Craigslist - How to avoid getting scammed?

In any online transactions, you should take all the necessary precautions so you won’t end up getting ripped off. There are many scammers out there and you should ALWAYS protect yourself from these people. The internet makes it easier for these scammers to trick people into making transactions with them with the motive of ripping them off either by pretending to be the buyer or pretending to be selling a wonderful product at an incredibly low price. You’d be lured by their erroneous modus operandi because they will often trick you into thinking that you are getting the best deal if you transact with them. It’s effective and despite the many warning signs, many are still falling prey to these scathing predators. So how can you protect yourself? Here are some tips that you should follow when transacting from Craigslist or any other online classifieds or online stores so you won’t end up getting scammed.

First thing you should take note, never pay through Western Union or other similar wire funding. This is one of the biggest mistakes by many victims. Once you pay via Western Union, once the scammer gets the money then there’s no chance for you to get it back. You end up waiting for the product to arrive but of course, there will be NO PRODUCT. So, when you transact with someone and he/she asks you to pay via this method, you should already run as fast as you can.

Second, as much as possible you should deal with people you could meet in person. If you do this, you can directly transact with the buyer or seller and can get the product or receive payment right away. Of course, this is not always the case but if you can find a buyer or seller from your area, this will definitely save you from online transaction headaches.

Lastly, don’t give out personal information such as your paypal info or credit card info and other personal information that only you should know about. Don’t give them the chance to hack your accounts by unknowingly giving out all the information needed to log in to your account or to buy items online using your credit card. Keep your money safe by being extra cautious about personal information questions from people.

Also, Craigslist is not just a place where posters post ads about products they’re selling or products they want to buy. Criegslist is also an online classified where you can see ads for jobs or personal ads. These are equally dangerous as well, that is if you are not careful. If you plan to meet with someone, may it be for a date or a job interview, make sure you meet somewhere safe where there are people around. Don’t go to a hotel room or other private places. There are different cases where a person meets with a supposed to be employer but then finds himself burglarized or worse, abducted.

Follow these simple tips and surely you’d be on your way to enjoying the potentials of Craigslist and other similar websites. Remember, your safety should be your utmost concern.