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How to Spot a Craigslist Scam

Craigslist can be a great place to buy and sell items, find an apartment, or pick up some temporary work. However, the site is also a target for scammers who try to cheat people out of their time and money. While Craigslist scams can be hard to spot, the listing itself can provide some clues. Beyond the listing itself, pay attention to how the buyer or seller interacts with you to determine if they're legitimate. [1] Ultimately, if you have a weird feeling about the transaction, it's better to simply move on. [2]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Evaluating a Listing

  1. [3] When evaluating any offer, follow the general advice that if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. While you can certainly find good deals on Craigslist, common sense can help you distinguish the truly good deals from the scams. [4]
    • Read the listing carefully. If the person gives a reason why they are selling the item for the amount, put yourself in that position and imagine what you would do. You can pretty quickly spot a scam this way.
    • For example, suppose someone is selling a relatively new car for an extremely low price. They claim this is because they were awarded the car in their divorce and have no use for it. However, if you were in that position, you probably would still want to get as much as you could for the car. Since the person's divorce is supposedly finalized, the sale of the car would not affect it.

    Tip: If looking at rental or real estate listings, view places listed well below market value with skepticism – especially if there is a high demand for housing in your area. These listings are typically scams.

  2. Many scammers are not native English speakers, so their listings will be riddled with errors. The occasional typo or error is to be expected since these listings are created by members of the general public, not professionals (in most cases). However, a significant number of grammatical errors and basic spelling errors is suspect. [5]
    • This is especially important if you're looking at job listings. Someone who wants you to work for their business would typically be more careful and polished about their listing than someone who was selling an old piece of furniture or a few boxes of clothes.
    • Keep in mind that there are plenty of people living in the US and Canada who are not native English speakers and may post a legitimate listing on Craigslist. If the post contains a lot of errors but seems legit, consider sending the person a message and mentioning the errors or asking if English is their first language.
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  3. Scammers often place the same listing on the Craigslist sites for multiple cities. If you're suspicious of a listing, go to the Craigslist for a few other cities and search for the same title or wording. This is particularly common with real estate and rental scams.
    • For example, a scammer may list a 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath house for rent at half the market rate for such a dwelling in your area. You may see the same house listed for rent in multiple other cities.
    • Look for this tactic to be combined with a scarcity tactic. The listing may imply that supplies of a particular item are limited, but the person may have posted a duplicate listing in a dozen different places.
  4. Because Craigslist is designed to be a local marketplace, you should have the opportunity to see the thing being sold or leased in person before you commit. If the person is unwilling to let you see it before you give them money for it, you're likely dealing with a scammer. [6]
    • If the person cannot meet with you or wants to get a third person to meet with you, this could be evidence of a scam. If the person is not available at a particular time, try to work out a time when both of you are available.
    • If the person lives further away or claims to be out of town temporarily, this can also be evidence of a scam. If they weren't in your area, they shouldn't have posted a listing on your local Craigslist until they returned.

    Tip: In one common type of Craigslist scam, the person claims to be a US service member stationed overseas. They are preying on most Americans' tendencies to automatically trust someone serving active duty in the military.

  5. Craigslist scammers, like other scammers, often pressure you to make a decision quickly. [7] They may imply that they are in some sort of emergency and need to complete the exchange quickly. They will often try to appeal to your compassion and empathy to get you to complete the exchange without looking too closely.
    • For example, a scammer might claim that they've had a recent death in their family and need to complete the transaction as soon as possible. Or, they may have another person contact you and claim the original person had an accident and is in the hospital and they need to take over the transaction instead.
    • Tell the person that you need a few days to decide whether to go through with the transaction. Do an online search using any of the details you know to see if there are any complaints about the person or if the listing has been used before. These are signs that the listing is a scam.

    Tip: If you're dealing with a business, check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against them.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Interacting with Craigslist Users

  1. When you respond to a listing or someone responds to a listing you posted, find out if they are local. If you live in a town surrounded by rural areas, there may be people who live some distance from you. However, for the most part, the people selling things on Craigslist should be local to you. [8]
    • If the person lives in another state or another country, consider this a red flag. Craigslist is designed to facilitate local exchanges, not long-distance ones.
    • Even if the person is local, if they insist on doing the transaction over the internet, that is another red flag. Be wary of people who are willing to buy an item sight-unseen, or who want you to buy the item sight-unseen.
  2. If you post a listing, many of the first responses you get will typically be from scammers. Look for generic language in response, such as "the item" instead of naming the item you listed for sale. [9]
    • Also be on the lookout for overly flowery or formal language. This typically indicates that the person is not a native speaker of English. While that in and of itself is not necessarily a sign of a scam, being overly formal typically indicates that they're trying to butter you up and win your trust.
    • Some scammers will also send messages that seem overly familiar, even though you've never interacted with them before. They may seem desperate, as though your listing is a lifesaver for them, or they may share overly personal details about themselves, their family, or their situation.
  3. Craigslist is meant to be a medium to facilitate an in-person exchange between local people. This sets the site apart from platforms such as Etsy or eBay, where you typically complete the exchange online. If the person isn't willing to meet you in person, they're likely trying to scam you. [10]
    • The person may have a good excuse as to why they can't meet you in person. They may claim that they've been scammed before and want to be extra cautious, or that they had some other bad experience with a Craigslist exchange. However, if their method of caution puts you at the disadvantage, they're probably trying to scam you rather than protect themselves.
    • If they're buying something from you that you listed, they should want to see it in person before they commit to buying it. Most people would, especially if the transaction involves a larger sum of money. If they insist that they'd rather just send you payment and get the item sight-unseen, they're probably trying to scam you.

    Tip: Meet the person in a well-lit public area first. The parking lots of police stations have safe exchange zones. Many retail stores offer this as well. If the person isn't willing to meet you in a safe exchange area or at the police station, they're likely a scammer (or worse).

