Craigslist is a staple of my internet experience, even though I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love it because lots of people use it faithfully and the deals and the ability to recycle opposed to buy new or throw away. I hate it because people who use it are often unreliable and the persistent security issues.
There are no shortage of scammers and low life thugs who use Craigslist as a platform to dupe and hurt people. Just this week in Boston, Fox News reports “Mother and son used Craigslist to scam people into renting fake apartmentâ€
“Police say a mother and son scammed people out of $4,000 by trying to rent out an apartment that was not theirs. Police believe they took out a Craigslist ad and took deposits for an apartment they were living in for a short time. Medford police say they have received at least 4 reports from people saying they fell for the scam. It was not until the first victim’s moving truck arrived that the scam was realized.â€
In the same week Bob Sullivan from MSNBC reports “Craigslist ‘robberies by appointment’ turn violent”
“The sleepy suburban neighborhood in Bogota, N.J., looked safe when Michael pulled up to meet the man who had offered to buy his MacBook after seeing an ad on Craigslist. And everything seemed perfectly normal when the buyer walked up to his car and began counting out cash. But then a second man appeared seemingly out of nowhere and shoved a shotgun in Michael’s face.â€
Craigslist should be used with caution. People have been robbed, burglarized, scammed and in some cases their homes were invaded and some people have been killed. With Craigslist, be very careful who you contact and who contacts you. You never know who the person is or what their motivation may be.
ID pre meeting. Get their name and cell phone number ahead of time. And call them back to verify. Tell them your brother the cop will be there so they shouldn’t be alarmed when they pull up and see a police cruiser.
Never meet in private. Meet at a public location that involves lots of other people. The more eyeballs the better.
Trust your gut, and don’t discount any troubling feelings you might have about your meeting. If anything seems wrong, then it IS wrong. Cancel if necessary.
Enlist a friend whenever possible. There is strength in numbers. Predators thrive on isolation. By paring up, you reduce the chances of being attacked.
Look street smart. Don’t wear expensive jewelry or provocative clothes. Scarves and loose fitting clothing give attackers something to grab. Wear shoes you can run and kick in
Unaware creates risk. Unfortunately there is risk in meeting someone you don’t know. Being guarded can keep you from getting into a vulnerable situation.
Stay in communication. Make it known to your spouse or a friend where you are going and when you will be back. Have them on your cell phone while you are meeting.
Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing scammers and thieves on The Big Idea with Donnie Deutsch
3 users commented in " Craigslist Scams Are A Persistent Threat "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackSometimes it’s hard to remember we’re all on the same team. That’s why http://mittromneycentral.com/2011/01/12/congressman-pence-introduces-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-of-taxpayer-dollars/ was so refreshing and timely. Before the race for 2012 officially starts, we should get as many people to read that wonderful piece as we can. Then, in 2012 we can bring America back!
Keeping safe on Geebo and other classifieds sites:
It is important that you know how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe when using online classified advertising sites. Here are a few reminders:
When selling, do not put your home address in your ad.
To avoid scams, buy and sell with people you can meet locally, in person.
When meeting with someone you don’t know, meet in a public place. If that’s not possible, have a buddy with you. Also, carry a cell phone; if you feel unsafe, you can call a trusted friend, and stay on the line.
Never give out financial or private information like account numbers, PayPal login, or social security number.
If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is. Walk away!
When choosing a classifieds site:
Use only sites where ads are reviewed before they go live on the site rather than relying a flagging or rating system that leaves users vulnerable in the mean time.
Use sites that do not carry adult ads. Not only do these present risks to our children, but they can harbor human trafficking activities that harm people and open the door to other criminal activity.
If you are unsure about the safety of a particular classifieds site, do your own quick research. Type the site’s name into Google News or Yahoo! News. Are the results filled with news stories about crime? Then stay away. This is a case where no news is good news!
I have used craigslist for over a year now trying to land a job, (ANY
JOB) I have not had one legit response to any of my replies. I have
only had auto responders for more ads and offers or NOTHING in return,
not even a NOT HIRING…..
I started using the http://www.scamtex.com service and have not
received one bad reply yet. These guys investigate the posting for me
before I submit my personal information and resume. The guys at
http://www.scamtex.com have made this job hunting so much safer and
easier. Now I do not waist my time replying to scam postings.
Everyone should at least check them out. Would you stand on the street
corner and hand out your resume to a stranger? NO? then why would you
do it on craigslist?
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