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.
Can I report a Craigslist scammer?
If you suspect that an item posted for sale on Craigslist may be part of a scam, please e-mail the details to [email protected]. Be sure to include the URL (or 10-digit post ID number) in your message. Please use the “spam” flag link in the top right corner of a spam posting.
What do I do if I get scammed?
Report Most Common Scams
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report your scam online with the FTC complaint assistant, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, ET). The FTC accepts complaints about most scams, including these popular ones: Phone calls.
How can you tell a Craigslist scammer?
- Be alert for buyers who send generic messages. …
- Evaluate email responses for their level of literacy. …
- Only deal with local buyers. …
- Never agree to accept a check for more than your item’s purchase price and send the difference back to the buyer.
How do I stop getting scammed on Craigslist?
- Deal locally. It’s always safest to finalize a transaction in person. …
- Examine the product before finalizing a sale. …
- Don’t accept or send a cashier’s check, certified check or money order as payment. …
- Use cash — safely. …
- Don’t share your personal information.
How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?
- Always Verify the Owner. …
- If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is. …
- Never Give Personal Information Upfront. …
- Never Trust an E-mail. …
- Never Wire Money. …
- Beware of the Middleman Scam.
How can I recover money from a scammer?
Consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. If you’ve been a victim of fraud, identity theft or deceptive business practices, filing a consumer complaint with the FTC may be a good option for you to potentially recover money from a scammer.
How do you outsmart a romance scammer?
- Be cautious about sharing personal information. …
- Check their images. …
- Scan their profile for loopholes. …
- Look out for inconsistencies in their communication. …
- Take things slow. …
- Don’t share financial details/passwords. …
- Talk to someone you trust. …
- Don’t send money.
How can I get back a scammer?
- Ignore: The most obvious way is simply to ignore the scammer. …
- Scambaiting: You can try to engage the scammer, emailing them back and pretending to play along with whatever scam they’ve concocted.
Why is Craigslist bad?
The Dark Side: Scammers, Stalkers, and Setups. Scammers use Craigslist to steal money from unsuspecting victims by placing fraudulent advertisements with incredible deals. Buyers are asked to send money orders or checks online, and after making payment, never receive their item.
What can scammer do with my name and address?
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.
Is Craigslist sketchy?
Craigslist, where you can find a car or a human being to live with, has the reputation of being sketchy. … They found about 29,000 fraudulent listings in 20 major American cities — of which only 47 percent of which were flagged as “suspicious” by Craigslist.