Fake itemizing scams contain fraudulent sellers creating listings with images of bikes they do not possess. Typically, scammers will steal the product description and images from a official itemizing posted both on Craigslist by an precise vendor positioned elsewhere or from an advert on one other web site. Since the images and outline look official, patrons assume they’re coping with an precise vendor and can attempt to shut on the sale as quickly as they will.
Something you need to know before buying a used motorcycle on Craigslist is that the platform would not confirm the authenticity of its listings. So, the onus is on the customer to search for purple flags. Fortunately, that is fairly straightforward to do if you realize what to search for. One telltale signal of a faux itemizing is an unusually low marketed worth. Given this, earlier than you get excited over a doubtlessly nice deal and begin partaking with the vendor, verify the value of the bike on websites like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book. If the marketed worth on Craigslist is considerably decrease than what it ought to be, it is best to stroll away and resume your search.
Another strategy to inform if a list is faux is to do a reverse picture search of the images offered by the vendor. If this leads you again to the unique itemizing (which, in all chance, has a distinct worth) otherwise you come throughout a number of listings by the identical vendor in numerous cities, you are doubtless coping with a scammer. The smartest thing to do, on this case, could be to report the rip-off to Craigslist and transfer on.