dangerous.

Here is a strange story. It could happen to you. I hope not, but it could. This is just one of many Craigslist scarm stories I've been hearing about lately.

Here's how things were on March 26th

Another Craigslist scam costs one guy everything but his horse

It's deja vu all over again. Once again, a scammer has used Craigslist either as a prank or with truly malicious intent to entice scavengers into taking away just about everything from one homeowner's property. All it took were a couple of "Everything must go and it's all free!" ads on the site and, poof!, it was pretty much gone in no time flat.

Robert Salisbury was a bit luckier than Laurie Raye. Salisbury caught wind of what was going on when he encountered people driving away from his property, loaded down with his stuff. He stopped them in the road and questioned them, demanding his  not-really-free goods back, but they took off with his property nonetheless. By the time he reached his house he was greeted by nearly 30 people going through his things, many of whom refused to leave empty-handed and others who fled with the gear they'd managed to load into their cars before the cops showed up.

One good Samaritan gave Salisbury a call and tipped him off to what was going on. She was preparing to ride off with the man's horse when she figured out something wasn't right, considering that the horse was still in good shape and didn't look abandoned as the ad claimed.

The question now falls to lawyers and police to determine who placed the ad and who's legally responsible for Salisbury's losses. Police say it's unlikely anyone who took his stuff will be prosecuted. And while the person who placed the ad is clearly at fault, the question now falls to whether Craigslist is liable for the fraudulent listing... but he'll have to take 'em to court if he wants to find out.

here's how things are now.

Craigslist scam couple arrested

Husband and wife allegedly posted false ad to cover up burglary

Two people have been arrested for allegedly posting an advertisement on Craigslist which led to a local man having his house ransacked.

Robert Salisbury, an independent contractor, returned home to find his house being ransacked by strangers after an advert posted on Craigslist claimed that he was leaving the area suddenly and everything in his house was up for grabs.

Salisbury found around 30 people rummaging through his belongings, and has managed to recover little of his property.

It now transpires that the posting on Craigslist was apparently made to cover up an earlier robbery.

Brandon and Amber Herbert have been arrested after Craigslist staff and police cooperated to find the culprit.

Amber Herbert has confessed to posting the adverts after she and her husband stole three saddles and then posted the advertisement to cover up what they had done.

The duo has now been charged with theft and computer crime offences.