How to Know if Things Are Legitimate on Craigslist

Watch out for warning signs when shopping on Craigslist.

Craigslist is a useful, free website where you can list everything from community events to apartment rentals and personals. Because the site is easy to use and open to everyone, it often becomes a target for scam artists. To avoid compromising your personal safety or your financial information, be on the alert for advertisements that are not legitimate. By being watchful you can get all of the value out of Craigslist with none of the danger.

Instructions

1. Watch out for postings that seem too good to be true; they probably are. Look for warning signs such as jobs that require only minimal qualifications but an enormous salary or a designer apartment for rock-bottom monthly rent, for example. When you think you spot a great deal, check out similar listings in the area to get an idea of the going rate.

2. After you contact someone about an ad, analyze the way the posting person communicates with you when you ask questions. If they are evasive or if they don't give you specific answers, be cautious; they may simply be looking to collect contact information. Note the places sellers or buyers want to meet and be careful if they choose a secluded place or refuse to meet in a public location. A legitimate seller or buyer will usually be willing to work with you and will understand your concerns about security.

3. Look for potential financial scams. Get out of a transaction immediately if someone requests that you transfer money to a bank or wire it through a service like Western Union. Be on the alert if the user asks you to give any personal information, particularly if it disguised in a format that sounds reasonable, like a background and credit check for a rental apartment. Craigslist recommends that you only give personal information after meeting the poster and seeing the property or item; never honor a request to ship an item unless the buyer has sent you the money first.

4. Check the quality of photographs. Look for photos that look too professional; while some house listings might use professional photos from old listing websites, most people post photos they have taken with their digital camera or cell phone. Watch for photos that look like they were taken from a magazine or website; while this might not always be a warning sign, pay attention just in case. If a person is not using a recent photo, they may not be accurately representing the quality or condition of the item.

References

• Craigslist: About Scams
• Fraud Guides: Craigslist Scams