If you’ve used Craigslist, odds are someone has tried to scam you. The site is appealing to scammers for the same reasons most people like it: the ads are free, it’s easy to post, and there’s something for everyone, from job ads to used cars to free pets. You might think you would never fall for a Craigslist scam, but with an increasing number of reported frauds via the site, it’s clear many people are being taken in. As certain types of fraud become public knowledge, others are developed to take their place. It’s buyer – and seller – beware.
1. Grammar and spelling
This isn’t a guaranteed tip-off, since plenty of people simply have atrocious written language skills. However, if you get replies to your “for sale” ad with stilted or nonsensical phrasing and frequent misspellings, it’s a clue to dig deeper.
2. Buyer is not local
Craigslist recommends dealing only with local buyers and sellers for good reason. Anyone claiming to be interested in buying your item from another location and having you ship it to them is likely trying to run a scam. Sellers on Craigslist have been taken in by buyers who send fake checks for more money than the selling price, then ask the seller to wire them the excess amount.
3. Cashier’s checks, money orders, and wire transfers
As noted above, scammers will often try to purchase goods with fake cashier’s checks or money orders. If the buyer isn’t local, or won’t meet you in person with cash in hand, take a pass on the deal.
4. Too good to be true
Your mom used to tell you that if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was. This should be a guiding principle for anyone using Craigslist. That three-year-old BMW for $4000? No. The seller might offer you a sob story about divorce, death, or a son in the military, but most likely they are running a scam.
5. Free stuff
People get rid of their things through Craigslist all the time, so you can definitely score lots of free stuff. However, you should be suspicious of ads that state everything at a certain address is free.There have been several reported incidents of malicious pranksters that put up false “everything is free” ads saying that the owner of a home has to leave suddenly, and that their belongings are free for the taking. Upon returning home, the unfortunate victim finds their belongings cleaned out.
6. Cheap rentals
In areas of the country with tight real estate markets such as New York City, ads for cheap rentals have cost people thousands. Scammers copy pictures and descriptions from real estate sites and post them on Craigslist with requests for an application fee to hold the property. Don’t send deposits or application fees without meeting the rental agent and seeing the property in person.
7. Lots of money for a little work
No one is going to pay you thousands of dollars a month to work at home. Seriously. It’s likely a scam to get your personal and financial information. A recent variation on the scam directs job seekers to a site to retrieve their credit score, which a reputable employer just isn’t going to do. Red flags should go up if the job title is vague, the wage generous, and no experience is required.
8. Purchase protection
Craigslist doesn’t officially sanction any business dealings on the site and offers no kind of invoice or purchase protection. If you email someone about an item and receive any replying claiming to be from Craigslist verifying your purchase, it’s a scam.
Use your common sense when buying or selling on Craigslist. If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Better to lose a sale than lose a bunch of money, your identity, and your faith in humanity.
26 comments
rick
Someone said they will send me a bank check and once it's clear they will make arrangements to pick up item. I'm in Ohio. They live in New York. They are buying sight unseen. scam? they said they would pick up after check clears
Matthew Longman
Sounds suspicious but you can always get an answer directly from a lawyer about that on our Q&A forum. Here's the link: https://www.avvo.com/ask-a-lawyer
Does that help?
Rosy
I sent my resume Personal assistant job in Craigslist. They replied I am selected and he is out of station send some material to my address I realised it's scam I did not reply. Finally he called I said not interested sorry. The idiot guy send bad words.
linda
I think my son is being scammed on craiglist right now! What do we do?
My son posted his motorcycle on craigslist. A guy texted him and said he wants it. He said he put money in his paypal and paypal sent an email to my son varifying its in sons payplal. Then guy said he had to put extra 1000.00 for shipping charge but my son has to pay a 3rd party thru walmart shipping the 1000.00 so my son borrowed it from his dad and went to walmart and paid the 1000.00 then guy said he just had to pay 750.00 More for ins.to get the paypal money into my sons bank account. I told my son do not, you are being scammed! Son called paypal and they said there are no transactions in your paypal. So my son texts the guy and says what the hell! And explains what paypal said. Now the guy is texting and calling him non stop and calling my son the theif and threating to call fbi on my son.saying hes stealing this guys money. What do we do? He is acting like its a legit deal. It is a scam i think? The guy expects my son to pay another 750.00. My son is selling his bike and already paid 1000.00. Do we contact fbi or someone that can catch this guy that is scamming my son right now? Any way my son can get his 1000.00 back?
Thanks for any help you can give
Matthew Cooke
Hi Linda, It sounds like you have several legal questions that would be best answered by a lawyer in our free Q&A forum. Lawyers do not provide advice through our blog, but they do in the forum -- usually within 12 hours. All questions are open to answers for seven days. You can post your questions here when you're ready: http://www.avvo.com/ask-a-lawyer. You can also browse previously asked questions and lawyer answers, or read legal guides that may answer your questions, here: http://www.avvo.com/free-legal-advice. I hope this is helpful!
