How to Accept Payments on Craigslist: Best Ways to Stay Safe

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Stay safe on Craigslist with this seller's guide
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Craigslist is an excellent tool for buying, selling or trading used items. Whether you are trying to de-clutter your home by selling a bunch of your unused stuff, selling off large pieces of furniture before a move, or trying to liquidate an old baseball card collection, Craigslist is a handy tool. However, you need to be on the lookout for scams and make sure you protect yourself by doing business smartly. By learning how to accept payments on Craigslist, you can navigate the selling process with ease.

Craiglist Safety Tips for Sellers

  1. Meet in a public place if selling face-to-face.
  2. Request cash payment when exchanging in person.
  3. If you're shipping your item, use a service such as PayPal for more security.
  4. Never accept a money order; this is usually a scam.
  5. Cashier's checks can be forged, so exercise caution when accepting these.

Steps

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    The recommendation from Craigslist is that you only do business locally, and for good reason. You are much less likely to be scammed by someone who you meet and transact with face-to-face. Asking a buyer to stop by your house to pick up the item is the norm (and the safest way to transact), but it isn't out of the question to ship an item. Just make sure you understand the risks involved.
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    If you decide to ship your item, this is the only payment option you should entertain. A buyer can make a payment to your PayPal account using nothing but your email address. Only after you have confirmed payment should you ship the item. If the buyer is not willing to pay in advance, do not do business with them.
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    If you decide to meet your buyer in person, ask that they pay cash. Any honest buyer will understand your hesitance to accept other forms of payment and will gladly stop by an ATM to get the cash. If a buyer insists on paying by check or some other form, strongly consider calling off the deal.
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    If you meet a buyer in person and they do not have sufficient cash on them, you could ask them to pay for part of the item in cash and cover the rest with a personal check. Remember that by doing this, you run the risk of the check bouncing.
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    Even though these are typically viewed as sound because they are drawn on a bank's funds, they are surprisingly easy to forge. It is not a good idea to do business with a Craigslist buyer who insists on paying by cashier's check.
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    Money orders are the type of payment most often associated with scams on Craigslist. Never do business with anyone who offers to pay you by money order for more than your asking price, especially if they are asking for a portion of the money to be wired to a third party. This is a classic formula for Craigslist scamming.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    If the buyer pays on PayPal, can he reverse the payment once I have given him the item?
    Community Answer
    Most likely yes, they can file an unauthorized payment and take the money back. Assuming you have no proof that you given them the item, PayPal will likely not help you unless the item is sold through eBay. I recommend only taking cash.
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  • Question
    How do I handle a sale when the buyer offers to pay by PayPal and have someone else pick it up?
    Community Answer
    Do not go through with the sale! PayPal has some sort of clause that voids protection if the item is picked up from the seller.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I get my money from PayPal once the buyer makes the payment?
    Community Answer
    Go to your PayPal account and click on 'transfer funds'. There you can transfer the money to your checking or savings account.
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      Reader Success Stories

      • Starr Jarvis

        Feb 28, 2018

        "PayPal is the best choice for me so next time I will add in the additional cost of having this service before hand."
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