It’s one thing for someone to try to dupe you with a Craigslist ad that came with a ridiculous price tag. It’s another thing to fall for a rental scam on the platform, which many people unfortunately do.
One reason is that these dubious property listings are difficult to spot at first glance. But according to real estate expert Melissa Spittel, there are red flags to look out for.
According to Spittel, one sign that should raise eyebrows is a seller’s unwillingness to meet in person. Another red flag, and a glaring one at that, is a seller who asks for a down payment before you’ve even seen the place. Then there’s the typical sob story that doesn’t add up.
“They might tell you a family member was in a bad accident, or is very sick, and they need to rent the place as soon as possible to pay medical bills. Don’t fall for those lies,” Spittel wrote.
Spittel says it is still safe to rent a property via Craigslist. However, you must exercise vigilance and do your due diligence. Among her top tips is Googling the address. According to Spittel, a legitimate listing will appear on multiple websites.
Her second tip is to do a reverse image search. While it isn’t foolproof, Spittel says stolen images will usually return a list of pages that feature matching photos. That is another clear indicator of a questionable listing.
Other types of Craigslist scams may involve cashier's checks, overseas sellers, and even pets. As such, the platform itself provides tips and warnings to help users avoid losing hard-earned money or sharing sensitive information.
Among the list of Craigslist’s “Don’ts” are accepting cashier’s checks as payment, wiring money, receiving requests via escrow services, and disclosing bank account numbers and other personal data, such as Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and even job references.
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also revealed what is known as a “Sweetheart Scam” using Craigslist. In a nutshell, it’s when a con artist tries to win the trust and affection of a person before taking their money.
In that regard, the Los Angeles DA's office also advises against disclosing financial information, including PayPal email addresses. Agreeing to background checks is also a big no-no, especially before meeting a potential employer, landlord, or real estate agent in person.
