Overview

Craigslist is a terrific site in many ways. But it has a terrible safety record. While Craigslist has facilitated millions of transactions, not all of them go well. Rip-offs, robberies or rapes related to Craigslist are reported almost every day. And the rate of killings tied in some way to Craigslist is staggering. The list below is not necessarily complete (sadly). We also have broken down the types of killings; how the victims were lured to their deaths, and more. It’s a devastating story.

We highlight these killings only because we believe Craigslist should do much more to promote safety among its users, and because SafeTrade is the best way to stay safe when you’re trading in person through Craigslist or any other Internet site.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017



No. 115: Grad who earned college football scholarship slain in Craigslist deal gone bad


No. 115
June, 2017
North Miami Beach
Victim: Brian Brown

A  recent high school graduate who earned a scholarship to play college football in California was shot and killed during an apparent online transaction gone bad.

Brian Brown, 19, was shot June 14 at Northeast 177th Street and Ninth Avenue. 
Relatives believe Brown was shot during a Craigslist transaction after he advertised a PlayStation console and video games for sale and went to meet the potential buyer.
Read more here.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

No. 114: Three men charged in killing of man in Austin, Texas, during online drug transaction


No. 114
June, 2017
Austin, Texas
Victim: Cutberto Moran-Ayala


Three Chicago area men were charged in the June 8 shooting death of a man trying to sell marijuana on Craigslist, said police in Austin, Texas.

Savon Galloway, 22, Christopher Hamilton, 19, Akeem Bradford, 22, were charged with capital murder in the death of 26-year-old Cutberto Moran-Ayala, police said.

A fourth man, Keon Walton, 19, was arrested on an unrelated charge of assault with injury/family violence.

According to police, a friend drove Moran-Ayala to 4509 E. St. Elmo Road on the night of June 8 after Moran-Ayala had posted a Craigslist ad to sell pot. 

Read more here.