Thousands of dollars unaccounted in reported Craiglist scams

By Hannah Hess

In what appear to be unrelated incidents, two University students were the victims of Craigslist scams, according to the University police.

According to police reports, a 20-year-old student offering his services as a babysitter received a response from a man in North Granby, Conn. The victim was mailed a check for $5,150, and instructed to keep $1,350 and send the remaining balance to a third-party in Georgia. The student was suspicious and contacted police to report the scam on Sept. 25.

A 29-year-old student contacted police after a check she was mailed in response to a Craigslist ad bounced. A person identifying herself as “Amy Christopherson from Spain” replied to a roommate search by the victim and obtained her name, address and telephone number. The suspect then sent a check to the victim’s address from “Andrew Silverman of New York” to cover deposit and rent on the apartment. The victim deposited the $3,850 check and was instructed to mail a $3,550 check to a third party. The victim reported the scam when the $3,850 check bounced, reports said.