Craigslist.org is The New Scammers Platform

Recently I have posted a few things to sell on Facebook Marketplace. When they weren't getting the attention or opportunities I thought they deserved I decided to post the items to Craigslist.org. I love the simplicity of the user interface (UI) which I do not get from Facebook. I got a BIG SURPRISE immediately after I posted my two items in the form of nearly a dozen eager inquiries.

First thing that ran through my mind is, "I am going to sell these items quick......Why have I been wasting my time with the fancy Facebook Marketplace?".

?That is what was going through my mind until I started to interact with the buyers inquiries which all started off normal....."Is the item still available....Will you negotiate....What condition is the item in....Will you deliver....etc". Great start to an inquiry...right? WRONG......every single inquiry (about 12) dovetailed into the same M.O. (Modus Operandi)...."I am out of state and would like to arrange for purchase via overnight delivery of a....check, money order, or certified funds. I'll arrange a pickup of the item as soon as the funds show up on your end ." The scam is that they send you a fake check that looks real and that the bank will deposit temporary funds into your account "In Good Faith". Where it comes to bite you in the ass is 30-60 days later when the bank has yet to receive the funds you get what is called a chargeback. In other words, your account is debited for the full amount of the boggus check (regardless if you've spent it or not) as well as charge your account an Not Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee of $30-$55! You get no money, you pay an NSF fee and the scammer gets a for hire "Mule" to pick the item up before you know the funds are not good.....a win win for the Scammer and the bank but a huge loss for you the unbeknownst seller! In this day in age this shouldn't be possible considering technology. You should be able to verify funds in an instant but today's banking system enables this. Don't get me started on that rant...I'll save that for another article coming soon!

I've worked in IT Security for the better part of 18 years and have seen this sort of scam unfold with email phishing scams. So I knew better but how many people do not know better? I even had one tell me that they would like to use Google to verify my identity as a seller...to ensure I was not a BOT. I was intrigued! They asked that I send them the verification code. They proceeded to use my phone number to request via Google Voice services an authentication code for which I got immediately via google services text to my phone. Had they gotten that verification code they could have easily hijacked my Google Gmail and other related services which use my phone number as verification. There are even fewer people who would have picked up on this strategy thinking Google was an independant trusted source and would have lost control of their Google services or possibly leveraged it to setup other shell accounts impersonating the victim.

I've done a little research and found that Craigslist.org thinks FAQ education will eradicate the problem and that it is the seller/buyers responsibility not craigslist.com. I would agree with that stance if it was 2006.....but platforms that are being overrun with scammers should be held accountable and should be working towards verification of legitimate buyers/sellers.

Conclusion: Craigslist.org is playing an active role in providing victims to scammers. I would have NOT gotten nearly 12 different inquiries that were scam based if this method did not work well for the scammers! Craigslist.org is now "The Scammers Platform"! Now I remember why I have been using Facebook Marketplace over the last year or so. I can easily look up who I am doing business with via their profiles. I can also understand how the last few transactions were ranked (favorable or unfavorable)! You cannot do that via Craigslist.org. Anonymity enables scammers.

We are in the Information Revolution 4.0 where the new gold and new oil is data.....data that enables access to individuals, information about individuals, communication and identity. If Craigslist.org continues to be "The Scammers Platform" and allow them to reach into our pockets, our identity and refuse to provide a legitimate seller/buyer verification standard they deserve to go the way of MySpace.com. Considering the rampant situation, they might deserve government scrutiny over not being good stewards of the platform.

Craigslist.org.......2006 called & they want their platform back! Please evolve and participate as a good steward of the community which you so highly regarded years in the past and oust the scammers by implementing a level of verified participation (buyer/seller) and even maybe a trust ranking system.