Mo Craiglist (2024)

FAQs

How do I reply to anonymously on Craigslist? ›

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.

Scams. Not all Craigslist ads are what they appear. It is risky to reply to ads that display certain warning signs. For instance, if a poster ever asks you to pay money in advance for any service or goods that you haven't yet received, be very wary.

Read the email you receive in response to your Craigslist ad very carefully. Look for poor grammar, misspelled words or strange phrases. Many scam artists are from outside the country and may not speak or write English well. They typically send form letters stuffed with big promises hundreds or thousands of times.

Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts. This creates a random email address, so the poster doesn't have your real email on file.

If you have it set to allow them to see your email address, and your name is in your email address, such as joh.doe@whateverdomain.com then they may assume that your name is Joe. Whatever name appears on your emails to other people will be what shows in your response to a Craigslist ad. Your email address will not.

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.

While Craigslist.org is no longer the internet leader in any single category, the website continues to serve more than 4.9 million visitors per month and over 20 billion page views per month.

Craigslist email relay hides your email address when communicating with buyers or sellers. It's a great security feature that you should take advantage of. That means you shouldn't give your real email address or phone number to someone you're dealing with, especially if they're pressuring you.

Click "Reply."

A window with response options will appear. To use your default mail program, click the blue response link at the top. If you use one of the listed webmail services, click the corresponding icon.

If a seller encourages you to send a down payment or any form of money before receiving your item, this is a strong indication that they are trying to scam buyers. Some Craigslist scammers may ask you to send money to a foreign address because they “have suddenly been stationed overseas,” or something similar.

Why do people ask if they're still available on Craigslist? ›

Red Flag #1: Vague posting

Many of the scams start with a generic inquiry asking if the item is still available or if you are the original owner. The reason for this is to quickly test to see if the seller is responsive.

One of the most common ways to get scammed online is when buying something using a platform like Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. Scammers post a listing, you get in touch to buy and they ask for a Zelle payment upfront. But you never receive the item.

Craigslist.org offers more advice for users by suggesting that buyers and sellers should have a friend accompany you. They also urge users to never post a physical address, home phone number or e-mail address on the site. As a buyer there are particular precautions to take when arranging meetings and paying for items.

Craigslist's business model is based on providing a free classified advertisement platform to users. They generate revenue by charging users a fee to post some types of ads in select cities and by running paid banner ads.

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.

Navigate to the Craigslist post you want to reply to. Click on “Reply” located at the top-left corner of the Craigslist post. A floating menu with a list of email options will display on-screen.

Type your email address in the Reply To box. Type your email address again in the box next to the Reply To box. Then click "Anonymize" to make your post anonymous.

It differs from Facebook Marketplace (founded in 2016) because Craigslist posts are anonymous; you can't see any details about the poster who is trying to sell a product, service, or deal. Craigslist encourages its potential buyers to keep their email addresses private.

You can reply to any post on Craigslist — just click the "reply" button at the top left of a post, and complete the Captcha puzzle if you're asked to. Some Craigslist listings will offer a phone contact to call or text, though most listings will only offer an email contact.