Craigslist 101: How to buy and sell safely (2024)

Anna Marie Ronning of Minneapolis couldn't even give away an entertainment center on Craigslist. A little creative marketing was needed. As she and her kids were baking peanut butter cookies, they decided to change the subject line to "Free: Plate of melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cookies with furniture."

Not only did someone arrive quickly to pick up the cookies and entertainment center, but her ad was chosen as the "best of Craigslist." More than a few responders said they didn't need the furniture but asked for her cookie recipe.

Most Craigslist transactions like Ronning's take place without incident. She also has bought more than 75 items through the popular classified-ad website with no problems.

But Craigslist (minneapolis.craigslist .org) also has become synonymous with scams and tragedy, based on news reports of crimes committed using the site's free classified ads. It's enough to scare novices away from using the world's seventh most popular English-language website, which attracts 50 million visitors monthly.

So, for those who have yet to dive in, I asked readers to share their tips and experiences as buyers and sellers on Craigslist. Many wrote that once you ignore the fake, generic responses from people who ask, "Is your item still available?" and the scammers who want to pay you with a money order or wire transfer, the buying and selling experience can be relatively painless.

Safety tips

• Bring another person along when buying or selling to minimize the chance of robbery.

• Meet the buyer at his or her bank for large purchases such as a car. The buyer withdraws the cash and hands it to the seller -- or the seller can get a bank check instead -- and the buyer takes the car.

• Meet in a public place for smaller items. Bring a cell phone, and tell a family member where you're going.

• Stick with local buyers and sellers. Anyone who is "out of the country" or "out of the state" is a red flag.

• Avoid anyone who asks for a wire transfer.

• Provide a cell phone number or other number that can't be searched online for a home address.

• Don't give your home address to a buyer until you've had a chance to talk by phone and the buyer provides a number.

• Don't include personal information in your ad, such as a home address, e-mail address (use Craigslist's anonymous e-mail address instead) or landline phone.

Buyer tips

• Deal only with sellers who accept cash. Wiring funds via Western Union, Money Gram, PayPal or other services for a transaction is not a good idea.

• Ask if items, especially furniture, come from a smoke-free or animal-free house to avoid odors.

• Negotiate in front of the seller when you're standing there with the cash.

• Be cautious when buying tickets sold by people who won them from local radio stations. In some such cases, tickets are not issued and must be claimed on the day of the event at the venue by showing an ID, which won't match up when resold. It's always best to buy physical tickets only.

• Bring exact change.

Seller tips

• Know spam when you see it. If a potential buyer sends an e-mail asking, "Is your item still available?" instead of mentioning anything specific about it, it's probably spam.

• Write a specific title. "Must sell" or "Want to sell" are useless. Try "Brown leather sofa in pristine condition for $500" instead.

• Include photos, size, dimensions, color and other pertinent details, even the original purchase price.

• Try a small price instead of "free." One seller had more luck selling an old sofa for $20 than when it was posted as "free."

• Tell buyers that the first person to show up with cash gets it. No holds. Many sellers report frustration with buyers who don't show when they say they will.

• Tell buyers that the price is non-negotiable for the first day or two (unless you are willing to negotiate).

• Accept cash only. Have directions to the nearest cash machine handy if the buyer shows up with a check.

• Remove sold items from Craigslist immediately to avoid more calls and e-mails.

• Know that most buyers are looking for garage sale pricing. It's easy to go back into your ad and lower the price.

• If giving stuff away, put "curb alert" in the title before the name of the item. One seller said that nine times of out 10, her items are gone within an hour when she puts freebies outside.

Tips are from Anna Marie Ronning, John Quast, Matt Jung, Ronald King, Pat Watson, Chris Trinh, Laura Bahr, Patrice Lott, Robb Hignite, Steven Rothberg, Alicia Vap, Scott Gurrola, Joe Gangelhoff, Dylan Corbett, Julie Warner and Gregg Quam.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/blogs/dealspotter.

Craigslist 101: How to buy and sell safely (2024)

FAQs

Craigslist 101: How to buy and sell safely? ›

Craigslist email relay hides your email address when communicating with buyers or sellers. It's a great security feature that you should take advantage of. That means you shouldn't give your real email address or phone number to someone you're dealing with, especially if they're pressuring you.

