Five Money Scams to Watch Out for on Craigslist Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska is considered to be one of the happiest places on the continental US. However, you might be fooled by that survey if you think that no crime happens there. It’s not true. Even places like Lincoln fall victims to the many different types of scams that happen on Craigslist every single day. It’s unfortunate, but there’s truly no escaping scams on the website. Scammers are learning to adapt and are becoming smarter when dealing out their scams. You’d have to be extra careful if you want to continue using the site without becoming a victim. Here are five money scams that you should watch out for if you’re on Craigslist in Lincoln, Nebraska.
1. Home renting scam
Never wire money to secure a home that you’ve never seen before. We understand that many transactions these days happen online, but it doesn’t mean that you have to agree to anything without seeing it. Lincoln has seen at least a couple of cases recently where people have been asked to wire money by scammers. These scammers promised that a key would be sent via Fedex as soon as the money was received. Of course, this never happens, so just be careful next time you deal with a transaction on Craigslist. Otherwise, you might just find yourself the next victim.
2. Overpayment scam
This is another typical Craigslist scam that you see happen all the time. Someone will send you a check for a product or service you’re selling, and you’ll find that the check is worth way more than the actual cost. The scammer will then ask you to wire back the difference somehow. After this you’ll soon realize that the original check has no money behind it or is completely fraudulent. Just make sure you don’t do anything in this scenario and report it to the authorities at the same time. If you’ve ever come across something like this, just know that it’s automatically a scam and that you shouldn’t wire any money at all. It’s a typical scam, but you’d be surprised at how many people still fall for it every single day.
3. Car scam
There are plenty of car scams out there, but this one is absolutely incredulous. Scammers are becoming more brazen, and it’s a little daunting to think of at times. There are plenty of scammers out there who will say they have a car for sale, but the truth is those cars don’t actually exist or they belong to someone else. It’s difficult to trust Craigslist ads these days, but there are telltale signs that point to cars that don’t actually exist. All you really need to do is be able to read through these signs to know which cars are real and which are not. This tale works the other way as well if you happen to be trying to sell a car. Be careful around people pretending to buy but are really looking to scam.
4. Fake check scams
Buyers are not the only ones that get scammed on Craigslist. Sellers get their fair share of troubles as well. There are plenty of people out there looking to take advantage of people that are desperate for money. One man in Lincoln was arrested for trying to use a fake check in order to purchase something that was advertised on Craigslist. The product was a television, and it was truly a great deal already. However, this young man either couldn’t afford the TV himself, or it’s one of those scammer rings that try to get products for no money whatsoever. If you’re on the selling end on Craigslist, just be aware that you can become a victim of scamming as well.
5. Job scams
Many people are able to secure jobs through Craigslist, but just be careful. If the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you smell anything fishy about the job offer and responsibilities at all, it’s probably a scam. If a job is requiring money from you, don’t send anything because you’re likely in the middle of a scam. Many people looking for jobs have been victimized on Craigslist. It happens to the best of people; no one is really immune. Do your research beforehand to make sure you don’t get scammed.
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Written by Garrett Parker
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