This limits your interaction to your local community and reduces the risk of scams involving distant buyers.

Wiring money and purchasing goods without seeing items can create a liability for the buyer, because craigslist does not have a regulating agent to ensure items are delivered.

Webhere are five tips to consider:

Webwe’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.

Always inspect items before forking over the cash.

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Meet in public and bring a friend.

Craigslist scams targeting sellers and buyers aren’t rare, but you can avoid them by learning to recognize red flags and warning signs.

Ultimately a public place is preferred when picking up an item.

Trust your instincts when vetting buyers.

Webto protect yourself, insist on a secure payment method that can’t easily be faked or reversed — namely, a p2p transfer app like venmo or paypal or cold, hard cash.

According to craigslist, following this one rule allows you to avoid 99 percent of scam attempts.

Avoid shipping items or letting someone else pick them up on the buyer’s behalf.

Craigslist states that by dealing locally and meeting in person, you’ll “avoid 99% of scam attempts” — but how do you stay safe when meeting a total stranger?

If you haven't seen what you're buying, there's a good chance it might not actually exist.

The help pages below have some information about best practices for ensuring your safety.

By taking these steps, you can help limit the damage of a craigslist scam and contribute to the safety of the online community.

Plan details in advance.

Always meet in person, locally:

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

Webfamiliarize yourself with common scam tactics and stay updated on new scam trends to better protect yourself in the future.

Use a secure form of payment.

Stay safe when a buyer comes to your house.

As with all transactions, please practice caution when interacting with others.

Always use a proxy email address or phone number.

Deal locally with people you can meet in person.

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Webavoid making purchases from sellers who are overseas.

Webso how do you buy something on craigslist without getting scammed, or worse, robbed?

If you accept cash, be sure to have a counterfeit detection pen on hand.

These seven tips will help you avoid sketchy craigslist deals and stay safe.