Craigslist: Watching Out for Scammers

Ever since I found Craigslist a while back. I have become a huge fan.It is absolutely a great way to get local used and new items at a great price, and sometimes get stuff for free!! Also, you can list and sell things you own at no charge to you. Most of the furniture in my apartment came from Craigslist, saving me hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately, on something so great, you also have to be extremely careful, and watch out for scammers. I would like to think that all scammers are big idiots, and are easily spotted, but unfortunately, it's just not always the case.

There are many ways that you can be scammed on Craigslist, but fortunately, if you follow some very simple steps, you can save yourself some time, headaches, and money. The biggest rule for Craigslist is to deal locally and in-person. If you follow that rule, you will automatically secure yourself against 95% of all scams on the site. Many scammers like to send you emails, requesting your information and making lots of promises, saying they will send payment through mail or with a check. Don't do it!! If you actually meet the person buying/selling the item, and receive the payment (preferably cash) straight from them, then you have nothing to worry about. Another huge Naughty Word for Craigslist: Western Union. Absolutely anyone wanting to pay you through any wire or escrow service is a scammer: 100%. These include Western Union, and Money Gram. Also never use an escrow service. Ebay states an escrow service as : "...a licensed and regulated company that collects, holds, and sends a buyer's money to a seller according to instructions agreed on by both the buyer and seller. Typically, once the buyer receives and approves the item from the seller within an agreed time frame, the escrow service then sends the payment to the seller." While there are a few real escrow services, most are fraudulent, and so your best bet would be to stay away from them completely.

As I said before, if a person refuses or is unable to meet in person, forget them. Also, anyone trying to sell something from very far away, is most likely a scammer, for example if someone has an ATV listed in South Dakota, but in the listing it says it is actually located in Florida, you probably have a scammer. Be Warned: If you choose to accept a cashiers check or money order from someone, and you cash it at the bank, and it turns out that it was a fake, you may face criminal charges. Do not ever accept any of these as a form of payment from Craigslist.

Last of all, please understand that Craigslist takes no part in any of the sells on the site, someone trying to guarantee their payment or item through Craigslist, is flat out lying to you.

I would just like to provide you with an example of what one of the emails that scammers send out might look like. Usually the English is very bad, which should automatically set off an alarm in your head to you that something isn't right...Unfortunately I have already erased all of the scammer emails I received when I was trying to sell stuff, but Craigslist has a few posted up in their scams section, here's one:

Thanks for your mail,Since the cost of your bike is $800 i just contactedmy client about the cost of your bike and it present condition and he saidthere is no problem about that.So my client said he will be issuing you aCertified Check of $4000 while you wire 3000 to me through Western UnionMoney Transfer and you deduct the cost of your bike $800 and keep theremaining $200 which my client said you should take for the terms ofTransaction and Agreement between you and my client.So i will like you tosend me your full contact information to where my client will be sending you> the Certified Check like this:> name.........> full address.............> city...............> state.............> country..........> zipcode............> cell/office/home phone number.......................> I will look forward to the requested information as soon as  possible sothat the check can be sent out to you immediately  And do get back to mewith the Pics of the bike so tha! t my client will  be Able to see What heis paying off.Get back to me immediately. Looking torwards your> respond,> Best Regards.

This was an actual email sent out to someone from a scammer. Just remember to be very careful, and if you ever have any questions about something that might potentially be a scam, craigslist does have a help forum located here: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.

If you remember the simple rule of local only, and meet in person, then you should be on your way to some super sweet deals! Craigslist is great, and I will definitely continue to use it for years to come. I am sure that if you are careful, then you will be able to enjoy it too. I hope you have found my scam guide useful, and keep in mind this well versed phrase: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.