Policing Craig's List

September 5 2007, 10:51 AM

There's been an arrest in the Denver Craig's List renter-scammer case.

A con man was able to convince 29 people to give him $250 rental deposits on apartments they had never seen. The scam, advertised on Craigslist.com and Backpage.com, worked for about a month until Greenwood Village police arrested Nick J. Beram, 43, of Denver. He's been charged with a variety of crimes, including computer crimes, theft of more than $1,000 and criminal impersonation. And the victims are still coming forward.

In Atlanta, the Mayor has accused Craigs' List of sponsoring child prostitution. Last year in Seattle, police made 100 prostitution busts based on ads in Craig's List. In Milford, MA, cops posted their own ad for sex on Craig's list and busted those who responded. Today's New York Times reports that on Long Island, police have nabbed 70 Craig's List users during the past year. I find Craig's List to be a great resource. It's used by millions of people. I hope the few who abuse it don't ruin it for the rest of us.