Craiglist Text Scams – Why Do They Occur? [Top Tips to Avoid]

It’s commonly known that once you post an ad to sell something on Craigslist you will get text messages trying to scam you.

Do not fall for these by looking out for broken English, fake sense of urgency trigger words (now, instantly, etc.), and requests for personal information upfront.

These scammers are usually from out of town, so meeting in person is not an option. They will try to get you to ship the item or send them a money transfer.

Don’t let yourself get scammed! Be aware of these tricks and report any texts that seem suspicious.

What’s going on with Craiglist text scams?

When you post an ad on Craigslist (or any other online marketplace), you will inevitably get text messages from scammers trying to take advantage of you.

These scammers often (but not always) use broken English and often utilize trigger words like “now” or “instantly” in order to create a sense of urgency.

They may also request personal information upfront in order to sell your info.

It’s important to be aware of these tricks and not fall for them!

If you do receive a suspicious text, be sure to report it.

By being aware of the Craiglist text scam, you can help protect yourself and others from becoming victims.

Types of Craiglist Text Scams

There are various types of Craigslist text scams:

Messages asking to share a verification code

This usually works in a way where the “buyer” will agree to the deal to buy what you’re selling, but then will want to verify that your ad is not fake by sending you a verification code.

When people agree to participate in this, it goes like this:

  1. You receive a 6-digit Google verification code from a Google phone service. The message will tell you not to share it.
  2. The “buyer” will ask for the Google verification code
  3. If you share it, they’ll use the code and your phone number to create a free Google phone number and work to scam other people using. Moreover, they can also access your Google account.
Craigslist Text # Is Your Google Voice Verification Code Dont Share With Anyone Else SCAM

Asking for your phone number

Scammers will often ask for your phone number so they can sell it to telemarketers.

Eventually, your phone number is likely to be flooded with spam calls.

Craigslist Text-Alerts Spam

These are phishing attempts that use spoofing technology to appear like they’re coming from Craigslist.

The message may say something like “Craigslist Text-Alerts: You have a new response to your ad!” in order to try and get you to click on the link.

When you click it, you’ll be taken to a fake website that looks like Craigslist.

There, they will ask for your personal information (such as a Social Security Number, credit card) or login credentials. If you enter them, they will then have access to your Craigslist account and can use it to scam other people.

5 SIGNS OF CRAIGSLIST SCAMS (5 RED FLAGS OF CRAIGSLIST SCAMMERS)

What Are Some Examples of Legal Spam Texts

Not all spam text messages are illegal.

Legal examples of spam text messages include:

Companies you’ve given permission to talk to you

You may have signed up for a company’s text message alerts and promotions. If you’ve given them permission to contact you this way, then they’re not breaking any laws by sending you texts.

Political campaigns

Political campaigns are allowed to send text messages as long as you haven’t asked them to stop.

Debt collectors

Debt collectors can send text messages as long as they follow the rules set by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

9 Hacks To Stop iPhone Spam TEXTS — Scammers Hate #5!

What Are Some Examples of Illegal Spam Texts?

Illegal spam texts are those that are sent without your permission, or in violation of the law.

Some examples of illegal spam texts include:

Text messages from companies you’ve never heard of and didn’t sign up to hear from

If you’re getting text messages from companies that you’ve never heard of, and didn’t sign up to receive texts from, then they are in violation of the law.

Text messages trying to sell you something

Companies are not allowed to send text messages for the purpose of selling you something unless you’ve given them permission to do so.

Text messages with false or misleading information

Companies are not allowed to send text messages with false or misleading information. This includes texts that try to scam you out of money or personal information.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Spam Texts?

Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself from spam texts:

Only give your phone number to companies that you trust

If you’re not sure whether or not you can trust a company, do some research on them first. You can also look up reviews to see what other people have said about them.

Don’t click on links in text messages from unknown numbers

If you don’t know the sender, don’t click on any links in the message. These could be phishing attempts that will take you to a fake website designed to steal your personal information.

Report spam texts to your carrier

Most carriers have a way for you to report spam texts. This helps them keep track of which numbers are sending out spam messages, and they can take action to block those numbers.

Report spam texts to the FTC

You can also report spam texts to the Federal Trade Commission. This helps them investigate and take action against companies that are breaking the law.

Are Spam texts illegal?

What Should You Do If You Think You’ve Received a Spam Text?

If you think you’ve received a spam text, there are a few things you can do:

Don’t reply to the message

If you reply to the message, it confirms your number is active, which will lead to more spam texts.

Block the number

Most phones have a way to block specific numbers from being able to contact you. This will stop any future messages from that number from getting through.

Report the number to your carrier or the FTC

As we mentioned before, you can report spam texts to your carrier or the FTC.

This helps them track which numbers are sending out spam messages, and they can take action to block those numbers.

Delete the message without opening it

If you open the message, even if you don’t reply, it confirms your number is active.

So it’s best to just delete the message without opening it.

Don’t click on links

Don’t click on links in text messages from unknown numbers

As we mentioned before, if you don’t know the sender, don’t click on any links in the message.

These could be phishing attempts that will take you to a fake website designed to steal your personal information.

FAQs – Craiglist Text Scams

What Are Some Examples of Illegal Spam Texts?

Illegal spam texts are those that are sent without your permission, or in violation of the law.

Some examples of illegal spam texts include:

Text messages from companies you’ve never heard of and didn’t sign up to hear from

If you’re getting text messages from companies that you’ve never heard of, and didn’t sign up to receive texts from, then they are in violation of the law.

Text messages trying to sell you something

Companies are not allowed to send text messages for the purpose of selling you something unless you’ve given them permission to do so.

Text messages with false or misleading information

Companies are not allowed to send text messages with false or misleading information. This includes texts that try to scam you out of money or personal information.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Spam Text?

If you receive a spam text, there are a few things you can do:

Don’t reply to the message, block the number, and report it to your carrier or the FTC.

What Is the CAN-SPAM Act?

The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that regulates commercial email and text messages. It prohibits companies from sending spam texts, and imposes penalties on those who do.

The CAN-SPAM Act also gives consumers the right to opt out of receiving future texts from a company, and requires companies to include a way for consumers to do so in every text message they send.

Why Do Spammers Send Text Messages?

There are a few reasons why spammers send text messages:

To sell you something, to scam you out of money or personal information, or to simply get your attention.

Spammers send texts because it’s a quick and easy way to reach a large number of people.

How Can I Stop Getting Spam Texts?

The best way to stop getting spam texts is to simply not reply to them, and to block the numbers that are sending them.

You can also report spam texts to your carrier or the FTC. This helps them track which numbers are sending out spam messages, and they can take action to block those numbers.

Why Are There So Many Scammers on Craigslist?

There are a number of reasons why there are so many scammers on Craigslist.

One reason is that it is a free classifieds website, so anyone can post anything they want.

This means that there is no screening process for ads, so scammers can easily create fake ads.

Another reason is that Craigslist is anonymous, so scammers can operate without fear of being caught. Additionally, craigslist users are often looking for good deals on items, so they may be more likely to fall for a scam.

Finally, scammers know that people use craigslist to buy and sell things, so they target the site in order to find victims.

There are a number of ways to avoid being scammed on Craigslist, such as only dealing with local buyers/sellers, meeting in person, and using a secure payment method.

However, even if you take these precautions, there is always a risk that you could be scammed. If you think you have been scammed on Craigslist, you can report it to the website.

Conclusion – Craiglist Text Scams

By being aware of Craiglist text scams, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim. If you receive a suspicious text, be sure to report it.

Overall, it’s important to be careful on Craigslist to not fall victim to a scam.

Related

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *