House Ransacked Thanks to Craigslist Hoax

A Craigslist hoax has left Robert Salisbury with an empty house and a lot of anger. The Craigslist ad said the owner of a Jacksonville home was forced to leave the area suddenly and his belongings, including a horse, were free. After receiving a call from a woman who was about to take his horse, Robert returned home to find close to 30 people armed with printouts of the ad, rummaging through his barn and front porch. "They honestly thought that because it appeared on the Internet it was true, it boggles the mind", Salisbury said. Although many of his things have been returned already, Robert is selling plans for a water engine online to help recoup some of what he is out.

Missing possessions

[antikaos]

Maybe I'll try posting an ad stating all my possessions have been stolen and people should bring me a new stereo and a computer and...

Just more proof

[corbettw]

The Internet really does make you stupid.

Re:

[Neo_piper]

So he was scammed and intends to scam others (with his "water engine") to get his money back, I think the Internet stupidity is contagious.

The rest of the story

[peacefinder]

Turns out that not only was it a hoax, it was a hoax with a purpose. Police just arrested [ap.org] a couple for stealing some saddles from the man's garage a few days before the hoax, reselling them, and perpetrating the hoax to cover the theft.