Lionheart Assurance Scam Prevention Toolkit: How To Safely Transact Business On Craigslist

By Author: Lionheart Assurance Solutions
Total Articles: 6
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The Internet in general (and Craigslist in particular) are places where people go for good deals and less expensive goods. Craigslist is one of the most authentic places to buy and sell things and even to find a job. It is also a good place to meet people, and most people have a positive experience.

Keep in mind, though, that where there are so many people in one venue there is always the likelihood that you will stumble upon a few bad apples. There are a few things that you can do to be safe from Internet scams and the fraudsters and ripoff artists that lurk on Craigslist.

First of all, try to limit your transactions locally. There are lots of promotional listings available from remote places, like Nigeria. It is always better to leave them alone and concentrate on people who you can easily trace and meet face to face.

Always beware of anyone providing you with more than you ask for. No matter where you live, most buyers are bargain shoppers. So if you come across people wanting to give you more than you have asked for, you can rest assured that they are frauds and you should always avoid them.

Poor ...
... English in the promotional materials or ads can be another indication of an unreliable seller. Most reputable sellers are meticulous in writing their promotional messages, and very few legitimate listings will have grammatical errors. For this reason, a good rule of thumb is to completely avoid ads with grammatical errors.

Under no circumstances should you ever provide your personal information such as your social security number, bank account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, information about where you work, your other family members' names or other personal details. This sensitive information can be collected by fraudsters who can then use it for a financial rip-off scheme and/or an identity theft scam.

Craigslist does provide an excellent avenue for locally advertising your business, your professional services and any personal items you may wish to sell. Before you transact any business, just be sure you have been prudent and have taken all appropriate security precautions.

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For more information about protecting yourself from identity theft, visit www.LionheartAssurance.com or visit the Lionheart Assurance Scam Toolkit Blog.