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Five Money Scams to Watch Out for on Craigslist Baton Rouge

The Baton Rouge Craigslist has been serving the local community for decades with classified ads to list items they have for sale. You can find deals on used cars, trucks, RVs, farm equipment, electronics, furniture and much more. They even list homes for rent or for sale on the site. While most of the transactions have gone smoothly, there has been an increase in scam activity on the site. Con artists have discovered that the site offers them opportunities to victimize the innocent and unsuspecting. Here are five Craigslist money scams that you need to watch out for.

1. Fake rental scam on Craigslist Baton Rouge

WAFB Channel 9 is a Baton Rouge television station that is warning local residents about a fake rental scam that's been posted on Craigslist. There is a scammer posting random homes on the site, offering them for very low monthly rent amounts. The con artists steal photographs of homes posted on legitimate rental or home for sale sites and also use the associated information. They re-post the ad on Craigslist using phony contact information and they make up a low price for monthly rent. Most of these scammers claim that they are out of the state and some of them are out of the country, and cannot meet with you face to face. They ask for the deposit and rent money to be sent to them via wire transfer and they offer to mail the keys to the renters. After their victims send the cash, they never hear from the scammers again.

2. Used vehicle scam on Craigslist

The Police of Baton Rouge are looking for a scammer who bilked locals using Craigslist out of $8,600. The 30 year old man posted a Craigslist ad selling used vehicles. He offered a 2002 Toyota Camry for $2,800, along with two hundred vehicles for $3,000 and $2,800. The man would meet the potential buyers and collect the money from them, but he would't give them the vehicle after they paid. He absconded with over $8,000 in stolen money from the victims who feel for his scam.

3. Mover for hire Craigslist scam

A man from Baton Rouge was arrested for posting an ad on Craigslist to provide moving services for people moving from one home to another. While he did move their possessions, he also stole several items of value from the victims. He did get some of their possessions from one point to another, but the light fingered mover was using the business to scope out valuables to steal from his unsuspecting victims. The Baton Rouge Police believe that there are more of his victims who have not yet stepped forward.

4. Contractor Scam on Craigslist Baton Rouge

Police have arrested a 39 year old man for scamming people out of their money. The crook posted an ad on Craigslist offering his services as a home renovation contractor. He negotiates a price with his victims, collects the down payment for the work that needs to be done and then he disappears with their money. Victims reported the scammer and police arrested him for fraud and theft.

5. Another rental scam in Louisiana

Scammers are at it again. A Louisiana realtor is warning potential renters to watch out for a scammer who is stealing photos and descriptions of homes for sale in the area, then using the information to post a fake Craigslist ad. They're offering the homes for rent between $700 and $1,200 per month and so far, people have been falling for it. The man posting the rentals cons his victims into sending the deposit money via wire transfer. He promises to mail them the keys, but after the payment has been sent, he disappears with their money. This is becoming a common scam and realtors are coming face to face with the victims who drive by the property, see their signs and contact them about getting the keys to the rentals they've paid for. It is then that they are informed that the ad they responded to on Craigslist was a fake.

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

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