Craigslist

Two Florida women are recovering after one donated a kidney to the other. The match came about because of a Craigslist posting-the women didn't know each other before Selina Hodge asked for help-looking for anyone to donate a kidney to her. She received more than 800 responses. It turns out, Stephanie Grant lived just miles away and turned out to be a match. Read more of their story here .

by Michael Schwanke Contact FactFinder 12 at 831-6166 or investigators@kwch.com The selection is almost endless. Craigslist is popular, and for most users, it's beneficial. But, it has a dark side too.  "It's amazing the amount of damage someone can do and what's scary is you can be an absolute innocent, non-participant in this stuff," says David Serling. Serling found and traded for a computer on Craigslist. When it didn't work, he contacted the seller who Serling says began posting false for sale ads using his information.

It appeared to be a safe place. In a parking lot, in the middle of the day. Saturday, police say a Wichita family selling their Playstation-portable on Craigslist met a potential buyer in a Taco Bueno parking lot. But instead of an exchange, a woman and two teenage boys were robbed at gunpoint. The suspect brought a briefcase with him and stole her purse, three cell phones and the Play station-portable. "You are taking a risk anytime you meet a stranger in a strange place," says Sgt. John Hoofer.

Wichita police say a man was trying to sell his iPad on Craigslist, but ended up getting robbed at knifepoint. It happened Friday at around 7:00 pm in the 1300 block of N. Oliver. Police say the victim made arrangements to sell the iPad to someone responding to his Craigslist ad, but when he got there, he learned it was a setup.  The robber pulled a knife on him while another person grabbed the device.  Both ran into a getaway car driven by a third person. Police say they've interviewed at least two of the supsects, but it's not clear if either was arrested.

Craigslist has apparently closed the adult services section of its website, two weeks after 17 state attorneys general demanded it shut down the section. The link was replaced Saturday by a black and while "censored" logo. Kansas Attorney General Steve Six was one of the 17 state AG's who pressed for the change. Six says he is encouraged by this apparent step in eliminating the adult service section.  "I hope this is a permanent step Craigslist has taken in response to our group of attorneys general, shining a spotlight on this dark corner on the Internet.

By Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.) A free Christmas car give away for five lucky people. It probably sounds too good to be true and come to find out it is. Someone keeps posting fake ads on Craigslist, telling people to go to a Wichita salvage yard to pick up a free car. "It's doubtful anyone is going to give away one car for free much less five cars," said manager Jon Rajsl. Yet for the last week, A to Z has had people show up for the Christmas car giveaway posted on Craigslist.

FactFinder 12 Investigators talked to seven people who say they were scammed by the same man on Craigslist. The victims all posted ads selling vehicles on Craigslist, and were contacted by Robert Janzen. Jansen doesn't appear to do anything to hide his identity. He agrees to buy cars and motorcycles, convinces the sellers to give him the vehicle without payment, and then never returns. “He gave me his driver's license, phone numbers, social security number and addresses,” says Kim Pata.

Two Wichita men have pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in connection with stolen goods sold on Craigslist. Twenty-three year old Jordan Smith Wichita, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Co-defendant 21-year-old Thomas Griffin, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud. In their pleas, they admitted 36 people were victims and more than $115,964 worth of personal property was stolen in a series of burglaries Smith committed in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Wichita police are investigating after a 21-year-old woman says she was raped by a stranger she met on Craigslist. The woman reports meeting the man on the website, and agreed to meet him at the Quik trip on east Central.  The two of them decided to go back to his place, where she says she passed out after being given a drink. She says she woke up with the suspect on top of her.  The victim says she was then placed inside a vehicle and driven to an unknown location where she was dumped out of the car. She walked to a nearby Quik Trip and called 911. Wichita police urge people to be cautious when meeting people online, whether it's through Craigslist or any site.

District Attorney Nola Foulston is warning citizens about several scams targeting consumers in Sedgwick County. Gift Card Scam The Office of the District Attorney has received numerous complaints from consumers reporting they received a telephone call or text message from an unknown person advising the consumer that they won a WalMart gift card ranging from $50 to $100. The caller may go as far as putting a “supervisor” on the phone to try to convince the consumer the winning is legitimate.

