[who_kerr]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Robbery-Police-In-Warning-After-Guntree-Website-Car-Advert-Attack/Article/200908415368974?lpos=Home_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15368974_Robbery:_Police_In_Warning_After_Guntree_Website_Car_Advert_Attack


Police Alert After Gumtree Car Advert Robbery

1:31pm UK, Wednesday August 26, 2009
Police are warning car buyers to take care after a would-be punter was robbed and stabbed by conmen, and left needing open heart surgery.

Rental property on Gumtree

Millions of successful transactions take place on the internet every day

The man had answered a classified advert in Gumtree.com in which a VW Golf was on sale.

The 42-year-old went to meet who he thought was the seller in a street in Barking, Essex, but was instead attacked and robbed by two men in their 20s.

Witnesses described seeing the victim lying on the ground trying to hold on to a bag which contained the £5,000 cash for the car while the two men - both black and believed to be in their 20s - punched, kicked, and finally stabbed him.

He was treated at the scene by air ambulance before being transferred to the Royal London Hospital where he underwent life-saving surgery.

It later turned out the registered keeper of the car was unaware it had been offered for sale.

A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old youth were later arrested - both are currently on bail until October.

Do not go to the meeting point alone ... do not carry large amounts of cash on your person.

DCI Ellie O'Connor,Barking CID

"This was a brutal attack on an innocent man who was responding to an online advertisement in good faith," said DCI Ellie O'Connor of Barking CID.

"We are appealing for anyone who witnessed this attack or who knows anything about it to come forward.

"Millions of successful transactions take place on the internet every day," she added.

"There are occasions when transactions go wrong. However, most of these incidents involve some form of dispute rather than criminal activity.

"Events that result in personal injury are fortunately very rare, nevertheless, if you are confident that the seller is genuine, you should still take steps to ensure your safety.

"Do not go to the meeting point alone, do not carry large amounts of cash on your person, make sure that you meet in a busy area and never allow yourself to be lured away from a safe meeting place."

[montyzuma]

doe ebay, does craigslist, does your local newagents shop window?