Craigslist may well be the ultimate online site for classified listings that has
become one of the most popular sites on the Internet in a span of more than a decade. The plethora of choices you can find in this site has made millions of people around the world realize the potential of making money by advertising their unwanted goods or offering their products and services. Unfortunately, scam perpetrators likewise see this as an opportunity of making big bucks by luring unsuspecting preys and trap them into parting with their money. How do you steer clear of these scam dealers to protect yourself and your money?
Get Familiar with Common Craigslist Scams
There are warning signs and patterns that you can learn to identify. Craigslist is, by design, intended to hook up local buyers and sellers. A typical deal is for the buyer to pick up their purchases and make cash payments. Be wary of sellers who insist on wired payments. It is often an obvious indication of a scam.
Best Judgment Still Works
Avoid 'too good to be true' ads when looking for best deals. When an item seems too incredibly cheap, for instance, chances are the goods may not even be there. There's a mistaken notion that scammers will sell with the highest price possible. On the contrary, they will have no qualms selling at rock bottom prices because they have nothing to lose anyway. Lower price attract more buyers; and more buyers mean more victims to scam. Be on the lookout for this kind of suspicious deal.
Compare Craigslist Listings
Do not just go and close the deal on the first 'best' deal you find. Go through the sale listings and compare prices. You can spot the similarities in the descriptions and selling prices. Try to decipher the hint of warning signs that may just be concealed among sellers who either want too much or too little.
Comparing Craigslist listings is not always an easy task because the site is setup by location. However, a free software program called Craigslist Reader enables you to check the listings on a national level.
Remember great caution should be observed when using Craigslist because there is no moderation on the site. But you can also learn to spot a scam coming and gain knowledge of the appropriate skills to respond.