Using craigslist.com seems harmless enough; you just type in what you want to buy and dozens of results appear on your screen within seconds. In this case, a man was looking to buy a car.

After answering an offer to sell a car, the man was told to come to a home on North Nettleton Avenue near Division Street and bring cash. Little did he know that home is vacant and the three men who showed up there had an ulterior motive.

“He was confronted by a suspect who said the car currently was not there and asked him to step inside the house. The victim declined, feeling that something might not be right,” said Springfield Police Maj. Kevin Routh.

That's when the robbers forced the man into the house, punched him in the eye and stole his cash. Police wouldn't say how much, except that it was a significant amount.

“The most concerning thing to us, also in this case, is that victim brought his three small children with him to purchase the vehicle, so the kids see this traumatic event,” said Routh.

“I saw police down here, cameras, flashing pictures,” said a neighbor of the vacant home.

Neighbors say there are several of homes that recently turned into rental properties, inviting trouble into the neighborhood.

“I've seen people come in and out quite a bit,” the neighbor said.

Even though no one currently lives at the home, some teenagers came by the home on Monday to pick up their mail. They were oblivious to the brutal crime that took place at their former home just days before.

"Wow that's interesting,” one said. “You don't have any idea who could have done it?”

While officers track down leads, they also caution everyone to not meet anyone at their home. A better alternative is to show up during the day at a public place, without cash, and have someone with you.

Police say the risk of fraud can increase as Christmas approaches, with more people using online sites like craigslist to sell items or shop for bargains. Police say this makes it easy for crooks to prey on unsuspecting people.