Buying on Craigslist: A Safety Guide

Written By:

Elizabeth Thorn

Reviewed By:

Elizabeth Thorn

Craigslist is a great resource when buying or selling items and looking for odd jobs, but it is widely regarded as a site where anything goes, and postings are less than trustworthy. If you are going to use Craigslist, it’s essential that you’re aware of the potential risks and use strategies to make your Craigslist experience as safe as possible.

What Is Craigslist?

Craigslist is an online site primarily used as a platform for buying and selling items. It operates like an online marketplace, allowing you to find unique furniture, knickknacks, and more that might not otherwise be available at a store. It’s a great spot to find second-hand items that are likely more affordable than they would be in-store.

Craigslist is also a place where people can post jobs and other opportunities. It’s also even used as a platform where people can list houses for sale. Craigslist is available in 50 countries, so even if you travel or move abroad, you may still be able to use the site.

Is Craigslist Safe?

Over the years, Craigslist has gotten a reputation for being a bit sketchy and shady. The truth is that Craigslist, as a website, is as safe as any other resale platform, like Facebook Marketplace.

It is a completely legitimate site, and most of the postings you find on it are also completely legitimate. But, like any site that helps connect two people, there is always the potential for fraudsters and criminals to use the platform to their advantage.

Anyone can list anything on Craigslist, which is where the risk comes in. But as long as you use your best judgment and follow some basic safety practices, you’ll be able to take advantage of the best Craigslist has to offer without worrying too much about potential danger.

Common Scams on Craigslist

The majority of criminal activity on Craigslist falls under the scam category. If you can learn the warning signs of a few common scams, you will be much better equipped to detect unsafe activity on Craigslist before the scammer succeeds.

These are not the only Craigslist scams out there, but this is a good list to begin with.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams refer to situations in which scammers pretend to be a real company or person and ask for personal information under that false identity. In this case, the scammer will pretend to be someone posting an ad on Craigslist for an item or job, or they will pretend to be someone responding to your Craigslist ad.

They will send you an email or text message that appears to come from a real Craigslist account and may include a link for you to click. If you click the link, malware may be automatically installed onto your device, which can lead to data mining, identity theft, and more.

A Home or Apartment That’s Too Good To Be True

Because Craigslist is a platform on which people can market their homes or apartments, there can also be home and apartment scams. Usually, in these scams, the house will be listed for an unbelievably low price, and the attached pictures will make it seem like a dream home. The incredible abode and the low price should set warning bells off in your head.

The “landlord” who’s running the scam will be all too eager to please everyone and will start collecting deposits en masse. Of course after that, the landlord will disappear with everyone’s money, and no one will get the home.

The Middleman

In this scam, the owner of the house will pretend to be out of town, sick, or otherwise unable to meet with you to show you the property. They will propose you meet with their friend, associate, or other middleman to negotiate the deal. In all likelihood, the middleman is, in fact, the supposed owner of the house themselves.

If you don’t think you’re talking to the owner, it will seem less odd that they aren’t able to provide full details and forms to verify the sale. If you give your deposit to the middleman, they’ll disappear with your money before you can realize what actually happened.

Fake Checks

Many people use online payment methods like Cash App, Zelle, or Venmo to pay. If someone does insist that they pay you with a check and then when you go to cash it in, it doesn’t go through, they have scammed you. Try asking people to pay with a more trustworthy money source before giving up your item.

The Accidental Overpayment

Another scam tactic is for people who are sending a month’s rent, deposit, car payment, or paying for an item outright to “accidentally” send too much money. They will pay with a fake check or false online transfer and then tell you they overpaid.

When you send back the difference, you’re actually just paying them outright with your own money since they never paid you to begin with.

The Safety Payment

If you are paying someone online — especially when it’s someone you can’t physically meet up with — they may offer a test payment to make sure your money goes through. This is also a strategy they might employ if you seem hesitant to pay them due to doubting the legitimacy of the deal.

Once you pay a smaller amount to the account of their choice, they will disappear with the money you’ve given them, and you’ll never get the promised car or item.

Fake Tickets

Craigslist is also sometimes used as a concert, sports, or event resale site. Prices may be lower and attractive to those looking to get the best deal for an upcoming event. Scammers can create fake tickets and charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for you to buy their tickets.

Then, at the event, you’ll discover they were fake all along. Even though the good deals can be tempting, it’s safest to only ever buy tickets on sanctioned resale sites.

The Nanny Job

This is a more complicated scam that targets the young and inexperienced. Scammers will pretend to be looking for a nanny and send an advanced payment to cover various expenses. They will then ask the nanny to pay for groceries, cover their rent, or some other similar payment that seems to be part of their job.

In this situation, the recipient of the payment would be involved in the scam, too. They could be a landlord, a friend the employer owes money to, or any believable entity to whom the money might be given. Once you send over the money, thinking the original check is covering it, everyone disappears, and the money comes out of your own account.

Extra Shipping Money

A buyer might offer to pay extra to cover the cost of shipping your item to them. While this is a nice sentiment, if they pay you with a check or wire transfer rather than making a traditional online payment, you could lose your money and item.

How Can You Tell if You’re Being Scammed on Craigslist?

Scammers do their best to come off as convincing as possible, but there are a few telltale signs you can look for that might indicate you’re being scammed. At the very least, these things should raise red flags in your head and make you extra cautious when moving forward.

Poor Spelling and Grammar

A message full of spelling and/or grammar errors is usually an indication that someone overseas is posing as a local. Even if they’re not a scammer, you probably don’t want to spend time pursuing a deal with someone who can’t actually meet you to exchange the item and settle payment because they live abroad.

Weird Method of Payment

If a buyer or seller wants to use checks, wire transfers, or some other atypical payment method, you should be extra cautious when exchanging money with them and make sure their payment comes through before sending an item.

Buyer or Seller Refuses To Meet

When a buyer or seller refuses to meet in person, it should set off a warning bell in your head. Buying and selling in person, especially with large items like furniture, is helpful just to confirm that everything’s in place.

How To Stay Safe on Craigslist

The first and most important step to staying safe on Craigslist is to be aware of the scams and warning signs that indicate you may be interacting with a scammer.

Here are some simple safety tips to follow while on Craigslist:

Never Give Out Your Personal Information

Use alternative accounts for communication to minimize harm if they fall into the wrong hands.

Always Bring a Friend

Never meet a buyer or seller alone. Always bring someone with you for safety.

Meet in Public

Choose a public place for meetings to ensure safety.

Inspect the Item

Ensure the item matches the description before finalizing any transactions.

Try To Pay in Cash

Cash payments reduce risk of fraud as they don’t give access to any bank accounts.

Trust Your Judgment

If something feels off, trust your instincts and don’t proceed.

With good judgment, Craigslist becomes a much safer environment.