south florida gigs "i" - craigslist (2024)

FAQs

How to tell if a Craigslist response is real? ›

What are the most common signs of a rental scam? Rental scams often have listings with prices that seem too good to be true. They might pressure you to make quick decisions, ask for rent or deposit without a signed lease, or avoid meeting in person.

Craigslist text scams can start with the other party saying they want to confirm you aren't a scammer. Don't give out any codes sent to your phone, especially if it says it's for verifying your identity. The code is for a Google Voice account the scammer set up using your number.

These messages inquire if the sale items are still available and insist on continuing the conversation over unusual Gmail addresses such as the example above. Genuine buyers will not persuade you to speak outside of Craigslist. Any attempts to do so could eventually lead to a fake check, advance fee, or phishing scam.

Craigslist provides proxy email addresses to sellers, and it's a good idea to use them so browsers can't spam your actual email address. Once a potential buyer is truly interested, however, it's okay to switch communication to your cell phone; most buyers appreciate being able to text.

Why do people post fake rentals on Craigslist? People post fake rental ads on Craigslist because they are scammers and are looking for easy money. Plus, some potential renters who may be looking for a new home may be a little desperate as well, because everyone needs a place to live in, of course.

Always check the property's address on search sites, and if you can, research the owner. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers want to attract you with amazing amenities, luxurious homes, and great deals. If the landlord makes the rental too easy, then you should be careful.

To protect buyer and seller privacy, Craigslist keeps email addresses hidden. However, even with this security system, you might want to take additional precautions when responding to emails from Craigslist.

What should I be careful of on Craigslist? ›

If you chose to reply using your default email client or webmail service, Craigslist will automatically paste the reply-to address into the “To” field. If you chose to copy and paste the reply-to address into an alternate email program, open your email client and copy/paste the reply-to address into the “To” field.

Do People Still Use Craigslist? Absolutely. You can search your local area on Craigslist and find used furniture, cars, rentals, and even jobs. However, because so many Craigslist alternatives exist, it is no longer a one-stop shopping powerhouse when it debuted in 1995.

Additionally, bot-generated ads will often have odd spacing on the page, or be formatted strangely, or just be simply too good to be true. They are designed to stand out and entice the un-savvy to reply. Frequently, bot-generated ads will have photos that can help you identify whether the ad is legitimate.

Sent Messages Folder

If the Craigslist user doesn't include his phone number in the body of the ad, you reply to the ad via email. As a result, a record of your having sent a reply appears in the "Sent" folder of the email account you used to reply to the ad.

Craigslist uses email obfuscation to protect your actual email address from exposure. When you click on the response button in the Craigslist ad, the site generates for you a Craigslist email address. When the other user responds to your message using this address, you receive the message into your real email address.

Unfortunately, no such protection exists for those replying to posts. When you reply directly from Craigslist, your email address will be visible to the recipient. To reply anonymously, you need to create a free Web-based email address, which does not contain identifiable information.

This type of ad often gets a high rate of response, allowing the spammers to collect multiple email addresses from a single ad. If you're worried about using your own email address, Craigslist recommends using an anonymous email with no identifiers in the address when replying to Craigslist ads.