By: Sarah Pucillo
In recent news, there have been many articles concerning the fraud and criminal offences involving the popular website known as “Craig’s List”. Craigslist provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, for sale, personals, services, local community, and events. People can post anything they would like to sell on here, giving out their information for local buyers to purchase. People can post all their academic information if searching for a job. Addresses can be posted in order to look for apartments and roommates. Just about anything you need can be easily posted and received on this mega-website.
Although it seems like a fantastic idea, people can lie, post false things in order to lure people to certain destinations, and buy things that are broken, as well other fraud related actions. In a recent article, a family was tricked into leaving their homes so that the people who posted online could be able to break into their house and steal their belongings. The couple was immediately busted because, well, their information was posted online. Other issues of crime have occured such as a live baby being put up for sale for $1000 online. This person was immediately busted as well.
With such crimes as these, is Craigslist beneficial or harmful to the public? Do you trust this as a safe and effective way to get what you initially wanted when posting on the website? I know that I have looked for jobs and my brothers have looked for roommates, but is it safe? What can we do to improve this website, if possible? Have you ever used Craigslist and why?
For more information on the burgerly article, visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23925847/.
2 Comments
November 6, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I have used craigslist when i was looking for a new job.
It was not that helpful since most of the postings were far away from me.
I could see how people could lie or put up false information since many posters already do not disclose personal information, or even put on the company name.
i think that people should be careful about how much they trust craigslist. i dont think it should be used for large purchases like a house, simply because of the examples of problems mentioned above.
for such a serious investment, more precautions should be taken.
i think that these websites have made users and the general society too trusting. people do not think about fraud or being tricked often enough.
there should be some regulation on the housing site and other high rish sites, so that people can be confident when they use the site.
November 8, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I’ve always been a bit skeptical with purchasing things online even on Craig’s List and eBay. I always make sure to look at the credibility of the user, the information they post, and I try to look at pictures especially to offer visual proof of the product. It also reassures me when the seller puts the reason for why they are selling the product. I’ve tried using Craig’s List before and there was an option of meeting the seller in person to pick up a purchase. The pros and con of this was that you could see the product in person and check it out before paying for it but could you really trust meeting up with a complete stranger?
If there are crimes that occur on Craig’s List then of course it is not beneficial to the public. Maybe there needs to be a higher form of security in order for sites like craig’s list to become more trustworthy.