Maintaining anonymity when advertising
Anonymize your email address when you post advertisements.
Select the option to substitute your real email address with an anonymous email address endorsed by Craigslist when you post advertisements. Although your real email address will not be displayed publicly, you will still receive messages regarding your posting. This option is helpful when your real name or other personal information is part of your email address.
Include only your first name on advertisements you post. Release additional personal information such as your phone number, address, or alternate contact email address only after you have been contacted by someone regarding your posting.Protect Yourself when Using Craigslist Step 3Bullet1.jpg
Being security wise
Do not provide financial information to anyone on Craigslist. Some Craigslist users will try to scam you by seeking information such as bank account and routing numbers or your social security number, which they can use to commit fraud or identity theft. Do not submit any personal or financial information to people claiming to perform background or credit checks until you have met with and spoken with them in person.
Perform transactions with cash only. Do not pay in advance for products, services, or job fees to lower your risk of being scammed. Do not accept cashier's checks or money orders because although the checks may clear initially, they may bounce later if they are fraudulent and the bank will hold you financially responsible for the funds. Do not use money-wiring or online escrow services because you may not be refunded if transactions are deemed fraudulent.
Verify products or services are legitimate before you purchase them. If you are interested in a home or apartment, visit and inspect the interior before you make payments or sign any contracts. If you are purchasing a specific product such as a used electronics item, verify the item contains all the parts as advertised and that it works properly before you buy it.
Ensuring safety when meeting people
Meet people from Craigslist in a public location. Whether you are the party who posted the advertisement or are responding to an advertisement, meet people at busy public venues such as restaurants or shopping centers to perform transactions. If you are participating in a job interview, arrange to have the interview take place during business hours. If meeting in public is not an option, bring a trusted friend or family member with you and tell people where you are going to be.
Bring a mobile phone with you in case of an emergency.
Carry a self-defense product such as pepper spray to help increase your safety if you have to meet people by yourself.
Taking care when the items are expensive
Insist on speaking on the phone beforehand. If a seller refuses to talk on phone––makes excuses, etc .––walk away. Text doesn't count; you must talk to them. If the seller shows any signs of hostility or anger in any of your interactions, cancel the meeting and discontinue contact immediately.
Ask relevant questions about the item. Even if you know the answers, make sure the seller's story makes sense. Is the item stolen? Ask them how long they've owned it. Later in the conversation ask the question of how they obtained it again. You can usually smell a rat. This is especially important if the price seems too good.
Insist on meeting in a very public place, such as a bank lobby, well frequented coffee shop, McDonalds. Anywhere with security cameras helps. Pick somewhere you are familiar with if possible. Do not meet in apartment parking lots, houses, lane ways, out of town, anywhere sketchy.
Keep the cash in your car until you are ready to make the transaction and have felt the person out. Thieves like setups - i.e. someone gets tipped off in the parking lot by the fraudulent seller that you are there and carrying a lot of cash.
Make the transaction quick and discreet. You don't want to flash much cash in public or walk around with showy expensive goods for too long.
Make sure you let someone know you are going. If something strange happens, at least someone has a clue what neighborhood you were going to or who you were meeting with.
Be safe and smart. Go with your gut; if a situation feels weird, don't be afraid to bail. It is better safe than robbed, injured or worse - no deal is worth this!
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