Q&A for How to Spot a Craigslist Scam

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How can you spot a fake job listing?

Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD
PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University
Israel Vieira is a Discourse Analyst and a PhD Candidate in Text and Discourse at Unisul's Language Sciences Program, where he studies the effects and characteristics of hoaxes, fake news and conspiracy theories.

Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD

PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University

Expert Answer

In general, fake job offers tell you to send a certain amount of money to a possible contractor. They usually claim that this amount is to cover hiring expenses and that they will be given back to you after you’re hired. Also, avoid job offers that sound “too good to be true." If they promise an easy hiring process (without interviews or other tests) or big money from the beginning, avoid them. It is always a good idea to search online about the reputation of the company related to the job offer as well.

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How do you spot a con artist in a relationship?

Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD
PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University
Israel Vieira is a Discourse Analyst and a PhD Candidate in Text and Discourse at Unisul's Language Sciences Program, where he studies the effects and characteristics of hoaxes, fake news and conspiracy theories.

Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD

PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University

Expert Answer

Scammers will take advantage of your feelings to get money. Avoid sending any money or personal info to people you are not familiar with offline. Scammers usually will tell sad stories or promise great things to get you to continuously deposit large sums of money for them. Also, scammers usually don’t have any photos of themselves in dating profiles. Some, however, will use photos taken from public archives or other sources. A quick Google image search may help you to determine if the photos are related to someone completely different or not.

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If an out-of-state buyer sends a check for over the amount, and asks you to wait until the check clears, then pay the shipper the excess amount, is this a scam?

Community Answer

Yes.

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Question

If a seller requests that a buyer email another address, could it be a scam?

Community Answer

It might be, you can flag conversations where you use Craigslist's relay system, but you can't if you don't use their system. They might also be after your real email address.

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They asked for less money then I was going to give. I was going to give first and last month's upfront, but they said first is okay. Then I was unsure so I agreed to pay half first. Is this a scam?

Community Answer

Having been scammed on Craigslist, make sure you are there, and able to see the apartment before you give them any money. Don't send money, whatever amount, and expect the apartment to even exist.

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Question

Is it a scam if the seller is requesting gift cards for payment?

Community Answer

Yes, this is a classic holiday scam.

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Question

I am selling a pool table. A potential buyer wants to send a cashier's check and have me send the table, sight unseen. Paying full price without seeing it seems odd to me and he wants my information and phone number for sending the check.

Community Answer

Explain to him you would need the cash in hand first. Do not give any bank or personal information and, if he does not agree, don't sell the table to him.

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Question

A buyer of a motorcycle I am selling is suggesting that I take out a title loan on it, keep the money as payment for it, and sign the title over to him. Could this be a scam?

Community Answer

Yes. It is a scam because if you take the loan, you have the payment obligation.

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I have a classic car for sale, and the buyer wants to pay by check and send a tow truck to pick it up. Could this be a scam?

Community Answer

For an expensive purchase always demand a bank check or even better, a cashier's check. But don't stop there. As a banker, I can assure you that many bank checks and even cashier's checks are forgeries or counterfeits. Meet the buyer at his bank branch or yours and have the check verified. Only then do you sign over the title. The bank will check both drivers' licenses, so that is an added layer of security. Remember, never trade a piece of paper (check, money order, cashier's check) for a transferred title or physical possession of an expensive item.

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If a buyer wants me to obtain a VIN report for a vehicle I am selling, is he scamming me?

Community Answer

No, the buyer simply wants to know the history of the car - whether it was in any accidents or had prior damage, the service history, etc.

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Question

I got a text message with a link to craigslist.net. Is this a scam?

Community Answer

The real site is craigslist.org. It may have just been a mistake, but I would not click this link unless it came from someone you know and trust.

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If they ask for my email address, is that a red flag?

Community Answer

Yes, it could be a scam. It may not be every time someone asks you for your email address, but it is smart to not give it out to strangers.

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