How to Avoid Scammers on Craigslist

Are you new to world of buying and selling goods on Craigslist? Craigslist can be a very useful tool when cleaning out your garage or when you are in search of something specific. Unfortunately, there are many people dealing on Craigslist who's main purpose is to scam you! This article features some of the things I have learned in my adventures on Craigslist. If you follow these tips, you should be able to successfully use the benfits of Craigslist with confidence!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. If you are posting an ad to Craigslist, make sure that you DO NOT include personal information in your posting. This would consist of your address and your phone number. You may choose to hide your email address or you can list it in your posting. This is the only way I have potential customers make first contact.

2. When a customer contacts you, take a look at their email address. Over time it can become quite easy to recognize a fake email. Look for real names and numbers and avoid email addresses with famous names. I have noticed a large majority of scammers use gmail accounts so look at these carefully.

3. If you haven't smelled any suspicious activity yet, continue the process. If you are ever offered a check, or an additional amount to "hold" the item until the customer can get back in town, this is a scammer!! Also, NEVER give your personal information so that a check can be made out to you and sent in the mail. If you cannot deal with them in person...DO NOT deal with them!!

4. Try not to accept checks under any circumstances. While you may lose a legitimate sale because of this rule, it may also save you from a scammer. Scammers are now equipped with checks that will clear your bank. However, once the problem is found...you will be held responsible for the ammount of the check.

5. If you are the customer beware of the following...once again, do not deal with people who are "out of town". Quality items that are marked very very low. Example: a 2006 Toyota Tacoma loaded for $4650! This is a scam! Many listings actually look like they have been copied and pasted from another listing...guess what? They have!!

6. When you find listings that are scams, you can flag them by clicking at the right top of the page. Click on prohibited. Once a listing has been flagged a certain amount of times, they will be removed.

7. Above all, follow your instincts. Everyone wants to make money so if the deal seems to good to be true....IT IS!!

[cobrakai]

on 11/18/2009 Very smart tips here. Lot of scammers on CL. 5* and recommended

[mrny]

on 9/11/2009 Great article on how to avoid scammers on craigslist. Very informative, thanks.

[survivoryea]

on 9/10/2009 Good advice! Thanks 5*