 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
BUYER AND SELLER BEWARE - TIPS TO AVOID SCAMS ON CRAIGSLIST
Craigslist, an online collection of location-based classified ads, can be great for finding sofas, apartments, and even jobs. But as with all online activities, there is the potential for misuse. Scammers can be found virtually everywhere, including Craigslist, and they're out to get your money in any way they can.
Some popular tactics include listing items that don't actually exist and getting you to pay for them; getting you to pay for your purchase through a phony escrow account; getting you to pay for items through Western Union or another service that doesn't trace the receiver; getting you to reveal bank account or other financial information; and offering to pay more for an item that you've listed, then getting you to send a refund that reveals your banking information.
Craigslist offers several tips for avoiding these scams, but the #1 piece of advice that will prevent 99 percent of all scams is to deal only with local folks, and meet them in person. Here are a few more rules:
- Never send funds via a wire service such as Western Union or Moneygram.
- Beware of fake cashier's checks and money orders.
- Don't believe any guarantees "from Craigslist," since Craigslist is not actually involved in any transaction.
- Never purchase an item or rent a living space you haven't seen.
- Refuse to submit to credit or background checks until you know the potential employer or landlord is legitimate.
Source: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
continue to page 2
Craigslist, an online collection of location-based classified ads, can be great for finding sofas, apartments, and even jobs. But as with all online activities, there is the potential for misuse. Scammers can be found virtually everywhere, including Craigslist, and they're out to get your money in any way they can.
Some popular tactics include listing items that don't actually exist and getting you to pay for them; getting you to pay for your purchase through a phony escrow account; getting you to pay for items through Western Union or another service that doesn't trace the receiver; getting you to reveal bank account or other financial information; and offering to pay more for an item that you've listed, then getting you to send a refund that reveals your banking information.
Craigslist offers several tips for avoiding these scams, but the #1 piece of advice that will prevent 99 percent of all scams is to deal only with local folks, and meet them in person. Here are a few more rules:
- Never send funds via a wire service such as Western Union or Moneygram.
- Beware of fake cashier's checks and money orders.
- Don't believe any guarantees "from Craigslist," since Craigslist is not actually involved in any transaction.
- Never purchase an item or rent a living space you haven't seen.
- Refuse to submit to credit or background checks until you know the potential employer or landlord is legitimate.
Source: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
continue to page 2
Copyright © 2012 by "Gulfcoast Networking, Inc" · All Rights reserved
