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6 WAYS TO AVOID GETTING SCAMMED ON CRAIGSLIST Deal locally. It’s always safest to finalize a transaction in person. Examine the product before finalizing a sale. Don’t accept or send a cashier’s check, certified check or money order as payment. Use cash — safely. Don’t share your personal information.
How do you know if your getting scammed on Craigslist?
Craigslist does not back any transaction on its site. If you receive an email or text trying to sell you purchase protection, you’re looking at a scam. There is no such thing as a Craigslist voicemail service. If a contact asks you to access or check your “Craigslist voicemails,” you’re dealing with a scammer.
How do I protect myself on Craigslist?
7 Ways to Protect Yourself When You Buy and Sell on Craigslist Use cash. Only deal with local people, in person. Meet your buyer or seller in a secure location. Sellers: Don’t let a buyer overpay and don’t agree to unusual payment scenarios. Buyers: If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
What should I say to a Craigslist scammer?
They want to verify your identity by sending a pin to your mobile device. Flag Listings Directly on Craigslist or via Email Reply. Notify the FTC Via Its Complaint Assistant. Report the Scam on econsumer.gov. Report the Scam to the Better Business Bureau. File a Complaint With the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
What is the safest way to accept payment on Craigslist?
Use cash — safely If you’re dealing with a local, the most secure way to pay or collect funds for a Craigslist transaction is with cash. To keep it even more secure, you can make the exchange in a safe place like your local police station or even at Acclaim FCU.
What should you not do on Craigslist?
The most common Craigslist scams are: Listings that don’t require a credit check for homes, cars, or other used vehicles (usually, this is a way to get your personal information, or put you in crippling debt) Requesting a wire transfer to either steal your money without giving you anything, or get your bank information.
Should you give your address on Craigslist?
Put your email address in your Craigslist sales ad, but use the built-in anonymizer to scramble the address on the receiving end. Potential buyers can send you an email, but they have no way to find out your true email address.
Should you put your phone number on Craigslist?
But you should also be cautious of sharing your phone number on Craigslist! Automated phishing tools can easily collect your number, and scammers search specifically for this kind of information. That person can now use your phone number to harass you, and if your number is a landline, they can even locate you.
What can a Craigslist scammer do with my phone number?
This scam, also known as port-out or SIM splitting fraud, allows criminals to hijack your cellphone number. Once they have your number, the bad guys can clean out your financial accounts, confiscate your email, delete your data and take over your social media profiles.
How do I verify a buyer on Craigslist?
Count the money in the public location that you’ve chosen to meet to verify that the money is all there. This is the only way to verify that your transaction is legitimate, and an honest seller will have no problem allowing you to take the necessary precautions to ensure you’re getting what you are paying for.
What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?
If you’re a victim of a Craigslist scam, you may want to get in touch with your local police department. It can pursue criminal charges and possibly help you recover any money or items that were stolen.
Can I get scammed using PayPal with Craigslist?
Craigslist scammers have been using PayPal to trick sellers for years. Here’s the one trick you need to use to avoid being scammed. That’s it. You won’t hear from the scammer again because they don’t have cash, and they rarely will meet you in person.
Is PayPal safe for Craigslist sellers?
PayPal isn’t as secure as cash when it comes to Craigslist, but as long as you have the buyer’s or seller’s PayPal email address, you can complete the transaction.
Does Craigslist have buyer protection?
No purchase protection there of course although you and the seller can negotiate a warranty on paper and signed at pick up. If you are buying a vehicle, bring a mechanic with you or visit one nearby and for perhaps a fee of 1-2 hundred get an evaluation.
Is it safe to text someone from Craigslist?
Don’t Let Craigslist Text Spam Ruin Your Sale! It is a well-known fact that the minute you post an ad on Craigslist, you’ll get several texts from people trying to scam you. Craigslist may be a great place to sell or buy things, but it’s also frequented by scammers sending spam text messages.
Why do Craigslist buyers want my email address?
It is however the opening a crook needs to get at you. Expect that your mail address maybe used to send you phishing emails or malware attachments. or it maybe used to spam other email inboxes. There are a lot reasons someone may ask for an email address. Someone maybe making money creating email lists.
