How Do I Not Get Ripped Off on Craigslist?

Craigslist is a popular online classifieds site that lets you sell or buy items, post job ads and even find a place to live. It is free to sign up and posting ads on Craigslist is easy, but it’s important to follow certain safety tips to avoid getting ripped off.

Creating a Craigslist account

You can sign up for an account on craigslist using a valid e-mail address and a verification word. This will prevent shady programs from automatically creating accounts and posting ads. Once you’ve created an account, a password will be sent to your e-mail address. You can also change your password at any time.

Keep your transaction local

The first rule of thumb is to only deal with people within the same geographic area. This will help you avoid scams since you’ll have a better idea of the seller’s legitimacy, and it will make it easier to finalize your deal in person.

If you’re meeting with someone in person to buy or sell something, always meet in a public place. This could be a grocery parking lot, police station or other well-lit area. Ask a friend or family member to accompany you if necessary.

Don’t provide out your address or any personal information to potential buyers. This is one of the most common ways that scammers on craigslist get your contact info, and it’s best to avoid it altogether.

Never respond to a rental ad that asks for money or a security deposit upfront. This is a sign that the ad is a scam.

Scammers will often make up a sad story about why they’re renting the apartment or house. This may include a death in the family, or they might be in a bad accident and need to move out quickly.

Be sure to take a few pictures of the apartment or house before you decide to rent it. This will give you a sense of the size and condition of the place.

Before you leave, always double-check that the place is indeed for rent and not a scam. If you’re not sure, ask the landlord or property manager to show you the place.

If you do get scammed, report the posting immediately. This will help protect others from being victimized in the future.

Taking photos of your items for sale is another way to make it more difficult to swindle you out of your money. Many smartphones are capable of storing geotags, which will tell the location where your picture was taken.

Remove the geotags before you post your photos on Craigslist to ensure they’re safe for sale.

Craigslist is one of the largest classifieds websites in the world, so it’s not surprising that some scammers are able to use the site to their advantage. It’s important to take the time to learn the most common red flags that indicate a scammer is on the site and how to spot them.

Spotting a scam on Craigslist

If you see an ad that seems too good to be true, or the price is incredibly low, you’re probably dealing with a scammer. A scammer will often post an ad for a cheap or free item, such as a “barely used” couch, to make it appear like it’s more desirable than it actually is.