When it comes to Craigslist and safety, a lot of focus is placed on personal safety. An individual meeting a stranger to buy a used car is encouraged to gather information about the seller, as well as the date, time, and location of the exchange. They should give this information to someone they know. In the event something happens, friends and family know where to look. Of course, you want to be concerned about your personal safety, but don’t forget about your financial safety too.
Wait, your financial safety? Yes. If you are new to using Craigslist.org you may be unaware that scammers target the website. There are scams that target buyers and sellers, as well as job seekers and apartment seekers. If you fall victim to one of these scams, the financial complications can be devastating.
As previously stated, job seekers and apartment seekers are targeted for some financial scams. This usually involves an individual claiming they have a work-at-home job opportunity or an apartment to rent. A “landlord,” may claim they need your credit card or bank account information to process a background check. An individual hiring home based workers may need the same information for training fees. These are usually scams and once you handover the information, you may find your bank accounts drained.
As for frauds on Craigslist that target buyers and sellers, these scams can be more difficult to spot, but there are signs. As a seller, be cautious of a buyer who wants you to ship a product overseas or a buyer who sends you more money than needed. You are likely to receive a bad check. In these situations, you not only lose money, but the product you shipped too. Buyers, be cautious of a seller who does not give you the option to pickup a purchase or wants you to wire payment. This is a sure sign of a scam, as the “seller,” likely doesn’t even have an item to sell. You send money and get nothing in return.
As you can see, there are many ways that scammers target the Craigslist website. Luckily, most of these frauds and their scams are easy to spot. Use your best judgment when using Craigslist.org to buy, sell, rent an apartment, or find a job.