MoneyINC Logo
25+
Years of
Trust
13,000+
Articles
Written 
10M+
Annual 
Readers
300+
Global
Mentions

Five Money Scams to Watch out for on Craigslist Anchorage

anchorage

Craigslist is an excellent resource for the people in Anchorage to list items that they have for sale as well as for those who are looking for used items. In most cases, both buyers and sellers enjoy mutually beneficial transactions on a variety of different items such as cars, trucks, electronics, furniture, appliances, even homes for rent or for sale. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of scams that have been surfacing on the site. They're getting so sophisticated that it can be tough to tell the legitimate ads from the phony ones. Here are five money scams to watch out for on Craigslist Anchorage.

1. Nigerian rental scheme

When you see a listing for a "handsome" home that is offered for far less in rent than it is worth, you should be suspicious. There has been a rash of scams offering these rental homes for low prices. When you respond to the ad, they usually give you a sob story and explain that they can't meet you in person because they are either out of the state or out of the country. They have you complete a rental application and then they tell you you're approved. They offer to Fed-Ex the keys as soon as they receive the deposit and rent money but you must wire it to their account in a foreign country. After the money is wired they disappear and you never hear from them again. They steal the ads from homes that are listed for sale and then change the contact information. They even give you the address so you can drive by and look at it, but don't be fooled. It's a scam to bilk you out of the rent money and to get your personal information from the application for identity theft.

2. Another rental scam in Anchorage

An Anchorage woman was shocked when she discovered that the home she had listed for sale was also listed for rent on Craigslist. She had no intention of renting the home out. She learned that a guy called Lance Green stole the photos of her home along with the information listed on the site of the real estate agent. Out of curiosity she contacted the scammer who told big lies about how he and his wife lived in the home for 18 years when the real owner had lived in it for 20. He instructed her to drive by the house and take a look and then send $1,300 through Wal-Mart's money wire transfer. She gave the information to a reporter who followed up on the scam further.

3. Home remodeling scammer tracked down in manhunt

The guy that advertised homes for rent in Valdez was a known Craigslist scammer who stole $130,000 from his victims in Anchorage. He would advertise his services, ask for fifty percent of the payment up front and then disappear with their money and never return for the job. It took a week for the searchers on the manhunt for him to track the con artist down, but they found him and arrested him for his crimes.

4. Counterfeit ticket scam on Craigslist

A couple from Anchorage wanted to attend a Luke Bryan Concert but the tickets were expensive. They found two advertised on Craigslist and they were able to purchase them for $300 for the pair. The face value of the tickets was $60 each but it was near concert time and it was hard to find them. They bought the tickets but when they showed up to watch the show, they were informed that the tickets were counterfeit and they were denied admission.

5. Vehicle scam on Craigslist

Here is an old Craigslist scam that has found its way to Anchorage. The scammer offers to sell a vehicle for far less than its true value. They give you a sob story and tell you that they're out of the area but can arrange for the vehicle to be shipped. They have you wire the money through what looks like a legitimate ebay site with buyer protection. The only problem is that its a counterfeit site and it's a scam that steals your money, then you never hear from the scammers again.

Dana Hanson

Written by Dana Hanson

Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. She also enjoys creative writing, content writing on nearly any topic (particularly business and lifestyle), because as a lifelong learner, she loves to do research and possess a high skill level in this area. Her academic degrees include AA social Sci/BA English/MEd Adult Ed & Community & Human Resource Development and ABD in PhD studies in Indust & Org Psychology.

Read more posts by Dana Hanson

Related Articles

Stay ahead of the curve with our most recent guides and articles on , freshly curated by our diligent editorial team for your immediate perusal.
As featured on:

Wealth Insight!
Subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter

Dive into the world of wealth and extravagance with Money Inc! Discover stock tips, businesses, luxury items, and travel experiences curated for the affluent observer.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram