Craigslist Scammers Strike in Havre de Grace: Police

The Havre de Grace Police Department is warning residents to exercise caution online after two recent Craigslist-arranged transactions turned out to be fraudulent and in one case, involved violence, officials said.

Police said the two incidents do not appear to be connected.

In the most recent crime, police said an individual planning to purchase a car was robbed in the 800 block of Tydings Road on Sunday, Feb. 7.

The victim had agreed to meet the “seller” in the 500 block of Congress Avenue, according to police.

When the two met at the agreed-upon location, the alleged seller said the title for the vehicle was somewhere else, police reported.

Related: Online Purchasing Tips from Havre de Grace Police

According to officials, the prospective buyer followed the seller to the 800 block of Tydings Road to retrieve the car’s title.

The seller went into an apartment complex and the victim followed; then the seller ordered the victim against a wall, at which point a second suspect appeared wearing a ski mask, police said.

The masked individual implied he had a gun and took the money intended to purchase the vehicle, according to police.

The victim was told to lie down and not move, then the ski mask-wearing suspect and the “seller” left in a 2000 black Audi TT coupe 1.8L turbo with heavily tinted windows and black rims, police said.

The pair headed toward Interstate 95, according to police, who said the investigation is ongoing.

The seller was described as a bald black man who was approximately 5’5” to 5’8,” weighed 200 to 230 pounds and had a beard, police said. There was no description available of the second, ski mask-wearing suspect.

In another incident that began with a Craigslist exchange, someone was scammed by an individual who said he was renting out a property in Havre de Grace, according to police.

The victim contacted the listed rental agent/property owner and was told to send a money order to cover processing fees, a background check and security deposit, police said.

The victim followed directions, including completing an emailed form, and waited for the keys in the mail, which never arrived, according to police.

Officials said the victim contacted police on Jan. 30 regarding the incident, and authorities learned the suspect used a name that was not his and provided contact information that had been disconnected.

“This investigation is still ongoing with very little leads at this time,” police said Tuesday.

Anyone with information may contact the Havre de Grace Police Department at 410-939-2121.