Plan details in advance.

Never wire money in advance.

Legitimate sellers typically provide detailed information about the item or service.

Use a secure form of payment.

Provide or accept payment before meeting in person.

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If the listing is vague or uses a generic description that could apply to.

Requests to pay with gift cards are scams.

First, we’ll look at the various scams and then we’ll talk about how to avoid them.

Requests to wire money are scams.

Stay safe when a buyer comes to your house.

Scammers often use unbelievably low prices as bait.

Requests to deposit a cashier's check are scams.

We’ve put together a guide on the most common craigslist scams, how to avoid them, and how to stay safe while selling or buying on craigslist.

For more craigslist online safety tips, visit the service's avoiding scams page.

This article provides safety tips for buying and selling items on craigslist.

Vague or overly generic descriptions:

Fortunately, craigslist has instated a few deterrents in the system over the years, but scammers continue to find clever ways around them.

In this guide, we’ll cover some of the most common scams on craigslist sites and tips for keeping your money and identity safer.

If you're on craigslist, you should take heed to protect yourself with these simple tips.

Avoid becoming a victim by understanding how they operate and what types of tactics they use.

If you don’t plan to use a real estate agent to look for a house or apartment, be on high alert for scammers.

Evaluate listings carefully before agreeing to meet.

In a rental scam, someone on craigslist will list a property for rent to steal your money or your personal and financial information.

Trust your instincts when vetting buyers.

Home and apartment rental scams.

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Even if you don’t detect anything suspicious (but especially if you do), follow these best practices whenever you buy or sell through craigslist:

Always use a proxy email address or phone number.

9 essential tips to avoid craigslist scams.

Understand which red flags to look out for when using craigslist to either buy or sell items.

Meet in public and bring a friend.

This can help you avoid falling victim to craigslist scams.