EricEwe.com

With the economy bumping along, it seems like a good idea to sell some of the things you don’t need or want on eBay or craigslist but this turn out badly for a couple. A Washington state man listed a diamong ring on craigslist and that turned into a frightening evening that ended in murder.

Jim Sanders, 43, communicated with Amanda Knight who responded to the ad, saying she was looking for a Mothers Day gift. Amanda arrived with her friends; Sanders answered the door on April 28, three men and a woman stood on the doorstep. One of the strangers pulled a gun and the gang forced its way inside.

The night ended with Jim being killed and his wife plus two kids bounded. “These people were casing Craigslistings with this intent,” Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department told ABC News. “Their intent was never to buy that ring. Their intent was to go there and commit a robbery.”

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of this happening:
1) Meet in a public place
The likelyhood of somebody pulling a gun at a mall to rob you for a $1000 ring is less likely than a secluded area like your house where there isn’t a lot of people around.
2) Bring some friends with you
Strength in numbers. If you have two or three other people to accompany you during the transaction, it would deter people from mugging you.
3) Pick up hints from the buyer
If he/she is suggesting to meet at a certain location that is known for its crime, or meeting at 1am at a gas station, those are red flags. Or even if they don’t even ask about the item and just want to pay for it.