Stephanie
I had a "Real Estate" agent email me back with this ...
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for your interest in the property listed for rent. You were the second to reach out from the ad. The first prospective tenant no longer had to move because of his work situation. So we give the opportunity to you. We are currently prepared to lease with flexible terms and just finished all new renovations. We will work with you on move in date, lease length and security deposit.
I know that you need the exact address of the property but my wife does not want me divulge due to safety reasons. We have had a string of break-ins, squatters and thefts at our other properties. We would like to prevent that with this property due to the renovations that have cost a great deal of money. You are going to be the first to move in with the renovations. That is why we want to confirm you have your latest report before we schedule a tour.
All utilities are priced into the lease along with garage parking spaces. The appliances in the kitchen as well as laundry room were just installed. You have the option to choose your paint color and flooring before your move in
When you want to come look at the place, then please visit the link below and grab your report. We recommend this site because all of our tenants used it and haven't had any problems. Just fill out the form and indicate that you want the report. We are not concerned with any negative report items, it's more of a formality to ensure you have rental history. Simply get your report by CLICKING HERE.(credit report site)
Keep in mind that you only have to bring your report to the tour. Please let me know when you grab your report. I can then schedule you for a showing of the place.
Thank you,
Chris
I believed it until I read it a couple of times and THIS LISTING IS NOT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. It says utilities and garage parking spots includes!! Umm yeah! So watch out for this too :-)
jewell
I'm selling something expensive.....they wanna paypal me the money and me ship it to them in a state far away.....scam? i got a paypal email verifying them and stuff....idk seems sketchy....
he said i have to send it first then get the money.....idk.....
Brittany
Just yesterday, I was trying to sell my wedding dress on CL and had a woman tell me that should would give me a certified cashier's check. She sent the check to my house and would not stop harassing me to make the deposit and withdraw the cash. First off, she sent me almost 1.000 more dollars than I asked for, which was my first clue that something was up. In addition, she told me that a shipping company would be coming to pick up the dress and I would need to pay them fees from the extra money she sent in the check Next, she wanted to to know exactly when I made the deposit into my account and exactly when the money was available so that I can then return the extra cash to her through her account in another bank. The bank immediately put a hold on it due to fraudulent activity. Thank goodness that I never sent her any information. Make sure that you never tell anyone your account information. Also, she used several different names which was another red flag. I will never be selling anything on an online website independently again.
isaiah
I almost got scammed twice. I was selling my dining room table for $300 and he sent my $1890 and told me to wire the rest back to him. I told him that I will go to my bank to deposit it and he insisted that I go to an ATM to get my funds instantly, if someone sends you too much money, its automatically fake. and on top of that the money order and check was fake too. Only accept cash and always check for watermarks.
tom
almost got scammed by some person trying to buy our two pool tables. was ready to roll with it and then thought better of it. Most of these comments and suggestions were perfect. Thank you all
Brian
I'm selling a car on craigslist. A women text me and loves the car and wanted me to take it down off of the site to make sure I don't sell to another person. She will send the total and the shipping costs. I have repeatedly text her for info for total perpouses and shippers name etc.. No return. Just keeps texting me with " need your correct address" I will not let that car go anywhere without cash in hand ! Beware all! I can't wait to tell you all how this plays out.
Chey
Is it suspicious if they dont give you the exact adress?
netz
what company specifically? because i'm suspecting....
Ne
I have listed an item on Craigslist in Canada, and somebody from US has emailed me that he is willing to pay by PayPal or sending me a check, if I would be able to ship the item to USA.
the first email he sent to me, he only asked me if I would be able to ship it to US. I replied that I will look into it, and I asked him how would make a payment and how about shipping costs? He emailed back to me saying that he either can pay by PayPal or send me a check and he has been very specific about my item and even asking some other questions. So obviously I will not accept a check and I won't provide any mailing information to him. However, he has provided me all his info (full name, full address, phone number along with the email) and every thing looks fine i.e. the name is normal, the address exists, and etc. but I'm wondering how is he willing to pay for something that he has not seen and it costs around $1,000 for him. I do not have a PayPal account and I have not ever used it before, so I really do not know how does it work, and what are the risks. I can not decide if he is a fake buyer or no.
Ashley
Please watch out for those scams, especially in the healthcare field.
Gary
Your information was very helpful considering a guy is trying to purchase my puppy from Tennessee and i live in California, He wants to send a check to me then his movers will pick up the puppy once the check clears.... HUH.... Sounds a little fishy to me, What about you guys?
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Good Horse
Also those ads for jobs or gigs where the reply asks you via an internet link to either verify your cell number OR to fill in information with respect to a credit report.
This happens often. Not sure about what the cell phone number link does but I do know that the credit report link is to get you to subscribe to a credit monitoring bureau.
Andrew
Be suspicious if the name in the email address and the name in the email body don't match up. We're trying to sell some furniture, and have got a crapload of those.
People also don't have "pick up agents" willing to drive from Massachusetts to Toronto, Ontario, for your old desk.