Keating McCarthy of Chamblee needed to find a baby-sitter, so she did what many people do. She turned to the web.
McCarthy found a baby-sitter online with glowing reviews.
After McCarthy and her husband left the baby-sitter with their son and dog, they allegedly discovered the babysitter using their credit card to buy more than $5,000 worth of merchandise. When she called the police, she learned that the baby-sitter was using a fake name and wanted on various charges in four metro counties.
"When I heard that I was just blown away," McCarthy said, according to WSB-TV.
McCarthy was a recent victim of a plague of online transactions in Atlanta gone wrong. Earlier this year, a Clark Atlanta student was killed trying to buy an iPhone from Craigslist and an elderly Marietta couple was found dead after meeting someone who claimed online to have the car of their dreams.
Here are five ways you can make your online shopping and buying experience safer:
Look at the ratings
One benefit of online services is the ratings. Peruse the reviews before making a decision. If there are too many negative reviews, air on the side of caution. When you can, always write a review of your own to help other online users.
Do your research
A quick Google search of a name or place could show you some critical information. Also look for popular and credible online marketplaces.
Ask questions
Asking the right questions in the beginning can save you a lot of grief in the end.
If you're looking for a baby-sitter, talk to them in advance about their past experience. Don't be afraid to ask for an ID to verify identity, since many online marketplaces do not screen everyone uses their services.
"If the other party isn't willing to answer your questions or doesn't seem eager to engage, treat it as a warning sign," writes Monique Craig of Compare and Share.
Meet in a public space
"Customers should always use caution when making sales or purchases online, especially when a meeting is required," said Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Jake Smith.
Officials in metro Atlanta encourage people to insist on a public meeting place, to tell a friend or family member where they're going and to take their cell phone.
What's the safest place to make a Craigslist transaction? How about a police station? Police stations often offer their lobbies and parking lots as "safe zones" to conduct Craigslist transactions, according to the Palm Beach Post.
When in doubt, trust your instinct
In the end, you have to go with your gut. Never put yourself in an uncomfortable situation if you have a bad feeling about it.
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