How to purchase from Craigslist safely? ›

If you're offered purchase protection at a price, you're looking at a scam.
  1. Deal locally. ...
  2. Examine the product before finalizing a sale. ...
  3. Don't accept or send a cashier's check, certified check or money order as payment. ...
  4. Use cash — safely. ...
  5. Don't share your personal information.

How do you sell on Craigslist for beginners? ›

Select the Craigslist for your city on https://craigslist.org.
  1. Click post an ad under the Craigslist logo at the upper-left corner.
  2. Navigate through the steps to complete your posting. Be sure to add images and select an appropriate category.

Should I give my phone number on Craigslist? ›

Craigslist email relay hides your email address when communicating with buyers or sellers. It's a great security feature that you should take advantage of. That means you shouldn't give your real email address or phone number to someone you're dealing with, especially if they're pressuring you.

How to identify a Craigslist scammer buyer? ›

Similarly, buyers who ask for personal or financial information or offer to pay more than the asking price for an item are often scams. If something seems suspicious, it's best to walk away and look for a different opportunity.

What is the safest payment method when selling on Craigslist? ›

One of the most important Craigslist precautions is to be wary of scammers. In almost all cases, you are best off accepting cash for a Craigslist sale. Personal checks can bounce, and scammers can fake cashier's checks and money orders.

What is the best way to accept payments on Craigslist? ›

Craiglist Safety Tips for Sellers

Request cash payment when exchanging in person. If you're shipping your item, use a service such as PayPal for more security. Never accept a money order; this is usually a scam. Cashier's checks can be forged, so exercise caution when accepting these.

Why do Craigslist buyers want my phone number? ›

You list an item and get an immediate response from a potential buyer. The “buyer” claims to be very interested in your item, but they want to make sure you are legitimate first. The scammer asks for your phone number, so they can text you a verification code.

Should you give your email address on Craigslist? ›

When you use Craigslist to sell or purchase something, you communicate by sending an email to the other person in the transaction. To protect buyer and seller privacy, Craigslist keeps email addresses hidden.

How do I respond to a buyer on Craigslist? ›

Click "Reply."

A window with response options will appear. To use your default mail program, click the blue response link at the top. If you use one of the listed webmail services, click the corresponding icon.

How to sell on Craigslist without getting scammed? ›

How Can I Avoid Getting Screwed When Selling on Craigslist?
  1. When You Can't Meet in Public, Take the Necessary Precautions. ...
  2. Get a Google Voice Number. ...
  3. Detect and Delete Scam Emails. ...
  4. Only Accept Cash. ...
  5. Price Your Item High. ...
  6. Don't Write a Long Ad.
Jun 5, 2012

How to spot a fake Craigslist ad? ›

Here are a few quick tips for spotting Craigslist scams:
  1. Avoid deals that seem too good to be true.
  2. Look out for ads that display a sense of urgency.
  3. Watch for deals where the seller asks for money upfront to secure the item.
  4. Be smart about how you pay.
Oct 19, 2022

How can you tell if a Craigslist house is real? ›

Jump To A Section....
  1. What Is The Scammer's Motivation.
  2. How Do You Spot Rental Scams On Craigslist?
  3. #1 There Are Typo's And Grammatical Errors In The Rental Listing.
  4. #2 Pay Attention To The Photos.
  5. #3 The Price Is Too Good To Be True.
  6. #4 The Property Is Never Available To View.
  7. #5 You Will Never Meet The Landlord.

Why do Craigslist buyers ask for a phone number? ›

Scammers are now responding to ads but tricking sellers into thinking they are busy at work and can't talk until later. Instead of leaving you with a contact number, they request you enter your phone number into a website that “stores information” for them. Don't fall for it!

What is the best payment method to not get scammed? ›

Secure online payment methods
  • Credit cards. By and large, credit cards are easily the most secure and safe payment method to use when you shop online. ...
  • ACH payments. ...
  • Stored payment credentials. ...
  • Credit cards with EMV chip technology. ...
  • Credit cards with contactless payment. ...
  • Payment apps.
Feb 11, 2023

How do I avoid buying stolen goods on Craigslist? ›

Your "suspicion alarm" should go off if you see stock photos instead of actual photos of the item, a poor item description -- revealing, perhaps, that the seller doesn't know the item's history because of having stolen it -- and an over-eager tone throughout the ad.

Is Venmo safe for Craigslist? ›

Venmo is safe for sellers looking to do legitimate business, as the buyer can't just cancel a payment once it's sent. Venmo is also safe for buyers, but there's no guarantee Venmo will refund money if you're scammed.

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