Craigslist hoax lists boat, van as free

SHEBOYGAN, Wis., June 20 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin woman said she was shocked when a group of people showed up at her home in response to a hoax Craigslist ad offering her boat and minivan for free.

Debbie Brown of Sheboygan said she awoke Thursday morning at 7 a.m. and found about 18 people on her property responding to the ad, which she did not place, the Sheboygan Press reported Monday.

Brown said the people told her a Craigslist ad had listed her boat and minivan as free for the taking. She said the ad told people they could just take the 10-foot Jon boat if she was "napping," so it was lucky her dog barked and woke her up.

"If it wasn't for my dog they could have taken my boat," Brown said.

She said about two dozen people responded to the ad over the course of the day Thursday and she placed the boat in her garage with a sign saying it was not available.

"I don't know who did this but I'm going to track and do some legal action," Brown said. "I've never had anything like this happen to me before."