TL;DR: Craigslist says deal locally, face-to-face. Gumtree calls PayPal Friends & Family and bank transfers unsafe. Kijiji flags escrow and off-site payments. Vinted says pay only through 'Buy now'.

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Classified and resale sites each publish their own scam advice. Read together, they point at the same weak spots: payment method, pressure and moving the chat off the site.

Craigslist

Craigslist tells users to deal locally, face-to-face. It says requests to wire money, pay by gift card or deposit a cashier's check are scams, and cautions that an escrow service offered by the other party can itself be fraudulent.

Gumtree

Gumtree lists PayPal Friends & Family and bank transfers as unsafe ways to pay a stranger. Its red flags are under-priced items, pressure to act fast, no viewing, an account name that does not match the payment name, and a push to talk off the site. It cites Santander data showing customers lost £7.3 million to purchase scams in 2023, up 32%. Report through the Report button and to Action Fraud.

Kijiji

Kijiji's community fraud guide flags a price way below market, pressure, unusual payment methods such as escrow or off-site transfers, avoiding in-person meetings, and sudden emergency money requests. It suggests checking links with Google Safe Browsing, domain age with Whois, and that payment pages use HTTPS. Requests for a SIN, banking details or passwords are red flags.

Vinted

Vinted says phishing arrives through platform messages, texts, emails and QR codes. Use the Buy now checkout, look for sender addresses ending @vinted.co.uk, and forward phishing to phishing@vinted.com. Vinted says it cannot be held responsible for losses when a scam moves off its checkout.

FTC advice for buyers

The FTC says to pay by credit card or another system with buyer protections, and to avoid wire transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency, which it likens to sending cash. Paying outside the marketplace's own payment system means you lose all protections. It advises checking seller reviews from multiple sources, since "some reviews and ratings are fake or misleading", reading contact details and return policies in writing, and treating expensive items priced suspiciously low as possibly counterfeit. If something goes wrong, contact the seller, then the marketplace, and file a card dispute if you paid by credit card.

Fake check and overpayment scams (for sellers)

The FTC describes the classic seller trap: a buyer sends a check for more than the price, then asks you to send back the difference. "Even if you see the funds in your account, that doesn't mean it's a good check." Fake checks can take weeks to be identified, and you are liable to your bank when one bounces. If you already sent money, the FTC says to contact the gift card issuer, MoneyGram (1-800-666-3947) or Western Union (1-800-325-6000), or your crypto provider immediately, and report to the FTC.

What they have in common

1. Pay through the platform's checkout or in person, never by wire, gift card or friends-and-family transfer.

2. Treat a price far below market as a warning.

3. Do not move to another app or payment link.

Also read is Facebook Marketplace safe and how marketplace listings expose your number.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Craigslist recommend?

Deal locally, face-to-face. It calls wiring money, gift card payments and depositing a cashier's check scams.

Which payments does Gumtree call unsafe?

PayPal Friends & Family and bank transfers.

How do I check a suspicious website, per Kijiji?

Use Google Safe Browsing, Whois for domain age and ownership, and check that payment pages use HTTPS.

What is a genuine Vinted email address?

One that ends @vinted.co.uk. Forward phishing to phishing@vinted.com.

Can escrow be a scam?

Yes. Craigslist warns that an escrow service can itself be fraudulent, and Kijiji lists escrow as an unusual payment method.

What is an overpayment scam?

A buyer sends a check for more than the price and asks you to send back the difference. The check later bounces, and you are liable to your bank.

Which payment methods does the FTC recommend for buyers?

Credit cards or payment systems with buyer protections. It advises avoiding wire transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency.

Does money showing in my account mean a check is good?

No. The FTC says even if you see the funds, that doesn't mean it's a good check.

Sources

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