My wife and I were nearly killed in SC about 4 years ago...
We needed a cheap mini van for our aging alaskan malamute to ride in since he couldn't load into our trucks or SUVs anymore. We found a $2000 Voyager online in Greenwood SC and took off in my Super Duty with trailer behind it. I did my best sleuthing at the time and it seemed legit.
When we got close I called the "owner" and asked him to meet us at a gas station about 1/4 mile from his house since I had a trailer with me. He refused and insisted we meet him at his house. I already knew his address was near a public housing complex and was one way in, one way out.
I pulled into the gas station and called him again and he again insisted on meeting at his place. My BS detector was going off and I had a bad feeling. I could see his house from the station and saw him talking on the phone with me. No van in sight and about half dozen of his friends hanging out in front of his place.
A cop was across the street monitoring a school bus stop. I approached him and asked him about the neighborhood. Honest to God, the first thing he said was "Are you carrying?" I told him was and I had a CCW permit. He told me that was a good thing in this hood. I told him why I was there and how much cash we had. He then said people get killed here over $100 so take that how you wish.
I told me wife we were leaving and as we drove away I could see the road just past the dude's house was blocked and there were even more neighbors at his place...
I know if we had pulled in there we would have been blocked in and God only knows what would have happened to my wife once I was killed.