Craigslist is a VERY popular place to look for anything from jobs to housing to garage sales. Because of this, it is also a huge place for scammers to try to get information from you. Here is a Craigslist scam that I have come across several times over the last week that I felt needed to be shared with other real estate professionals.
"Your listing has been flagged/deleted"
This is one that I am seeing over and over again recently from my Realtor® clients. Of course, I get a frantic email about how they absolutely need to have their listings live and not flagged/deleted. However, when I go directly to Craigslist.org and sign in to their account, there is nothing wrong. The listings are all active. Nothing has been flagged OR deleted.
Typically, these emails also tell you to log in to your account using the URL provided in the email. For example, the link says something to the effect of http://www.craigslist.org/about/help/block accounts. However, if you scroll over this link with your mouse, you will see that it actually goes to another completely different URL.
Click the image above for a larger view
This sounds pretty similar to the PayPal or Bank of America emails that tend to go around. In those, you are told that your account has had some questionable activity and they need you to log in using the URL provided in the email to verify that your account info is fine. They even use logos that look VERY close to the legitimate company logos. When you click on the link, you will go to what looks like a legitimate page on the website requesting your info. However, it is a fake site set up to capture your information to use for nefarious purposes.
- To be safe, NEVER click on a link provided in an unsolicited email. If you are asked to login to your account, open a new window, type in the real website address and login in there. A website that asks you for your login/password should begin with "https://". Check the address at the top of the page before you type anything in.
- Hover over a link with your mouse to verify that the URL they are directing you to is the same one that is in the email itself. If it's different, don't click on it.
- Check the email address used to send you the email. If there are no addresses in the "To" line or if it says "undisclosed recipients", that should raise a red flag. Even if the email address in the "from" line looks legit (for example, customerservice@craigslist.org), that doesn't necessarily mean it is.
I have seen this Craigslist scam happen or be attempted several times over the last week and thought I should pass along the information to my real estate professional buddies. Remember, though. It's not just Craigslist users that get targeted. These are good rules of thumb for any emails you receive. We have to be very careful nowadays. If only we could get these guys to use their powers for good instead of evil.
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