  4. Some scammers will insist that you need to work through someone else to complete the transaction. It may be a friend or relative of theirs or it may be a totally different company or website. they may claim that they want to use this third party for the protection of both of you. [11]
    • If the person wants to bring someone along with them when you make an exchange, that's different from wanting someone else to complete the transaction on their behalf. It's not necessarily suspicious if the person simply wants to bring someone along for their own comfort and safety.
    • The person may send you a link to a different website to complete the transaction. [12] Don't click on this link – it may be a way to get personal information about you that the scammer can use to steal your identity.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Protecting Yourself from Scams

  1. Craigslist is intended as a platform to facilitate local exchanges, similar to classified ads in a local newspaper. If someone doesn't live near to you, they're likely a scammer. This applies whether you're looking at a listing or getting responses from a listing you made. [13]
    • If you live in a predominantly rural area, people may simply be listing or responding to listings for the closest Craigslist to them. However, they should still be willing to meet you locally.
    • If you don't want to travel a potentially long distance, choose to leave out surrounding areas from your searches.

    Tip: The exact location of the person should be listed in parentheses after their user ID or the title of their listing. Be wary of people who give you a location that differs from the location they've entered for their listing.

  2. If you're handling a large transaction, some buyers and sellers may feel more comfortable using a guaranteed or insured payment or escrow service. However, if they give you a service to use, it may be a scam. Protect yourself by researching the service before you commit to using it or by offering a service yourself that you know is legitimate. [14]
    • You can find local payment or escrow services with a basic internet search. Simply enter the name of your city or town in your favorite search engine followed by the words "escrow service" or "craigslist payment service."
  3. Craigslist is simply a forum – it does not guarantee any exchanges or provide any insurance or protection. If someone offers this sort of thing, it's a scam. Most likely, they send you to a site that will use your information to steal your identity. [15]
    • Some sellers may request information from you claiming they are going to issue an invoice through PayPal or set up a private eBay listing. These also are likely scams. They may attempt to steal your identity or simply run off with your money without delivering the item. These services don't provide any additional protection for a seller who is worried about getting paid.
    • Often a seller will insist that you use another service to pay them before they send you the item you've purchased. If you give the person money before you get the item, you will likely never get the item.
  4. Many people try to sell extra tickets for concerts or sporting events on Craigslist. You might even find airplane tickets for sale. While these may seem like a bargain, they are often fake or voided tickets that you won't be able to use. Use a site such as StubHub or Ticketmaster for second-hand tickets, or buy your tickets directly from the venue. [16]
    • Airplane tickets are issued in the name of an individual who must show their government-issued photo ID or passport to board the plane. If you see airplane tickets on Craigslist, they are practically guaranteed to be fake.
    • Airline vouchers and similar guarantees also typically can only be used by the person whose name they were issued in.
  5. For a standard Craigslist transaction, you meet the person in a public place. They hand you payment for the item you're selling and you hand them the item in return. Generally, it's best to deal in cash rather than having them write you a check. [17]
    • Even cashier's checks and money orders may be forged. While your bank may cash the forged instrument, they will hold you liable if it turns out to be forged. If the person insists on a cashier's check, meet them at their bank to verify that the cashier's check was issued by the bank teller and is legitimate.
    • If you're selling a car, boat, land, or other titled property, do not transfer the title over to the person's name until you have money from them. If the person wants to make payments, write up a contract and do not transfer the title to them until you are paid in full.
  6. [18] Some scam sellers will ask you for a down payment or deposit before they meet with you. They might say that they want to make sure your serious or complain that they've already met with several people who ended up not buying the item. If you give them bank or credit card information, they'll likely use it to steal your identity or take more money. [19]
    • Some scam landlords renting bogus apartments will ask for part of the deposit upfront or send you to another site to pay a fee for a credit or background check. Legitimate landlords often do credit and background checks, but they don't charge you a fee for it (in some places it's actually illegal for them to do so).
    • A scammer will often tell you that they're just trying to save some time or make the transaction easier to process. However, there's nothing difficult about the usual way of conducting business. Insist that you want to see the property before you provide any information about yourself or pay them any money.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    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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      Tips

      • If you see a listing on Craigslist that looks like a scam, send an email to abuse@craigslist.org with the URL or 8-digit post ID number for the listing. You can also flag the listing directly from the page. [20]
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      • Read alert boxes at the top of Craigslist posts. They are there to inform you about popular scams currently being run on the site. [21]
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      • In addition to reporting scams to Craigslist, you might also want to file a report with the law enforcement agency that handles internet fraud and scams.
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      Warnings

      • Double-check the URL to make sure you're really on Craigslist. The URL should begin with "https://" and end with ".org." If it ends in ".com," for example, it's a scam site. [22]
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      References

      1. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.
      2. ↑ https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/internet-fraud/craigslist-scams
      3. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.
      4. ↑ https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
      5. ↑ https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
      6. ↑ https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
      7. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.
      8. ↑ https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/internet-fraud/craigslist-scams
      9. ↑ https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
      1. ↑ https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
      2. ↑ https://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
      3. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.
      4. ↑ https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/internet-fraud/craigslist-scams
      5. ↑ https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/craigslist-scams-14707309
      6. ↑ https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/craigslist-scams-14707309
      7. ↑ https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/craigslist-scams-14707309
      8. ↑ https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/internet-fraud/craigslist-scams
      9. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.
      10. ↑ https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/internet-fraud/craigslist-scams
      11. ↑ https://www.fraudguides.com/internet/craigslist/
      12. ↑ https://www.fraudguides.com/internet/craigslist/
      13. ↑ https://www.fraudguides.com/internet/craigslist/

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