Online House Hunting - Is sending a down payment to someone you haven't met in person safe?

Is sending a down payment to someone you haven't met in person safe?

im trying to buy land. i found some good deals for sale by owner online. i contacted him via email and he sent me info by mail. If i want the land i have to send the down payment to hold the land for me, but im not sure if its a good idea to send the down payment.

Public Comments

that is an ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE IDEA. do not do this under ANY circumstances. you will never hear from the person again and if you try to go to court they will laugh you out the door.
Bad Idea..
hell no. its a scam..people get scammed like this all the time. i just read about one in an old teen vogue magazine. meet the person face to face and if he doesnt agree..then odnt do it. youll be out of a lot of money im guessing since your buying land.
oh hell fuckking NO. You must TALK, make documents, like legally binding documents. Get them notarized and possibly meet in person. WOW, you really need to join the real world. People will screw you over in a heartbeat. I would definitely get more info... BEFORE sending ANY money.
Use a licensed real estate agent and proper escrow funds.
im gonna say ........not a good idea.
that is so pathetic man, you just give your paper to the person you don't know? try to search something about the background of the person, so that you can have little info ...
Sounds like a great deal to me.. Go ahead and send the down payment to hold the land.
Now, come on, you are old enough to know better!!! This is like someone getting conned into buying "lakefront property". The "lakefront" is a swamp! LOL