How to Avoid Craigslist Scams

Avoid Online Scams

If you are selling anything under $1,000 on craigslist or ebay that can't be shipped, or if you are renting a room - you are at high risk of a fake cashier's check scam on craigslist. I have had a ton of scammers reply to my postings, and I have received multiple fake checks. These scammers are looking for cheap auctions, low sales prices, and rental units because they have printed out fake $3,000 - $5,000 checks. Their goal is to send you the fake check for more than your asking price or asking rent, and have you send them back the extra real cash via western union to them, their driver, or their company. I am writing this article to teach you how to identify and avoid scams from people in other countries on craigslist if you are a landlord, or have posted an item for sale.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• computer
• selling something on craigslist, ebay, yahoo
• offering a place or room for rent
• good bank with a bank account

1. YES - I have received numerous fake checks from people trying to scam me on craigslist! I often attract these scammers when I am offering rooms for rent in my rental units, when I try to sell cars, or when I try to sell low-priced items on Craigslist. The scam I would like to help you avoid in this article is the one where the scammer offers you more money than you are aksing for - be it in the sales price, or rent, and they ask you to Western Union them the rest of the money. They are relying on you to deposit their fake check which will bounce, and to send you real money!

2. Here are some common scams and red flags that I have come across on craigslist when I try to sell products. Read this, and see how closely this relates to the email responses you have been getting for items you are tryin to sell or rooms you are trying to rent:

   1) The buyer said he is buying the car for a "client."
   2) The renter said their company will pay for the rent and they will be moving to the states on some specific date in time.
   3) The buyer uses a mover, uses a shipping company, or has their company handle the finances.
   4) The renter wants to pay you in advance and more for your "trouble"
   5) The buyer wants to pay you more for your "trouble"
   6) They all want you to send them the extra money- above your asking price or rent price - to them via western union, or first-class mail.
   7) They always ask for your phone number and provide you a number in another country.
   8) The buyer is in another country
   9) You receive a check printed on standard paper, with perforated tear lines, and the address on the check does not match the address on the envelope.

3. IF PEOPLE ARE WRITING YOU GENERIC EMAILS ASKING FOR DETAILS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE LISTED - THIS IS YOUR FIRST WARNING! (see above step for common details within this first contact email)

   People who send scam emails do not fully read listing, and they send out generic emails asking for the same details you already have listed. The most common email I get from people who are trying to scam me when I have listing on Craigslist always call the ad an "advert" and they always ask about the same following info every time:

   Do get back to me with the following details:

   1.Name to be on the check
   2.Contact Address(street,apt #,City,State,Zip code):
   3.Contact telephone number home,cell or work...)
   4.Full amount of rent or price of the item

4. AVOID DEALING WITH ANYONE FROM THE UK, AFRICA, OR FROM LONG DISTANCES, SHIPPING COMPANIES OR MOVERS.

   As a landlord and a guy who sells things online - I post my listings on Craigslist, and I also post items for sale on Craigslist. I love Craigslist, but there are a lot of scammers out there. I always get people from other countries who write to me to rent my units or to purchase my products - again they call the ads "adverts". AVOID DEALING WITH THESE PEOPLE. Unfortunately, they are now pretending to be living in the US as well, but they say the live far away from you and have to work with a "shipper" or a "mover". Here are some examples of what they say;

   1) I will also like you to know that i will be paying via
   check due to the distance as i am located in Florida. I will be working with a mover to purchase your product.

   2) I have a reputable shipping company that
   will take care of shipping from your end, and i have inform the
   shipping agent and he said that he is ready for the shipment as soon
   as everything is ready.

   3) I am (CAREER NAME HERE) from U.K ,i am the present CEO of (COMPANY NAME HERE),Gwent..U.K,we are specialized in taking exhibitions, holding lectures and special events for both adult and youth education activities in (CAREER EDUCATION HERE). I would be coming over to the United State for a private research on educational seminars, and would be working with The United States.

5. DO NOT WORK WITH PEOPLE SENDING YOU CERTIFIED CHECKS:

   Certified checks are easily faked and are not real. I actually have received over ten certified checks from these people, and their fake companies, and turned them into the bank to be verified. I told the bank that I thought it was part of a scam, and they appreciate your turning these in. They verified that they were fake. The checks sent to me ranged from $1500 - $3500 - and they were sent from what looked to be legitimate companies with letterhead, logos, and even watermarks on the checks. When you turn these in to the bank, they scan them to check the ROUTING NUMBER - this is usually printed with magnetic ink which the scammers do not use. Also check the address on the check and the envelope - they usually never match.

6. WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT YOU TO SEND THEM MONEY!!!!

   This is the whole reason these people contact you, they want to use you as a bank and rip you off. They send you checks thatare WAY OVER THE PRICE you are asking, then want you to send them the rest back. The checks are fake, so you deposit them thinking they will clear, send them money, then you are out of luck because you just financed some con- artist, or some guerilla war efforts in another country, and got completely ripped off! DO NOT EVER WORK WITH ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEND YOU MORE MONEY THAN YOUR RENT OR SALES PRICE AND ASKS YOU TO SEND THEM MONEY BACK. TELL THEM YOU ARE NOT A BANK!

7. IGNORE FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THESE PEOPLE:

   It is best to call these people out right away and tell them that you do not want to contribute their scams and that you will not work with them unless they show up in person and hand you cash for the rent or your product. Sometimes they get the hint and leave you alone, and sometimes they send you at least two or three follow-ups. Just ignore them. I actually had a guy try to convince me he was a real company, send me a check for the actual amount I was asking for, and had a company come to get the car I was selling! IF THEY SEND THE MONEY FOR THE CORRECT AMOUNT (like if you are selling a $3,00 - $5,000 car) then tell them that you will not allow anyone to come and get it until the check clears. THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE THAT SCAMMERS IN THE STATES ARE USING!

8. REPOST YOUR LISTING - ADD A WARNING:

   I recommend that you repost your listing and actually write a warning in there that you will not rent to or sell anything to people long distance and that they need to hand you cash in person for the transaction. This works sometimes, but I like I said in step 1 - they do not read the full details.

9. If you are selling any items on craigslist, and you believe you have received a fake check, please take a look here to see how you can verify that for sure and what to do: http://www.ehow.com/how_2313577_tell-check-fake.html

Tips & Warnings

• Scammers call your ad an "advert"

• DO NOT WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

• DO NOT EVER ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR MORE THAN YOUR SALE PRICE

• DO NOT EVER AGREE TO SEND PEOPLE MONEY BACK

• DO NOT ACCEPT CERTIFIED CHECKS.

Resources

• Craigs List Warning about SCAMS