Online Classified Scams

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Online Classified Scams

Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace scams take many forms, but they often involve fake car or apartment advertisements. The fraudsters use a story such as a recent divorce, a death in the family or an impending military deployment to advertise a car for quick sale, claiming it is being stored by a third party that requires a bank-to-bank wire transfer before the car can be picked up.

In reality, the car does not exist, and the money is lost. Other common online classified scams involve overpayment for a product or products that simply don’t exist. Fake job advertisements also are common on Craigslist. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to find deals, but much can go wrong with these purchases. Keep these tips in mind when making a purchase on an online classified site:

● Always meet the seller and see the item or property before you buy. Photos in a listing are helpful but can be faked easily. For instance, if you can’t tour the advertised house or see the car before buying or renting it, it’s probably not available.

● Whenever possible, meet in a safe, secure spot. Consider taking a friend and a second vehicle if possible.

● Avoid deals in which payment is also requested for shipping or escrow services. This scam is only one take on this trend. Avoid them by purchasing directly from the seller.

● Never give out personal information including credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or your address to anyone.

● Get as much information from the seller as possible, including a name and phone number. Never deal with a person who will not talk to you on the phone. Consider writing down the license plate number of the seller’s car when meeting for a transaction.

● Watch out for very low advertised prices. While the value of used items naturally varies, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

● Report scams on Facebook Marketplace by opening the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner of a Facebook post and clicking “Report Post,” then “Fraud or Scam.”

● Report Craigslist scams by contacting Craigslist. You can also flag fraudulent posts and scams on the site by clicking the “prohibited” link at the top of a posting.

If you believe you have been a victim of this type of scam you should promptly report it to the IC3's website at www.IC3.gov. The IC3's complaint database links complaints together to refer them to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration.

Remember - always watch for scams!

Steve