Craigslist: more than you bargain for
Ashley Lawson
Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster, the CEO and founders of Craigslist.com, never intended for their website to become a hot spot for horror stories. While most links on the site are legitimate offers, users should always be cautious about what they’re searching for because some advertisements have led to scams and even murder.
A second-year medical student at Boston University recently became the newest suspect in yet another Craigslist horror story.
Kidnappings, armed robbery and a murder have put Phillip Markoff, a 22-year-old graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, in jail, charged with murdering Julissa Brisman, whom he had met on the classified ad Web site.
His fiancee, Megan McAllister described him to ABC News in an e-mail made available Tuesday as “a beautiful person inside and out.”
She said she was still convinced he was innocent and that he “wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Markoff followed a listing Brisman posted on Craigslist for her masseuse services then he allegedly bashed her head in and then shot her.
The police and the FBI are more than positive that Markoff will be found guilty of commiting the murder.
Newmark put out a statement, “We’re really horrified and saddened that our community services have been associated in any way with a crime of violence.”
Though he can’t comment on specifics, especially for current investigation, Newmark says that all Craiglist’s crooks will be caught.
It has also been reported that Markoff had been soliciting sex with men and transsexuals.
Aside from the dark side of the classified ad Web site, most students find great deals.
“I don’t use Craigslist religiously, but I found really cheap Atmosphere tickets on there,” said 21-year-old MCC student Donny Sherrick.
Some students are still hesitant.
“There’s no way to ever tell if the deals on the site are genuine, but it’s good to be cautious,” said 20-year-old MCC student Amanda Patterson.
