Top 7 Craigslist Scams

Anne Sraders
Updated:
Feb 18, 2020 12:27 PM EST
Original:
Sep 13, 2018

With the advent of the internet, the world has been blessed with a myriad of easy ways to buy
and sell products or services online -- from eBay (EBAY) - Get Report to Amazon (AMZN) -
Get Report . But long-time staple of the collective virtual garage sale and ad space -- Craigslist --
perhaps stands alone as a different kind of animal. The online advertisement site, for everything
from selling apartments to resumes, has gained popularity among locals looking for a variety of
services or products. But with every new internet invention to make lives easier comes the
inevitable opportunity to make them millions of times worse -- hence, the Craigslist scam. And
for those seeking to take advantage of the public platform, there are a lot of ways to get creative. 

But, what are some of the most common Craigslist scams, and how can you avoid them? 

What is a Craigslist Scam?

Given the nature of the site, Craigslist scams can sometimes be hard to spot. Whether they are
scams involving fraudulent money services, fake products, or sketchy meet ups, criminals have
certainly become crafty in figuring out how to best scam users out of their money -- or worse.

And while Craigslist scams may not always look obvious, there are a few key scams that have
been used frequently -- and can often be spotted by being extra cautious or by examining the
situation. 

1. Fake or Cancelled Tickets

Ticket scams are among the more common scams on Craigslist -- and elsewhere. While scalpers
in general can cost you quite a bit of extra cash by buying tickets cheap and selling them at a
steep markup, you could lose completely if you're scammed into buying fake or cancelled tickets.

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Some scammers have been able to make fake tickets that look real to a lot of big events like
concerts or sports games. According to WiseBread.com, some scammers have even replicated
holograms and watermarks on tickets for concerts or events -- and even for airplane tickets.
Scammers on Craigslist will often list tickets that are either fake or already cancelled -- making
you pay through the nose for a disappointment. 
To avoid the headache, only go through reputable sites like Ticketmaster  (LYV) - Get Report or
the actual venue -- and for airplane tickets, never use Craigslist to avoid getting scammed. 

2. Non-Local Ads
In general, whenever an ad is not local (meaning the person posting the ad isn't in your area), it's
generally not a good idea to pursue it. Why? Because posters of non-local ads generally won't be
able to meet up with you and will often require transferring money through some online platform
(which scammers can use to their advantage).

Some ads may be from on-duty soldiers in Iraq or other distant places that necessitate online
transactions that could be fraught with scams. And Craigslist also claims that the service is meant
for local transactions in most cases -- so beware of the non-local advertisement. 

While there are certainly some precautions that should be taken when actually meeting and
conducting a transaction in person (such as meeting in a public place or bringing a friend with
you), some people that are unable to meet in person (or refuse to) could be scammers on the site. 

3. Fake Craigslist Site

Perhaps surprisingly, a lot of people get scammed by using fake Craigslist sites to begin with. 

In the past, scammers have used fake Craigslist sites with very similar domain names in hopes of
snagging internet searches from the real Craigslist site and convincing users to trust the fake
ones. Some of these sites look very realistic and could cost you a lot of money. So keep in mind,
if any Craigslist site does not have the address http://www.craigslist.org, it's fake. 

4. Scam Email from PayPal

Some scammers may use PayPal (or rather, the promise of PayPal) to send or receive money on
Craigslist. 

PayPal warns people to be wary of ads that want to use the site for transactions, as many of them
may never follow through -- or, even worse, they send you a fake PayPal email confirmation of a
payment. The site cautions Craigslist users that such fraudulent PayPal emails could have
characteristics that include not addressing you by your full name or that money is being held
until you perform some action (like sending money through another wire service or using links to
tracking orders). 

5. Fake Money Orders or Checks

Whenever a buyer or seller tries to pay you with a money order or wire transfer -- take that as a
big, waving red flag. 
Scammers over the years have developed pretty sophisticated-looking fake packing slips or even
money orders claiming to be from trusted institutions like Western Union. Often, these scams are
part of a Nigerian 419 scam, and could entice you to send the buyer your goods before the fake
check or money order clears.

To avoid getting duped, don't accept money orders on Craigslist -- and, if you must use a check,
ensure that it clears before sending what was bought. 

6. Fake Escrow Service Site

While escrow services -- a service provided by companies that hold onto money for two parties
in a transaction until it is complete -- can give you a lot of peace of mind when handling lots of
cash, they can also be a devious way for scammers to steal your money.

Scammers set up fake escrow service sites and get you to deposit money -- only, obviously, you
never get what you bought and you lose the money.

To avoid getting robbed through a fake escrow service, make sure to only use reputable escrow
services and suggest picking them yourself when doing transactions. 

7. Fake Craigslist Purchase Protection

Even though getting an email or invoice from Craigslist may seem legit, it isn't -- scammers have
been known to use a fake "Craigslist Purchase Protection" plan to scam users.

Since Craigslist doesn't back any transaction (and certainly doesn't have a purchase protection
plan), avoid any email or text that claims to verify or protect your recent purchase (and any
documents that come with it).

To ensure you are scam-free, handle your transactions yourself and be very careful to avoid any
suspicious emails claiming any verification or protection from Craigslist itself. 

How to Avoid Craigslist Scams

While some of the most common scams may seem obvious, they are not always as clear. And it
seems that everyone -- from investors and travelers to people who own bitcoin -- are having
issues with scammers. 

So, according to Craigslist's official website, some of the ways you can avoid being scammed
include not paying people you haven't met in person, never giving out financial information like
bank account numbers, dealing mostly with locals in your area to avoid shipping scams and
never using Western Union to send money. 
While there are many other ways you can avoid getting scammed, ensure you always read every
listing carefully and do not give out important information that could be used to scam or steal
from you. And while Craigslist can be a great service, it is best utilized as a local resource.

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By
Anne Sraders