How to Avoid Craigslist Scam Artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 31, 2010 -- Sadly enough, there seem to be people whose greed can ruin even the best services. Craigslist has been in the news all too much because of predators who are abusing this helpful format for buying and selling. One of the most recent ways scammers have been using Craigslist is by offering car scams. Here is a little information about how to avoid Craigslist scam artists.

1. Step 1

1

How to Avoid Craigslist Scam Artists

Be aware not everything is what it says it is. Make sure you don't get lured into one of the carefully constructed plans scam artists can develop to separate you from your money. Craigslist offers great possibilities to find products or services. Most are legitimate. But some are fabricated by scam artists.

2. Step 2

One of the current scams involves selling stolen cars with false Vehicle Identification Numbers on the dashboard. The VIN looks valid and all the papers seem in order. You can finish the whole transaction and get the sale approved without even knowing the car is stolen. There are other places where the VIN is engraved, but in most cases the car can be owned for months before the title investigation by the Department or Registry of Motor Vehicles turns up the fact that the car is stolen. By then the bogus seller has long since disappeared with your money. This scam is called "VIN cloning".

3. Step 3
There are warning signs to watch for. Think twice if the offer sounds too good. It probably is. And do research into not only the product or service you want to buy through an advertiser on Craigslist, but into the seller, too. Always ask for references and follow through by checking them. If you aren't sure, don't lay down your cash. Never pay deposits unless you are sure you can get them back, and if you really want to be safe, simply don't buy from anyone you don't know.

4. Step 4

Scams are everywhere. You can avoid Craigslist scam artists and be caught by another in a newspaper or online. Too many people are looking for easy money. Don't give it to them. Don't allow yourself to be pressured into a fantastic deal before someone else takes it. Chances are you will be lucky if you lose out on what's really a scam - on Craigslist or any other medium!

If you have been a victim of a scam, you need not despair. There are websites to which you can submit your complaint such as:
1. The www.Scamchecker.com/blog
This website, www.ScamChecker.com/blog, is created for visitors to learn about almost all scams that they may encounter on the internet. There may be more scams out there but this site should be a convenient starting point.

2. The www.Scamchecker.com

This website, www.Scamchecker.com is the voice of those victims who are not powerless. They can Report this website for their experience and they will submit it to all major search engines within 30 minutes.

What happens when you make a scam report?
• Scam Report is sent to our growing network of 300,000 journalists
• Distributed out to local authorities including FBI, CIA, Interpol - more than 3,000,000 page views per month
• Major Search Engines receive our feeds including Google, AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Bing
• Your decision to report the scam prevents others to fall in the same trap
• serious cases are legally faced through our network of Scam Checker advocates

Scammers are masters of the art and know the weaknesses of the innocent and the gullible users of the innocent. Don't get sucked in by the hype. If the offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. You certainly don't want to be the victim of a scam.

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