I just accepted a "gig" on craigslist. How can I make sure that I go about this in the safest way possible, and ensure that I get paid?

I just accepted a “gig” on Craigslist to compile some research and make a few excel sheets. I got an email telling me to call him immediately for more info. He gave me his full name and his profession (lawyer, doing a very specific masters program – I googled him to make sure he’s real) but he didn’t provide any other info. I want to make sure I do this as safely and carefully as possible to avoid getting scammed or even hurt.

Where do I go from here?