While utilizing the Portland Craigslist, be on the lookout for scams. Listed below are some of the most common scams we see on this site. We also discuss the Products we carry and the Scammers that have targeted our store. Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid the same fate! We look forward to helping you navigate the Portland Craigslist! Let’s start! Interested in finding a Portland Craigslist seller?
Scams On Craigslist
The scammers behind Craigslist advertisements have a history of spreading lies. In one recent case, a Portland man, Jeremy Shawn Williams, posed as a homeless person in a Craigslist ad in March and promised to give his victim a brand new HP laptop for $200. Instead of selling the laptop, however, he offered a fake name and best buy name tag. The scammer then met the victim at a public place and exchanged a sealed laptop box. He then disappeared with the cash and a book. The scammer is committing similar crimes nationwide.
Typical scams on Craigslist Portland include home rental scams. These scammers steal the pictures and details of homes listed for rent on Craigslist. They then contact prospective renters and request payment in cash. They often refuse to meet face-to-face. Instead, they use western union to transfer money to their accounts, and all contact stops once the money is received. Fortunately, these scams are rare but are important to avoid.
A scammer will often contact you through a fake email, pretending to be from a company affiliated with the Craigslist website. They may also ask you to wire money to them to complete the transaction. They may even ask you to pay in advance. If you’re not sure of someone’s legitimacy, report the post to the Craigslist website. In this way, Craigslist can protect the public from scammers.
Another scam that plagues Craigslist in Portland is a rental home scam. In this case, scammers clone real listings and make them look like fakes. They set up fake accounts and make potential renters submit fraudulent applications. They even pose as Southern state’s homeowners and offer to negotiate over the internet. While this seems legitimate, it’s not. Craigslist warns against dealing with these scammers and encourages you to talk to a local real estate agent before sending them money.
Another scam on Craigslist involves the purchase of motor vehicles. The scammer will list the vehicle for sale at far below market value. He will have a fake story behind the low price. He will ask you for your name and address. He will also ask you to use Google Checkout to complete the transaction. You’ll never get what you paid for. And if you do get scammed, you’ll have to wait several days before the car is shipped.
Another common scam involves overseas money transfers. Never make an overseas money transfer with someone on Craigslist. Always counter with a trusted escrow site. Craigslist users should avoid transferring money to strangers because it’s risky. Scammers use their sense of urgency to trick you into making a deal. These scammers are likely to use urgency to trick you into paying for something they don’t want.
Products We Carry
There are many benefits of using the free Craigslist services in Portland, Oregon. Portland Craigslist can be a great place to find the best deals on anything you are looking for. There are many categories to browse through and the site has a search engine for almost anything related to Portland, including motoring, real estate, computers, fashion, and more. Portland Craigslist is a great place to start, whether you are looking for a new or used car or to sell your old one.
One motel worker recently reported finding $3,000 worth of counterfeit bills in a guest’s room. In August, the Secret Service in Oregon found over $32,000 in fake bills. In September, the Secret Service found nearly $45,000 in counterfeit bills in a motel. If you want to make sure you’re buying a good phone, use the Phone Xchange. We’ve been in the mobile phone business since 1997, and our used cell phones are the best around.
Scammers That Have Targeted Us
A West Linn, Oregon woman was ripped off after she fell for a rental scam on the Portland Craigslist. A Craigslist Portland ad alerted readers to a free home, but the woman contacted the scammer with a false name and a fake best buy name tag. The scammer asked her to meet at a public location to exchange the sealed box for cash. He later disappeared without returning the money, and the victim opened the box to find a book inside.
One common scam involving rental housing in the Portland area involves clones of legitimate home listings. The scammers use their names and contact information to create phony listings and lure unsuspecting renters into signing lease agreements or accepting phony payments. The scammers also make up phony applications and ask potential renters to fill out fraudulent applications. In addition, scammers may pretend to be property owners in the Southern US and offer home negotiations online.
Another scam involving cars is a variation on the accidental check scheme. These scammers sell cars for far below market value. They often come up with an elaborate story about why they are selling the car so cheaply. The scammers may ask you for your name, address, and credit card information in order to send the car, but they won’t deliver the vehicle. Nevertheless, it’s important to stay alert and avoid falling victim to a scam.
Fortunately, there are many resources available to prevent this type of scam. In fact, Craigslist staffers monitor the site, and if you’re concerned about the safety of your wallet or your family, you can check the BBB website for businesses affiliated with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
A recent study showed that 29K rental scam listings were posted on Portland Craigslist within 141 days. Be cautious, and never pay anything by PayPal to a stranger. In case the payment is genuine, check with your real estate agent or property management company to confirm. If the names don’t match, you’re probably dealing with a scammer. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, make sure to avoid Craigslist altogether.
Another common method used by scammers is to send fake emails claiming to be from Craigslist or a third party. The fake emails will offer a guarantee or certification for the item, and even ask you to wire the balance. In some cases, the emails will ask you to pay in advance, rent or a cashier’s check. The cashier’s check will usually be for far more than the actual value of the item.
A Louisiana IT consultant has spent hours scouring the Marketplace for fake car listings, and he has spoken to real estate agents who were victims of fraud on Craigslist. The scammers were so persistent, he decided to contact the cybercriminals, and share examples of their fraudulent listings. Several of these fake listings have the same photos as Craigslist listings. In addition to the car scams, a scammer has even shifted to the Marketplace.
