I recently wrote about the wonders of Craislist both on HelpMeRick.com and in our free weekly email newsletter.
Someone posted a comment that I think needs to be addressed. There are many many scammers on Craigslist. However, they are stupid and easy to detect.
Here are a list of ways to detect a craigslist scammer.
1. The item is priced very low, but not too low. A $50 digital camera that retails for $5,000 is obviously a scam. Craigslist scammers typically would price such an item at $1,100 making it almost believable. Think about it, would anyone really sell an item for half as much as they could easily sell it for on eBay.
2. Location is not given or is vague. Real listers usually list details about where they are located. For example the Denver Craigslist will list locations such as Arvada, Englewood, Denver Metro, etc. If no location is given, feel free to write but the responder will likely say that they are vacationing or schooling in Manchester, UK or Cameroon.
3. Seller just happens to be out of the country. Don’t buy anything from out of the country – EVER!
4. If you suspect that the item is a scam and you can’t go see it due to location or other problems, ask to have the seller send a very specific picture that would require the item to be on hand by the seller.
This list may make Craigslist seem scary, but the warnings should follow common sense.
No, they’re not always “easy to spot”!!!
Many scams don’t reveal themselves until you respond to them. They look entirely legitimate…either something for sale, or a job posting, whatever. No sign of a scam whatsoever. It’s when you receive a response that contains another link requesting personal information that you know it’s a scam.
Craigslist has truly become a complete cesspool of fraud and scams. The idea that the community can collectively police these listings is proving to be untenable. Craigslist needs to start charging fees, verifying identities and going after abusers and fraudsters. I’ve quit using the site now and won’t miss it. I just don’t have time to waste.
My name Cassie, i m posting this cos i have a good conscience and i ve been warning my mom concerning her illegal act, she has been scamming people on craiglist.org pretending to be given out a free bike and i will urge anyone who has fall victim to come the address below for your money, my mom is a THIEF and a SCAMMER, she is not worthy of a good mother. i hate her
DEBORAH
4— BAY RUN DR COLUMBUS
OHIO 43228
phone#: 55555555
email: deborahvoll(at)yahoo.com
Thank you for letting me know where your scammer mother lives. Now it will be easier for the FTC, Craigslist fraud and the police to find her.
What about the email address miners?
Is this Item still avail?
How can I contact you?
Once you reply they have your address to scam with.
I post 3 items on CL and that week I had questions asked and no replies back and the spam started…pills,debt crap I’d never gotten before.
So I now put in my CL ads Will not responde if name phone or email is not in reply due to scammers
I placed an add on Craigs List to sell a guitar. I recieved 2 responses. I am unsure and I am afraid of being scammed. Please let me know if these emails I recieved are a scam.
The first one:
Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me , The price is okay by me , I won’t be
coming down to look on it, as i’m so busy for now and i’m presenting
it to my Brother In-law cos when i visited i don’t like what i saw. I
will appreciate if you can send me more closer picture but if not
there no problem. My mode of payment is via Certified Bank check or
Money Order check cos its more safer to me and i have been using that
to buy items on Craigslist without any problem. Once you have the
check i will wait until the check is clear in your bank before any
procedure. In order to do this i need full name and address and
contact # in which you want the check to be mail to and what name.
My shipper will come for the pick up as soon as payment is
certified. Also I will be adding an excess to the payment on the check
that will be sent to you which you will send the the balance to my
shipper for their shipping cost. I’m asking you to do this for me cos
my schedule for now is very tight. Once again am gonna wait until the
check is clear by your bank before any procedure
Regards.
Second response:
Thanks for your reply concerning my inquiry. I am quite comfortable with the condition of the item,i want you to send me some picture of the items I will add $30 to the purchase price… for you to hold it for me. Please provide your full name, Address and your Phone number so that I can send your payment.I will be paying you by Cashier Check … It will take 2 -3 days for the payment to get to you and as for delivery I will make arrangements for the pick-up after you have received payment.If this meets your approval, kindly get back to me, as soon as possible, with your name,phone # and mailing address where payment will be sent, so that I can have my assistant get the Money Order or Certified Check.You can text me or call at (540) 692-3936
Note:
As soon as you have your money in hand, we can talk about the picking up of the item. i would like you to take the posting off from craiglist today.
Best Regards
That is definitely a scam… I’m selling a sewing machine and someone sent me something about him being out on a business trip and his secretary will come get the money.
I got a very similar response on something I was trying to sell too, and eventually just told the guy it was too complicated so forget it. Good to know that was a scam that I dodged!
I had the same thing happen to me with the person saying the exact sam thing, telling me they would send a certified check through the mail and they would pay extra for the items. Then told me they are sending extra money for their shipper. I was smart enough to have the check validated by my bank first once i found out it was a fraud i sent it back and repored them and the check to the bank.
Becarfeul when the ask you to take the listings off craigslist before you get the check, they will tell you it will be a certified check and it come in as a check that is typed up or they want you to use money gram. also they are very determined so they will constanly email you and start to become rude. These are just some of the things i have found. They will want your real email address. don’t do it! good luck just becarful.
Just posted an item for sale on Craigslist. An immediate inquiry by cell phone if the item was still for sale. I looked up the phone number – and it was one reported here: 540-692-3936. So I wrote back, said “cash only, in person only” and don’t imagine I will hear from him again. Actually he was right back to me – he is away doing veterinarian work in South America, and will send a check and later make arrangements to pick up the bike. Imagine that. So that’s one way to avoid scammers – be suspicious and absolutely avoid the Money Order or Certified Check, and “I’m on my honeymoon or out of the country” routine. And report up what you find – so that they don’t get the next guy.
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