they will ever speak to you again, but don't worry, there's a good chance that you will make some great friends on your floor!

Keep Reading...Show less
laptop
Unsplash

The college years are a time for personal growth and success. Everyone comes in with expectations about how their life is supposed to turn out and envision the future. We all freak out when things don't go exactly as planned or when our expectations are unmet. As time goes on, we realize that the uncertainty of college is what makes it great. Here are some helpful reminders about life in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
students
rowanuniversitypublications / Flickr

1. "If I'm wearing black tomorrow, it's because I'm mourning my grade."

2. "Do you want to try ordering Chinese takeout to take back to the stacks?"

3. "This final paper has me questioning if this professor just sucks or is Satan himself."

4. "Is that person over there OK? They've been sleeping for a while."

5. "Why are you online shopping?"

"I want to motivate myself to study."

"Since when do you have money to buy something anyway?"

6. "I wonder how much I could make as a stripper."

7. "There are no stress relief dogs, and I feel conned. My stress today is worse than yesterday."

8. "Rate My Professor screwed me over."

9. "I wore these clothes yesterday, and maybe even the day before, but it's fine."

10. "I wonder if I could sneak a beer in here."

11. "I just really want chocolate chip cookies."

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments