Most Frequent Craigslist Scams and How to Avoid Them

Craigslist is a great place to sell used things to other people for a fair price. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, as the things that stay unused in your attic or basement might be extremely useful for others.

Be it an old folding table or an electronic item, a used car, or a job listing, Craigslist is the online paradise to buy and sell quickly and effortlessly.

Craigslist gives you a chance to sell just a single product or list a plethora of items.

You need not worry about conducting a garage sale anymore and accepting only half price for objects that once cost you a fortune.

You can list your items online and wait till a buyer with a genuine interest in your product shows up offering a fair price.

As for buyers, it is a great platform to get in touch with locals who have the items they need and are willing to sell for an affordable price.

Increase your awareness about some common Craigslist scams to ensure you do not fall victim to them and shop safely and wisely.

Anonymous website scams

The user will list an interesting product for a good price. When you try to buy, they will request you visit a particular website to buy the product immediately.

Most of these unknown websites sell less than 5 products.

Do not trust these websites as they will try to spam your email with numerous offers for the product.

They also steal your credit card data easily.

Avoid using them unless you have high-end security to mask your original credit card details and have two-factor authentications activated.

It is always best to contact the seller, visit them, examine the product in person and buy it personally rather than using an unsecured and anonymous website filled with reviews from unknown people.

Bank Account Usage Scams

Several people fall prey to offers that request them to allow a company to use their bank account for their customer transactions.

These companies target people whose bank accounts have good savings or deposits and make them their sales officers.

They give reasons like, their country doesn’t allow PayPal or the financial rules prevent them from selling to US customers.

Once you give access to your bank account, they make the customers deposit their money in the account for the purchases they make.

Sooner or later, the company will draw the money from your account as you have given them all the rights.

But, instead of getting a commission for the amount transacted through, you end up losing all the money in your savings.

Several fake companies cheat people through this scam and disappear once for all from Craigslist.

They also evade taxes, make you the legal proprietor or the sole employee of the company, and don’t send products to the customers in some cases.

You become answerable for all those scams as money was received and drawn from your bank account.

Excess Medicine Scams

You are struggling with a chronic disease like cancer and come across a listing on Craigslist stating they will give you all the medicines you need for a low cost.

The seller usually says their wife or close dependent was suffering from a similar disease and passed away.

They bought medicine in bulk and wish to sell it now to make money.

They will be quite understanding and let you buy the extremely costly medicine for nearly half the cost or even less as they cannot use it anymore.

Most of these medicines are fake and nothing more than sugar pills. They neither cure the disease nor make you feel better as the seller has spent only to imitate the packaging.

Used Vehicle Scams

Several people sell used vehicles using craigslist.

Sometimes they are in a great hurry and request you to take the vehicle to your home right away after checking.

They don’t force you to pay immediately and all they ask for is a down payment.

Never trust such rushed offers on cars or other vehicles.

The vehicles might be stolen, might have caused an accident, and even have some illegal items hidden inside them. The seller will dispose of the item quickly, fearing the police.

They will later retrieve it in a week or so, stating someone is offering a better price. You will get into trouble if the police find the vehicle in your yard in the meantime.

Always check for proper documents and check with the local police station to ensure the vehicle doesn’t have any theft complaint or accident case registered on it before buying.

Get alerted if the seller is pressing too much and the offer is too good to believe.

Examine the vehicle closely to find if they are hiding something inside.

Visit my Place Scam

You buy a product from a seller and you are extremely satisfied with the quality.

They contact you again and ask you to visit their home, shop, or garage to view several other similar products.

Once you visit the place, the drug you, rob you, or take compromising photos and start blackmailing you.

Always tell the person to come to a public place in a decent area to check the product and pay in cash.

Do not go to the address they ask you to come to, especially alone and without informing anyone.

Do not carry any valuables like your card, watch, or costly smartphones when you go there.

Take only the required cash and use public transport to avoid losing your car to robbery.

If you really feel the seller is genuine, look up their details with the name and address they ask you to come to using Nuwber.

That way you’ll make sure they haven’t tricked you and are providing their real personal information.

Always take a friend or someone trustable with you when you visit new places and inform someone at home where you are going and when you will return.

Give them the details of the person you are visiting to stay extra secure.