A Jacksonville, Oregon man was the victim of a Craig’s List hoax that found him watching helplessly as stranger removed belongings from his property.

Two ads popped up Craig’s List Saturday afternoon, saying homeowner was forced to leave the area suddenly and his belongings, including a horse, were free for the taking.

But resident Robert Salisbury wasn’t planning on going anywhere except nearby Emigrant Lake when he got a call from a woman who had popped by his house to take his horse. On his way home he passed by a truckload of workers hauling off his work ladders, lawn mower and weed eater.

"I informed them I was the owner, but they refused to give the stuff back," Salisbury said. "They showed me the Craigslist printout and told me they had the right to do what they did."

By the time he got home there were about 30 people digging through his stuff, ransacking his barn and front porch.

"They honestly thought that because it appeared on the Internet it was true," Salisbury said. "It boggles the mind."

Detectives have contacted Craigslist's legal team to try to trace the ad. Salisbury has no idea who played this cruel trick on him.

KGW.com: Oregon man's property ransacked after Craigslist hoax