Craigslist is a free and convenient method to buy and sell items. Unfortunately, it as well maybe a haven for fraudsters who prey on unsuspecting sellers. If you plan to publish a for-sale ad on Craigslist, be on the lookout for these fraudsters and be prepared to filter them out. You'll be able to spot them if you keep an eye out for indicators that we’ll describe in this article. Here are some most common Craigslist scams maybe you should know:
The seller claims that they’re out of town/country
The seller posts a good deal, one that sounds almost too good to be true. And when you reach them, they tell you a gripping storyline about how their spouse died or how they've been transferred to another country and need to sell the item immediately. All they ask is that you contribute cash, usually to help cover shipping or to make a deposit on an otherwise pricey item, such as the latest smartphone. They'll vanish like a thief after you give them the money, never to be seen or heard from again.
How to Avoid This Scam: Always do all Craigslist deals in person. That means you should never communicate with someone who claims to be out of state or, worse, in another country. This is a dead giveaway that the Craigslist ad is a fraud.
Seller sends a fake email
Among the most prevalent Craigslist scams is the one that includes the use of PayPal. This is not due to any shortcomings in the payment service, but rather because of the fact that it is a name that most people recognize and trust. PayPal scams frequently involve a buyer promising to transfer PayPal money (but never doing so), but unauthorized dealers can also benefit.
Scammers execute this by sending a fictitious PayPal email requesting that the consumer connects to their PayPal account in order to transfer money or monitor the non-existent item. The email normally contains a link to a bogus PayPal site, and if the user doesn't pay attention to the URL, they may find themselves accessing the bogus site and inputting their login information without realizing it.
How to Avoid This Scam: When utilizing Craigslist, the most essential thing to remember is to never send payments online for any commodity or service. Dealing with Craigslist vendors in person should assist you in detecting this deception. Obviously, PayPal is a totally safe method of online payment. This is owing to PayPal's extensive buyer protections. If you still prefer to pay online, always double-check the URL. Make sure it’s correct, there aren’t any additional letters or other oddities, and there’s a lock to the left of the URL.
The seller creates a fake ad using stolen pictures
In every Craigslist scam, a false ad is utilized to entice interested buyers. Whether it's a vehicle, the latest iPhone, or another pricey item, Craigslist fraudsters will regularly replicate images from genuine listings or from other websites to use in the creation of false advertising to serve as bait.
How to Avoid This Scam: It is hard to tell whether a Craigslist seller's pictures are real or not. While a reverse image search might be used to see if the pictures have been uploaded elsewhere online, it isn't always accurate. Try asking for more images, see if the seller agrees to take them with some specific conditions like holding a paper next to it, near a watch, etc. Always inspect the item in person before purchasing it.
Seller posts a deal with insanely low prices that please customer’s heart
Scammers understand that targeting bargain-hungry shoppers is the best way to get a bite. A very good deal can affect even the most logical shopper's decision, so don't be fooled.
Insanely cheap prices are frequently followed by a long email and sob story. While specifications may vary, the seller will usually want a deposit or payment for transportation on larger items such as a vehicle.
How to Avoid this scam: Always know the current market worth of the thing you're looking for before you begin bargain hunting. This will assist you in distinguishing a decent deal from a Craigslist fraud. If the price seems to be too low, ask the seller why that is so. And remember that if something looks too good to be true - it’s probably a fraud.
Seller recommends a fake escrow company
It's not always simple to scam someone of their money. Most customers are aware that they should not send money to someone they have never met online. Therefore, fraudsters set up a fictitious escrow business that operates as a proxy. To earn the buyer's trust, the seller will advocate using an escrow business (or even a fake escrow business looking like a real one) to safeguard the buyer. But this is a sophisticated swindle, with both parties - the vendor and the escrow business - conspiring to defraud the buyer.
How to Avoid this scam: The same solution as before is applicable here: under no circumstances you should do the transaction with someone you met online. If the buyer refuses to meet in person, no matter how enticing the price is, how heartbreaking the fake story sounds, or how secure the vendor makes it sound, you should not give a penny.
How to avoid Craigslist scams?
All in all, here are the main tips on how to avoid Craigslist scams:
- Never transfer money to someone you've never met in person.
- Deal only with individuals you can meet in person if you are local.
- Any Craigslist deal that includes shipping should be avoided.
- Check if the person who’s selling the item is even real. You can use Nuwber for that.
- Never transmit money or accept electronic payments unless you have the item in your possession.
- On Craigslist, there is no such thing as a third-party "guarantee."
- Never give out your personal or financial information to anybody (bank account, social security, PayPal credits, etc.).
- Don't allow "amazing deals" to cloud your judgment; instead, continue with the trustable coupon store such as couponupto, couponxoo, …
Conclusion
Although some of the most frequent scams appear to be apparent, they are not always easy to spot. And it appears that everyone, from investment and vacationers to bitcoin owners, is dealing with fraudsters.
So remember the tips above and be careful!
