Guest Blogger Ryan Powers – Don’t Be the Next Craigslist Scam Victim
Remember the days when finding an apartment, job, or second hand item like a washer or dryer was all done in the classified section of the newspaper? Currently, like many other things, this information has shifted to the Internet. And although the shift has made our lives easier, it also increases the risk of being scammed or ripped off. One of the hottest places online currently to find secondhand items, apartments, or even a date, is Craigslist. Craigslist categorizes searches by cities and items making it very user friendly, but also risky. Lucinda Bassett and I both know that purchases are not protected on Craigslist like they are on EBay or Amazon, making people more vulnerable to fraud. Often purchases require meeting a stranger in an alien area. So, should we be scared to buy from Craigslist? The answer is NO. Craigslist is a very useful tool in finding great deals on the Internet, but we do have to be cautious to avoid individuals looking to rip us off or scam us out of our hard earned money. Here are a few tips to avoid popular scams happening on Craigslist
Property Scams:
- Make sure the landlord really owns the property
- If the property is an apartment or condo, be sure to call the property management company to confirm you are renting from the legitimate property owner.
- If it is a house, search the property records to make sure the name of the person leasing or selling the property matches the records.
- Get a copy of the persons ID and check with the local authorities to make sure they are not scamming you.
- Do a Google search of the property and the landlord’s name. If they have scammed before you will probably find it online.
- If the landlord does not require an application or background check, you are most likely dealing with a scammer. Most landlords are meticulous about the tenants they rent to.
Automobile Scams:
- Avoid deals that sound to good to be true. They usually are.
- If the seller is unable to meet because they are out of the country or another reason, be extremely careful.
- Be aware of sellers that ask you to wire money to an overseas account or use Western Union. Manny scammers use Western Union.
- Be aware of sellers who have an urgency to complete the transaction. Scammers use a sense of urgency to make people do things they normally would not do, since they do not give people time to think it over.
- Be cautious of seller who only provide an email address and are unable to provide a phone number.
Ticket Scams
- Know what the ticket should look like. Most scammers use a one-size-fits-all printing method. If you know the ticket specifications and seating specifications it will help in preventing ticket fraud.
- Always ask for a receipt or invoice. Avoid sellers who cannot provide you with one, because they are most likely scammers.
- Ask the seller for proof of purchase. Next, call the event to make sure that the tickets were paid for. This is very important if you are buying season tickets. Many scammers will give you a receipt that shows partial payment, so look closely.
- Verify the seller. If they buy season tickets they are most often assigned an account number. Ask for the account information and then verify with the venue.
- When buying tickets through the mail be cautious not to get scammed. Offer partial payment until you receive the tickets. Ask that the tickets be sent with a tracking number. Get all details of the transaction in writing including contact information.
Anyone making purchases on the internet such as Lucinda Bassett, a teacher, students, sports fans, or new home buyers, be aware that there are countless scammers taking advantage of people in the digital shopping world. The above examples are just a few scams/tips to help you from being ripped off. Lucinda Bassett and myself have encountered fraud or scams, so we wanted to share these tips and make the public aware. If you have been a victim of a scam make sure to report it to the proper authorities. Also, get online and write about it on a blog, forum, or other digital impression to expose the scammer so others are not victimized. Just remember do not be scared, be smart. Happy shopping.
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