Is Craigslist safe? How to buy and sell securely in 2025

Is Craigslist still safe in 2025?

Founded in 1995, Craigslist is a legitimate classifieds ads website where people list apartments for rent, post jobs, and offer services. You can also find anything from household items to automobiles. Overall, the platform itself is secure and safe to use. 

Craigslist’s built-in safety features

The features integrated into Craigslist and designed to protect its users include:

Encryption

Craigslist uses TLS encryption to keep your connection to the website secure while you browse, post, or message others. While it doesn’t protect against scams or fraud directly, encryption helps keep your private information—like your email address and IP location—protected from interception during normal use of the site.

Email obfuscation

Craigslist uses email obfuscation to hide your real email address when you communicate via the platform. Instead of showing your personal email, Craigslist assigns a temporary, anonymous address that forwards messages between both parties. This way, you can talk without revealing your contact details. 

Posts flagging/ reporting

Craigslist has an active community of users that helps report content that violates the Terms of Use. Some things that are not allowed include: 

• Duplicate listings/ spam
• Posting weapons or drugs for sale
• Listing fraudulent merchandise or offers
• Child pornography
• Abusive content

When enough people flag a listing, it may be automatically removed or reviewed by Craigslist’s system. While not foolproof, this gives users a way to help maintain safety and discourage bad behavior on the platform.

Minimal data collection and sharing

When you browse or post on Craigslist, the website collects minimal data. Unless you voluntarily register, the data collected is mainly limited to:

• IP address 
• Device type
• Pages browsed
• Timestamps

While additional data is collected when you set up an account, it’s not required to register to take advantage of most of the website’s features. Importantly, Craigslist doesn’t sell or share your information with data brokers and marketers, which greatly protects your privacy.

Is Craigslist reliable? Analyzing limitations and risks

Craigslist is a reliable platform in the sense that it consistently functions as a free, widely used classifieds site for buying, selling, and connecting locally. However, it lacks features that help ensure all users are legit and trustworthy: 

• No ID verification is required to buy or sell on Craigslist. Fraudsters can easily pose as someone they are not and use the platform to post fake listings, send phishing links, and steal your money. 
• No account ratings and reviews can be left to assess other users’ trustworthiness. Even if someone has had numerous objectionable transactions, you won’t see it on the platform.
• No payment system or purchase protection is implemented. This means that users are fully responsible for handling transactions on their own, with no safeguards in place if they get scammed or the deal falls through. 
• Minimal customer support or recourse is available for customers, with the only way to get in touch with Craigslist staff being their online contact form.

Ultimately, your experience is only as reliable as the person you’re dealing with—so caution and common sense are essential.

Common Craigslist scams to avoid in 2025

Since anyone can use Craigslist without revealing their identity, the platform is frequently abused by fraudsters. While all online marketplaces see their share of scams, the lack of identity verification and review system makes Craigslist especially vulnerable to: 

Phishing

This attack comes in various forms, but the ultimate goal is to steal your information. Scammers may ask for personal details when communicating with you, either pretending to be another user or Craigslist support. Another common scheme is to include malicious links in their posts or messages that steal your credentials, lead to fake online forms impersonating legit businesses, or install malware on your device. 

Overpayment scams

These scams involve a buyer sending you more money than the item actually costs. Then, they ask the seller to reimburse the difference, usually via methods that provide little to no protection against fraud. The catch is that the original payment is reversed (or it was never even completed), and the seller is left with no way to return the money they “refunded.” 

Google Voice scams 

When negotiating the deal, scammers will ask to verify your identity by providing a verification code they’ll allegedly send to your phone number. The code is actually used to create a Google Voice account linked to that number. Once the account is set up, scammers can impersonate you or bypass two-factor authentication.

Fake property listings

No rental website is free from fraudsters posting attractive ads using stolen photos and details from real listings. They typically offer below-market prices or fake urgency, convincing you to send deposits or personal information before checking the property in person. Once you send the payment—usually via untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards—they disappear, leaving you without the keys to the place and without a way to recover your money.

