Al Craiglist (2024)

FAQs

Is it safe to give out your cell phone number on Craigslist? ›

Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts. This creates a random email address, so the poster doesn't have your real email on file.

Be familiar with Craigslist

Scammers often create lookalike sites to lure buyers into paying for items that don't exist. Always confirm the URL before finalizing a purchase. Craigslist does not back any transaction on its site. If you're offered purchase protection at a price, you're looking at a scam.

What can a Craigslist scammer do with my phone number? If a Craigslist scammer has your phone number and gets you to verify a code sent to that number, they can use it to open a Google Voice account. With that account, they can continue running scams using your phone number.

Scammers and hackers can use your phone number in numerous ways to compromise your data. If you think a phone number is only a means of communication, think again. Some criminals use cell phone numbers to impersonate others, steal private information, and access financial benefits.

Craigslist is a legitimate website, and most Craigslist posts are legitimate and trustworthy as well. However, just like any other online platform, it can be used by scammers. Some people may post fraudulent listings only pretending to sell goods or services, so take precautions to ensure your safety.

If you Google their name and don't find much, you could be dealing with a scammer. Their social media accounts look suspicious. Look for anything that feels off, such as a low friend count, no recent posts, or only the same photos as on the dating site. They may appear to have an overwhelming intensity.

To reply to a Craigslist post, just click the reply button. To use your device's default email app, select the first link. Otherwise, select the web-based email you use (like Gmail or Yahoo) or copy and paste the email address at the bottom of the window into a new email manually.

When you reply directly from Craigslist, your email address will be visible to the recipient. To reply anonymously, you need to create a free Web-based email address, which does not contain identifiable information.

Is it safe to reply to Craigslist emails? ›

To protect buyer and seller privacy, Craigslist keeps email addresses hidden. However, even with this security system, you might want to take additional precautions when responding to emails from Craigslist.

Don't give out your phone number to any new people for the time being. Limit the scammer's potential target pool. Change your security questions. Immediately change your security questions on Google, Facebook, and any other online accounts in case they've also been compromised.

The Bottom Line: Protect Your Phone Number

You must take preventative measures to protect your devices, finances, and identity. Keep your number private. Don't put it online or share it on registration forms. Make sure to lock your SIM card, ignore spam callers, and secure your accounts with 2FA and strong passwords.

When you call the buyer, use caller ID blocking by appending *67 before dialing the number.

The key to avoiding this kind of scam is to never give out your phone number or email address and always use the Facebook Messenger app to communicate with potential buyers or sellers. Furthermore, never reveal verification codes that are sent to your phone or email address to anyone.