Craigslist Connected Murder: Protect Yourself When Chatting Online

Do you visit internet forums and communities to browse, chat, and meet new personal and business acquaintances? How much precaution online do you take to safeguard your identity and personal safety? In view of the recent craigslist murder connection to a 26 year-old would be actress, how safe do you feel networking online? If you connect online, but never think about these questions, maybe it’s time you did.

Television network CBS has finally given the world an update on the status of the alleged craigslist murderer, Philip Markoff. Unfortunately, you had to sit though the whole sordid story of the violent crime spree Markoff went on several months ago. It is this seven days of violence aimed at three different woman that resulted in the death of Julissa Brisman and the birth of the new Simon Schuster book, Seven Days of Rage. While Philip Markoff awaits his June 2010 trial, Julissa Brisman's family is left to continue mourning her loss. As for craigslist - they've changed their "EROTIC services section to "ADULT" services, but sources say it doesn't matter, because everything is business as usual.

To learn more about how this story first unfolded, read the following article, and observe the shocking details contained in the video below. For a final update and view of the recent 48 hour expose, please bookmark this page and watch for the FINAL UPDATE posted notice.

"Seven Days Of Rage" centers around the following facts you'll find. Please read it and see how you can share it Below:

Craigslist, the popular network of internet communities, has been linked to a recent murder dealing with an online sex encounter. Almost prophetically, an August 4, 2005 BBC News report spoke about the growth of craigslist. At the time, the popular ad network site was barely a decade old. Referring to the centralized network of online communities, the business report stated, “whose addictive nature has arisen from a bizarre blend of shopping and flirting: anything from cheap sofas or bicycles or electronic gadgets, to new apartments and casual sex is brokered here.”

The casual sex that allegedly is brokered on craigslist is what authorities believe Philip Markoff used as a lure in the brutal attack of Julissa Brisman of New York City. Brisma had advertised her services for erotic massage, and ultimately arranged to meet Markoff. This meeting led to Brisman’s beating, shooting, and death, after Markoff had robbed the young Manhattan masseuse and left her for dead in a room at the Marriott Copley Place Boston hotel?

Since the 2005 BBC article, craigslist has had it’s share of press, much of it negative. A recent article discussing the popularity of the site, in spite of all the negative publicity, reminded us of how the classified ad network can be credited for helping “emerging nonprofit organizations get established,” and “attract the attention of potential donors,” a lofty cause in deed. But that same article went on to cite some of the negative publicity, including an incident that involved murder for hire.

Was it the addictive nature mentioned in the 2005 BBC article that prompted Markoff to regularly meet unsuspecting women online, and lure them from their comfort zone to a place of vulnerability. Was it the enticement of big money for sexual favors that emboldened the naïve Brisman to believe that she was immune to this type of online predator? What is the appeal of these type of networks, where your identity and credentials amount to whatever you SAY they are?

According to police, the craigslist killer, as Markoff has been dubbed, preyed on unsuspecting women who advertise services in the erotic section of the popular website. Upon meeting, he apparently overpowered them immediately, then tied them up before robbing them, and in Brisman’s case, committing murder. Authorities suspect that the ability to remain anonymous, and discreet in these and other illegal activities have bolstered the confidence of online predators like Markoff.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported in 2008 that the erotic services category on craigslist had been under close scrutiny. This was because authorities were concerned about issues of prostitution. As a direct result of this issue, craigslist started charging fees to post ads in the erotic section, later that same year. This was obviously no deterrent to Markoff, who is suspected of similar online connections that they believe will lead to other victims.

It is apparent to authorities that this 23-year-old medical student who friends say “wouldn’t hurt a fly” was motivated by a gambling habit, as well as his thirst for money and control over helpless women. This, however, is not the same Philip Markoff that Megan McAllister claims to know and love. McAllister was with Markoff when he was taken into custody, after the two were pulled over, as they headed towards the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.

What may not be as apparent to authorities, or to others who read the story of Julissa Brisman, is how could she believe that under such circumstances, she would be safe? What did she think would protect her from internet predators such as Markoff? While we may never know what Brisman’s reasoning on the subject was, we do know that she was not alone in her false sense of security.

The most recent update of this tragic story shows how Markoff had managed to have a whole array of victims to choose from, because so many fall into the fatal trap of believing nothing can happen to them. It is not in the least bit uncommon to feel like those type of things happen to other people. More people who interact online would be safer if they took stories like this one to heart (especially women).

The craigslist Erotic Services category is brimming over with sexually explicit and questionable adult ads suggesting meet ups. One Cook County Sheriff, Thomas Dart, stated: "Craigslist is the single largest source of prostitution in the nation," Dart previously petitioned a federal judge to eliminate craigslist "Erotic Services" section, where most prostitution ads are posted, but apparently to no avail.

Even after the senseless death of Julissa Brisman, the founder of Craigslist, Craig Newmark, does not plan to close the "erotic services" section. So what does this mean for the countless women who continue to post sexually based ads on craigslist and similar sites that promote sex for pay? The easy answer is: Don’t do it! Stop posting or responding to ads that might potentially put you in harms way.

But of course, for whatever their reasons, women will continue to post and respond to ads in the craigslist erotic services category. For those that insist on doing so, please be careful to take precautions when meeting someone you’ve connected with online. Here are five good suggestions when making contact with someone you’ve met online:

Hint: When searching for books and other internet security related items, you can find a number of ways to: protect yourself, protect your family, protect your money, protect your belongings and protect your computer. Be sure to use these additional tags: online security, internet security, internet safeguards, spyware protection. Whether you sell online, buy online, or just chat and network with others, you can be safer by reading and being alert to this important issue.

Seven Days of Rage is currently available now at Amazon.

Here Are A Few Things You Can Do To Be A Little Bit Safer Online

• Always let someone know where you are going, and who you are going with
• If possible, don’t meet anyone you’ve connected with online alone, take someone with you
• Position yourself or someone else to make a note of the person’s description and vehicle, and leave the information with the person you trust.
• Only meet in public places and neighborhoods that you are familiar with
• Make several telephone connections before agreeing to meet someone in person (you can learn a little more about the person from actually speaking to them, than emailing or texting).

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