How to avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?

Craigslist is a classified advertisement platform primarily used in the USA which now services 70 other countries. It is offered free of charge, and widely used to buy and sell household goods, post job opportunities, and also offer rental properties and local services. A couple of private members owned the platform, and a 25% stake is owned by eBay but keeps the non-commercial nature of the business. The platform serves over 20 billion page views per month, and it is the second-largest classified advertising platform in the world after eBay.

One of the biggest challenges Craigslist face is online scams. Too many scammers pretend to be a buyer of classified ads and trick sellers into giving away their personal information, money, or property. These scams often involve fake offers of employment, housing, or products and services advertised on Craigslist. Some common types of Craigslist scams include:

1. Employment scams

Employment scams on Craigslist are fraudulent job offers that are designed to trick people into providing their personal information or paying a fee to apply for a job. These scams often involve fake job listings for high-paying jobs that require little or no experience or offers of employment that require you to pay a fee to start work.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when looking for a job on Craigslist:

• The job pays significantly more than similar jobs in the area.
• The job requires you to provide personal information or pay a fee to apply.
• The job involves working from home or working as an independent contractor.
• The job requires you to use your own bank account or credit card to make purchases or handle financial transactions.
• The job listing includes grammatical errors or doesn't include a detailed job description.

To protect yourself from employment scams, be cautious of any job offer that seems too good to be true and never send money or personal information to someone advertised on Craiglist.

2. Rental scams

Rental scams on Craigslist are fraudulent schemes that involve fake rental listings for properties that don't actually exist. These scams often involve listings for apartments, houses, or vacation rentals that are advertised at far below market rates. The scammer will ask potential renters to wire money or send a deposit to secure the rental property and may provide fake rental agreements to sign.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when looking for a rental on Craigslist:

• The rental is significantly cheaper than similar rentals in the area.
• The landlord is out of town and unable to show the property in person.
• The landlord asks you to wire money or send a deposit before you can see the property.
• The rental listing includes grammatical errors or doesn't include detailed information about the property.

To protect yourself from rental scams, be cautious of any rental offer that is much cheaper than the market, and never send money or personal information to advertisers. Always visit the property, perform due diligence checks, and conduct business face-to-face.

3. Phishing scams

Phishing scams are fraudulent schemes that use fake emails or messages to trick people into providing their personal information, login credentials, or financial account information through Craigslist. These scams often involve fake offers or deals that are advertised on Craigslist, and the scammer will typically try to convince the victim to click on a link or download an attachment that will install malware on their computer or mobile device.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist phishing scams:

• You receive an unsolicited email or message from someone you don't know who is offering a product or service on Craigslist.
• The email or message includes a sense of urgency or fear, such as threatening to cancel the deal if you don't take immediate action.
• The email or message includes a link or attachment that you weren't expecting.
• The email or message includes grammatical errors or doesn't look quite right.

To protect yourself from phishing scams, be suspicious of any email or message that asks you to provide personal information or login credentials. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown sources. You may check our URL Redirect Tracker to see where the final destination of the link provided by the advertiser.

4. Buyer scams

Buyer scams are fraudulent schemes involving fake offers to purchase items advertised on Craigslist. These scams often involve high-priced items such as cars, electronics, or collectibles, and the scammer will typically ask the seller to send money or the item before they have received payment.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist buyer scams:

• The buyer offers to pay significantly more than the asking price for the item.
• The buyer asks you to send the item before they have paid for it.
• The buyer suggests using a payment method that is not secure, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• The buyer's communication is strange or doesn't seem quite right.

To protect yourself from buyer scams, be cautious of any offer to purchase an item that seems too good to be true. Consider using a secure payment method such as PayPal, and never send money or the item to someone you don't know.

5. Travel scams

Travel scams are fraudulent schemes involving fake travel offers or deals advertised on Craigslist. These scams often involve discounted or free flights, vacation rentals, or travel packages, and the scammer will typically ask the victim to pay a fee or deposit in advance.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist travel scams:

• The travel deal is significantly cheaper than similar offers from reputable companies.
• The travel deal requires you to pay a fee or deposit in advance.
• The travel company is not registered or does not have a professional-looking website.
• The travel company does not have a physical address or phone number.

To protect yourself from travel scams, be on the lookout for any offers that are too good to be true. Never use an insecure payment methods or send money to anyone you don't know.

6. Ticket Scams

Ticket scams are fraudulent schemes that involve fake ticket sales for concerts, sporting events, or other events. These scams often involve tickets that are advertised at below-market prices, and the scammer will typically ask the victim to send money or the tickets before they have received payment.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist ticket scams:

• The ticket price is significantly cheaper than similar tickets from reputable sources.
• The seller asks you to send the tickets before they have paid for them.
• The seller suggests using a payment method that is not secure, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• The seller's communication is strange or doesn't seem quite right.

To protect yourself from ticket scams, be cautious of any ticket offer that seems too good to be true. Consider using a secure payment method such as PayPal, and never send money or the tickets to someone you don't know.

7. Escrow Scams

Escrow scams are fraudulent schemes that involve fake escrow services that are advertised on Craigslist. These scams often involve offers to hold money or property in escrow until a transaction is complete, and the scammer will typically ask the victim to send money or property to them in exchange for a promise to hold it.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist escrow scams:

• The escrow service is not registered or does not have a professional-looking website.
• The escrow service asks you to send money or property to them before the transaction is complete.
• The escrow service suggests using a payment method that is not secure, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• The escrow service's communication is strange or doesn't seem quite right.

To protect yourself from escrow scams, be cautious of any escrow service that is advertised on Craigslist. Consider using a reputable, licensed escrow service, and never send money or property to someone you don't know.

8. Pet Scams

Pet scams are fraudulent schemes that involve fake pet adoption listings or offers to sell pets. These scams often involve listings for purebred or rare pets that are advertised at below-market prices, and the scammer will typically ask the victim to send money or the pet before they have received payment.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist pet scams:

• The pet is advertised at a price that is significantly cheaper than similar pets from reputable sources.
• The seller asks you to send the pet before they have paid for it.
• The seller suggests using a payment method that is not secure, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• The seller's communication is strange or doesn't seem quite right.

To protect yourself from pet scams, be cautious of any pet offer that seems too good to be true. Consider using a secure payment method such as PayPal, and never send money or the pet to someone you don't know.

9. Charity scams

Charity scams are fraudulent schemes that involve fake charity solicitations or offers to donate to a charity. These scams often involve solicitations that appear to be from legitimate charities, and the scammer will typically ask the victim to send money or personal information in order to make a donation.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist charity scams:

• The charity is not registered or does not have a professional-looking website.
• The charity asks you to send money or personal information before you have received any information about the charity or its activities.
• The charity suggests using a payment method that is not secure, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• The charity's communication is strange or doesn't seem quite right.

To protect yourself from charity scams, be cautious of any charity solicitation that is advertised on Craigslist. Research the charity and read reviews before making a donation, and consider using a secure payment method such as a credit card.

10. Health and beauty scams

Health and beauty scams are fraudulent schemes that involve fake offers for health or beauty products or services. These scams often involve offers for products or treatments that are advertised at below-market prices, and the scammer will typically ask the victim to send money or the product before they have received payment.

Here are some red flags to watch out for when it comes to Craigslist health and beauty scams:

• The product or service is advertised at a price that is significantly cheaper than similar products or services from reputable sources.
• The seller asks you to send the product or service before they have paid for it.
• The seller suggests using a payment method that is not secure, such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• The seller's communication is strange or doesn't seem quite right.