Two people wanted to buy a PlayStation that they saw listed on Craigslist, instead they were almost robbed and shot at. It happened in the 8000 block of east Grail street around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Two people were responding to a Craigslist ad to buy a PlayStation. They met two sellers in their 20s near Harry and Rock Road to discuss the transaction. While they were negotiating, one of the suspects tried to enter their car to rob them. The buyers started to drive away when the suspect fired five to six shots at the car. The car was not struck and no one was injured.

It's an old scam with a new twist. Victims lured with the opportunity to work-from-home and make big bucks. But the Better Business Bureau warns, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. "A lot of us are looking for the next big thing," said Denise Groene, spokeswoman. "Do your homework before you start. " One viewer called Eyewitness News to report she had replied to an ad on Craigslist. The employer asked the woman to wire $940 for work supplies. The Better Business Bureau said the agency does not endorse any work-from-home ads on Craigslist.  "In this case, he was wanting her credit card information," Groene said.

Wichita police are looking for three men who robbed a man during a meeting that initiated on Craigslist.  Police say the victim arranged to meet a man to purchase a flatscreen TV and PlayStation 3. They met in an apartment complex in the 600 block of W. 27th Street Sunday evening. Police say the victim was approached by three black males, wearing gloves, black hoodies and black athletic shorts.  One of them pulled out a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded cash from the victim.

Two Wichita men have pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in connection with stolen goods sold on Craigslist. Twenty-three year old Jordan Smith Wichita, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Co-defendant 21-year-old Thomas Griffin, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud. In their pleas, they admitted 36 people were victims and more than $115,964 worth of personal property was stolen in a series of burglaries Smith committed in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“They could potentially have their identity stolen,” said Hutchinson realtor Shane Mog. A recurring scam has hit Craigslist again.  This one targets potential home renters.  Realtors say they've seen the scam popping up more often recently.  And it's as simple as “copy and paste” to perpetrate. It was Realtor Shane Mog's ad alright, but he didn't put it on Craigslist.  Someone else did, changing just a few words in the process. “We got a call from an agent that wanted to know if my property on 19th street was for rent,” Mog said.  “And I said, 'Absolutely not!

District Attorney Nola Foulston is warning citizens about several scams targeting consumers in Sedgwick County. Gift Card Scam The Office of the District Attorney has received numerous complaints from consumers reporting they received a telephone call or text message from an unknown person advising the consumer that they won a WalMart gift card ranging from $50 to $100. The caller may go as far as putting a “supervisor” on the phone to try to convince the consumer the winning is legitimate.

FactFinder 12 exposed how wide-spread the problem was. Now our investigation has led to an arrest. “They said we finally got them,” says Michael McDonald who first contacted FactFinder 12 this summer. Police have arrested Robert Janzen, who faces seven counts of theft by deception. FactFinder 12 told you about Janzen in July.  We talked to more than a half dozen people who told us they all sold vehicles to Janzen. They were told they would be paid later, but never saw the money.

Wichita police are investigating after a 21-year-old woman says she was raped by a stranger she met on Craigslist. The woman reports meeting the man on the website, and agreed to meet him at the Quik trip on east Central.  The two of them decided to go back to his place, where she says she passed out after being given a drink. She says she woke up with the suspect on top of her.  The victim says she was then placed inside a vehicle and driven to an unknown location where she was dumped out of the car. She walked to a nearby Quik Trip and called 911. Wichita police urge people to be cautious when meeting people online, whether it's through Craigslist or any site.

Two Florida women are recovering after one donated a kidney to the other. The match came about because of a Craigslist posting-the women didn't know each other before Selina Hodge asked for help-looking for anyone to donate a kidney to her. She received more than 800 responses. It turns out, Stephanie Grant lived just miles away and turned out to be a match. Read more of their story here .

Julie Linhart's family joins a growing list of victims with similar stories. “We were just shocked,” says Linhart. Linhart's son sold a motorcycle on Craigslist to Robert Janzen.  Like many other victims, Linhart was never paid. “He was always so apologetic,” says Linhart who reported it to police after hearing about our first story last week. The victims all posted ads selling vehicles on Craigslist, and were contacted by Robert Janzen.