Posts Tagged ‘hints’

I believe that having the option to be a stay-at-home parent instead of having to finding a daycare or babysitter is very important. Occasionally I will mention ways that I have been able to make enough extra money to continue staying home with my baby (check out my Money Making Offers page for more). Now, I have finally put together a post (with my husband’s help) about how I make a little extra money from Craigslist without falling into any traps or scams- my husband has a lot of common sense in this area so I always get his advice.

Avoiding Scams on Craigslist

• DEAL LOCALLY WITH SOMEONE YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON – follow this one rule and you will avoid 99% of scam attempts on craigslist.

• Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe
• Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home
• Be especially careful when buying/selling high value items
• Tell a friend or family member where you’re going
• Take your cell phone along if you have one
• Consider having a friend accompany you
• Trust your instincts

-Craigslist.org

• NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA ANY WIRE SERVICE- anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
• FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM HOLDING YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
• CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer “buyer protection” or “seller certification”
• NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
• AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL “GUARANTEE” YOUR TRANSACTION.

source: Craigslist.org/about/scams

Examples of Common Scams on Craigslist

1. Someone claims that craigslist will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that craigslist will handle or provide protection for a payment.

2. Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier’s check, which is not caught by the bank until weeks after the transaction and you are left to reimburse the bank.

3. Vague email that sounds fishy asking about “your item” for sale which may just be fishing for your email address in order to spam you.

4. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram or offers to send you a money order and have you wire some money back.

5. Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods.

Navigating Craigslist

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure is a very true statement, and it is also an appropriate description of Craigslist. But, you need to use your common sense and realize that if it is too good to be true, then it’s probably a scam. Other than that, you can occasionally find some good stuff being tossed out in the “free” section under the “For Sale” category of your local Craigslist.

To communicate with a seller use the “Reply to” email at the top of the post. In the E-Mail describe what item you are interested in that way you don’t sound like a scammer. Make sure you use the above safety precautions even if you are only going to check out a freebie “curb alert” in your city.

Once you have acquired those valuable pieces of junk you can turn them into treasures and sell them back on Craigslist, in a Yard Sale, or through other local classifieds. Just check out my previous Trash To Treasure post if you need a refresher course on that. See that’s not too difficult, and everyone comes out a winner.

Do you have any helpful tips about avoiding scams and navigating Craigslist? I would love to here them and share them with my other readers!