Ticket scams

Nowadays, both printed and digital tickets are relatively easy to fake. Victims are typically asked to pay in advance through untraceable methods like cash, Venmo, or gift cards. Then, the scammer either disappears or sends fake tickets that won’t scan at the event.

While these 5 scams are the most common, they are not the only ones you can encounter. For more information on how to sell on Craigslist safely and what red flags to watch out for when you buy, check our article about Craigslist scams.

Craigslist safety tips for buyers and sellers

Always meet in well-lit public places

When completing a deal in person, you need to consider your physical safety in addition to protecting yourself online. Avoid inviting people to your home (or going to theirs). Instead, choose a public spot with frequent passersby and good visibility, like coffee shops, shopping center parking lots, or police-designated safe exchange zones.

Use cash or trusted payment methods

Cash is the safest form of payment on Craigslist because you aren’t sharing any personal or financial information. For digital payments, opt for methods that offer protections like Apple Pay and PayPal Goods & Services. Avoid using checks as they share your routing and account numbers and are quite easy to forge. 

Avoid sharing your personal email or phone number

Stick to Craigslist’s communication system that keeps your email private and avoid revealing it yourself. While moving the conversation to your personal email or phone number may seem convenient, it’s better avoided when dealing with strangers. Having these details exposed can lead to spam, phishing attempts, harassment, and even identity theft.

Avoid offers that seem too good to be true

Whether it’s a big apartment or a branded product listed at an incredibly generous price, scammers often use attractive offers to lure you into acting on emotions without thinking properly. These listings always have an elaborate explanation of why the price is so low, usually paired with urgency or limited-time claims. If something feels too cheap to be legit, it probably is.

Double-check the website URL

Scammers have become really good at duplicating sites and making them look almost identical to legit ones. Always recheck the URL and make sure you browse craigslist.org (or your city’s subdomain like newyork.craigslist.org).

Craigslist alternatives

While Craigslist is still a popular option in 2025, it lacks some safety features that newer platforms have. If you’re looking for built-in payment systems, better user verification, or purchase protections, consider the following alternatives: 

• Facebook Marketplace is widely used for selling and buying stuff locally. It’s linked to personal FB profiles, which makes it easier to investigate who you’re dealing with by checking their names, photos, and mutual connections. Facebook Marketplace also provides in-app messaging, user ratings, and secure checkout options for some transactions.
• OfferUp, a mobile-focused classifieds app, is another alternative. It provides buyer and seller ratings, verified badges, and in-app messaging. It also offers in-app payments for products that are shipped (eligibility for shipping is determined by the app).
• eBay is yet another popular alternative to Craigslist that provides seller ratings and offers built-in protections like secure payments, money-back guarantee, and dispute resolution. eBay also handles shipping and supports national and international transactions, making it a great option for purchasing goods beyond your local area. 

FAQs

Is it safe to sell on Craigslist?

Craigslist is relatively safe to sell on, but you need to be familiar with common scams. As there is no user review system or built-in payment system, your safety depends on your research and the payment methods you use.

How to buy on Craigslist safely?

To stay safe when buying on Craigslist, avoid sharing your private info (home address, phone number, legal name, etc.) and paying in advance. For in-person deals, meet with sellers in public areas during daylight. Additionally, avoid posts that seem to be uncommonly generous as they are highly likely to be a scam and Craigslist doesn’t offer any purchase protection.

How to sell on Craigslist without getting scammed?

To sell on Craigslist without getting scammed, avoid accepting checks, wire transfers, gift cards, and other unusual payments as these can be easily faked or reversed. Instead, choose cash, Apple Pay, or PayPal Goods & Services. Be wary of buyers who seem overly excited, overpay, or pressure you into quick decisions. When meeting in person, choose public spots that are well-lit and have other people around.