Free Stuff and A Mugging
Many people who just want to get rid of items advertise free stuff on Craigslist with a physical address, but no phone number or email contact information. While most of these ads are legitimate, some enterprising muggers have found they can recruit their victims by advertising free stuff.
Craigslist does not back any transaction on its site. If you receive an email or text trying to sell you purchase protection, you're looking at a scam. There is no such thing as a Craigslist voicemail service. If a contact asks you to access or check your “Craigslist voicemails,” you're dealing with a scammer.
Watch Out for These 8 Common Craigslist Scams
Cashier's checks are not great for people who don't know each other at all, like two strangers on Craigslist. That's because there's always a possibility that they are fake. Usually the scammer gives the victim a check for more than they asked for, and then asks them to pay the extra money to an apparent third party.
With a name and address, a thief can change your address via U.S. Postal Service and redirect mail to their address of choice, Velasquez says. With access to your financial mail, the thief may intercept bank statements and credit card offers or bills, then order new checks and credit cards.
One of the most important Craigslist precautions is to be wary of scammers. In almost all cases, you are best off accepting cash for a Craigslist sale. ... If the transaction is for an expensive item, such as a car, meet the seller at the bank, and have them draw and deliver the cashier's check right then and there.
Be familiar with Craigslist
Scammers often create lookalike sites to lure buyers into paying for items that don't exist. Always confirm the URL before finalizing a purchase. Craigslist does not back any transaction on its site. If you're offered purchase protection at a price, you're looking at a scam.
Follow Craigslist's recommendations about safe transactions to avoid scams and secure a payment from an honest buyer.
Just like Venmo, Zelle does not offer fraud protection for buyers or sellers on its transactions. Scammers know people aren't aware of this, because Zelle is brand-new. They also know that people will choose to trust Zelle because it's backed by their bank, and because it's a feature within their bank's own app.
In fact, some people make a game of getting even with or even getting ahead of the scammers by carrying out what's known as "scambaiting."
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Follow these simple rules:
If you're a victim of a Craigslist scam, you may want to get in touch with your local police department. It can pursue criminal charges and possibly help you recover any money or items that were stolen.
Don't believe everything you hear. Scammers are now responding to ads but tricking sellers into thinking they are busy at work and can't talk until later. Instead of leaving you with a contact number, they request you enter your phone number into a website that “stores information” for them. Don't fall for it!
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