There are many great things about Craigslist. It is completely free and offers classified ads for literally anything and everything you could ever want to sell or buy. You do not even need to sign up for an account in order to place ads on the site. You just need an email account, which you can get for free online without personally identifying yourself.
The problem here is that criminals who want to scam you out of your hard earned money are given all of these luxuries as well. The fact that Craigslist is used by so many people on a daily basis and requires absolutely no protection for buyers who are scammed makes it the perfect location for scammers to go into business.
When you shop or sell with Craigslist, there are a few general rules you should always adhere to:
Deal only in cash.
Deal in your local area only.
Deal in person.
Deal in a public place with others around, never at your own home.
Buyers
Your protection as a buyer starts from the moment you start browsing the ads. Start by looking for ads that contain pictures of the automobile for sale. If the picture does not look as if it was snapped with a personal camera, turn away. Some vehicles that are in poor condition can be Photoshopped to look as if they are brand new. Often, these images are clearly edited if you look close.
Other times, scammers will put up pictures of cars that are not really up for sale. A good scammer will have files full of vehicle images on their computer. The only way to know for sure that the vehicle on the site is the real vehicle you are purchasing and that the real car is in the same condition as advertised is to see it in person. Therefore, never ever hand over any amount of money for a vehicle that you have not seen and taken for a drive personally.
Remember, you have to deal with vehicles being sold within your local area, do the transaction in person, and only deal with cash. You do not want a scammer having access to your bank account number or duplicating copies of your personal check!
You should also never use an escrow service. A scammer will tell you they prefer an escrow service of their selection for both of your protection, but usually they own the service and have instant access to your payment information the second you enter it online!
The only way to protect yourself is to pay in cash, in person, and get a receipt.
Before buying, always have a mechanic look the vehicle over to ensure it is in proper working order. This may be an extra expense, but it may save you thousands in the future if you avoid purchasing a car that is soon to break down. Any seller not willing to allow a mechanic check should be avoided.
If you find a listing without images, ask for pictures to be sent to you. Never buy from someone who will not provide pictures.
Sellers
When selling a vehicle on Craigslist, avoid anyone who contacts you with the following:
Demands that you remove the vehicle from the site so they can make an arrangement with you.
Requests to send their 'shipper' to pick up the vehicle for any reason whatsoever.
Requests to pay by check of any variety.
Requests to pay you more than the amount of the vehicle with the excess to be given to someone else or themselves.
Interest in buying the vehicle sight unseen.
Refusal to meet in person.
These are all dead giveaways that you have been approached by a scam artist. A good scammer will sound like a real person, possibly struggling to get by due to handicaps or bad luck. They will tug at your heart strings and make you want to help them out. Do not do it!
The biggest scam on sellers is a combination of the overage check and the use of a supposed shipper. They will have great reasons why they cannot come see the car, but will state that they are willing to send their 'shipper' to pick it up. You just have to cash a check that is for more than the amount of the vehicle and give this shipper the excess as their fee.
What will really happen is they will get the car and the excess money, and you will be on the line for the entire amount of that check plus all the bank charges when it is rejected by your bank as a fake sometime in the future.
Remember, you have absolutely no protection against fraud with Craigslist. Any ad claiming to be 'verified' or 'certified' or hinting that they somehow have protection for buyers should be immediately classified as a scam!
Author Resource:-
You do not want to get scammed on Craigslist. Want more information on how craigslist scams work?
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