by Dolly DeVonderland

Created on: April 07, 2011   Last Updated: April 08, 2011

Craigslist is an active online marketplace, a resource for community activities and job seekers.  Craigslist has also been used by con artists and other scammers to take advantage of innocent everyday folks.  Scandal has found itself on every section of their versatile range of ads, and can be avoided if you know the signs of a scam.  Common sense and gut instinct are two of your best tools for fighting off scams.

A wildly common scam on Craigslist is found in the job postings.  An honestly legit job offer will not cost you anything.  For certain fields, licenses or certifications are required.  These types of qualifications are issued by state or local authorities, not the company.  Any fees for required training courses are another hint the job may be a scam.  Some job postings end up directing the potential job seeker to enroll in other websites, which may be either a waste of time or an attempt to get your personal information.  Common sense is vital on the job boards, a high-paying career with no resume or description of what the job involves is just bait for fools to be parted from their money.

On the sales section, be wary both as a buyer and a seller.  As a buyer, know a bit about the items you're looking at and the usual price ranges.  Ask questions about the item if the description is not clear.  As a seller, be alert for the possibility of fraud in how people offer to pay.  Cash is best, things like money orders can be scanned and some criminals make rather convincing copies. The vast majority of Craigslist sales are locally based, so offers asking you to ship items should be questioned carefully.  How would someone several states away even come to find your listing on your local Craigslist?

A vital concern on both sides of a sales listing is safety in meeting someone you don't know.  Many news stories have shown, criminals are devious and know that someone looking to buy a car will have money.  They may have no intention of selling the car, just luring in potential buyers to be robbed.  Always bring someone else along with you to increase your safety.  Tell someone who is not going along who you are meeting with, where you are meeting and when they should expect you back.  It's most safe to meet strangers in a busy public place, whether it's a fast food restaurant or the parking lot of a busy store.

The basics of Internet safety and avoiding scams are helpful to having a good experience on Craigslist.  It's quite possible to meet with very trustworthy and honest folks selling or buying things, but beware of the dishonest types.  Great jobs are hidden amongst the scams looking to sell training or get the personal information of job-seekers.  Craigslist is a very real example of the reason 'Buyer Beware' is such a time-honored saying.  More accurately though, be aware, be safe, and always trust your gut instinct if something seems questionable.

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