How many users go on craigslist boise homepage links to “prevent scams and fraud” and “personal safety guidelines” before purchasing their brand-new, absurdly inexpensive couch
This week, my roommate asked me about a listing for a house to rent in Boise, Idaho, that appeared on the well-known classifieds website craigslist boise. Thinking this was a routine post, she contacted the house owner, who responded immediately. They communicated for three days. The owners mentioned above said they had to fill the home instantly since they had spontaneously decided to go on a Christian mission. They even offered a link to the mission’s website to support their claim. As “Reverend Mcneill Lorraine,” he identified himself.
Additionally, they gave her a standard rental questionnaire, which she swiftly completed. The following day, the Reverend informed her that his family had chosen her as their new tenant for the upcoming year. Essentially, he was trying to allay suspicions by adopting the “Good Samaritan” persona.
The Reverend then called my roommate to ask how much she would be able to pay upfront for a payment. When she asked him about his nationality over the phone after noticing his accent, he replied that his parents were from Mexico and spoke to him in Spanish when they were younger. She did not match his accent to other Spanish speakers, which increased preconceived notions. My roommate requested a photo from Reverend after receiving this email. Since everything was done virtually and they gave a snapshot in return, this was done in case anything occurred to the house. The downloaded image was picked to be Googled by my roommate. Although the last name did not coincide with the Reverend’s, it appeared on another Christian mission website and matched their story of having three children and their missionary work. She wanted to talk to the neighbors about the family that lived there to alleviate any concerns about the story, so we went to the house. After pulling up the photo on her phone, she planned to compare their account with what their neighbors knew about the family. She would be willing to send the money once the tale gained credibility.
We contacted the real estate agent listed on the for sale sign outside the house. The owner mentioned above had earlier written in an email that they had fired their realtor because of financial difficulties. I contacted to inquire about the property and indicated that we had spoken with the owner to confirm this was a genuine offer. He claimed he was the valid owner and had not advertised his home for rent on craigslist boise. We were able to personally experience the hazards of the virtual world as our suspicions turned out to be a regrettable reality.
My favorite part is the portion in this story where the police told my roommate he couldn’t file an official report. No crime had been genuinely committed because her money had never been lost, and she had not yet become a victim. What piqued our interest was what he told her later. According to the officer, he receives up to fifty daily calls about internet fraud and fraud. He asserted that one of the worst websites for harboring criminal activities that frequently goes unnoticed is craigslist boise. He added that with the advent of the internet, 90% of his time is spent in his patrol car making or receiving phone calls related to fraud and scams. Consider this: when posting on craigslist boise, you are not required to create an account, you are not required to prove that you are a natural person, you are not required to answer security questions, you are unsure of the integrity of the users, and you are uncertain of whether the item or commodity is even attainable. While on websites like eBay, people are rated, and account creation is required. How many people go on craigslist boise homepage links to “prevent scams and fraud” and “personal safety guidelines” before purchasing their brand-new, absurdly inexpensive couch?
The fact that consumers can flag adverts arbitrarily is a severe problem. Due to scammers flagging their rivals, there is now less genuine competition. According to the police officer’s own experience, he believes that most of the goods sold on the website are stolen goods and that it is a hub for nearly exclusively illicit activities. They had to post warnings and sidebar hyperlinks because the issue has gotten so bad and pervasive, but they are doing nothing to protect their users and business. In the end, craigslist boise only sometimes provides its users with a secure atmosphere.
Everyone is waiting to become a victim, the officer remarked in one of his last statements. Because of social media and online transactions, all of your information is readily available online. He declared that there is no way to change how craigslist boise is set up or put user safety before financial benefit. As this is a form of criminal activity that does not discriminate, people need to be aware of the reality of scams and fraud and how close to home these can be. Consider how you may ensure safety the next time you use craigslist boise to make a purchase, especially if it will be expensive. This will help you make trust-worthy and safe transactions. Pay in cash, avoid wire transfers, meet with the business owner in person (always bring a friend), shop locally, and remember that if anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Last but not least, remember that police officers can be an excellent resource for background checks, welfare checks, and even guidance. Keep in mind that, as the police remarked, everyone is a possible victim; the only game here is one of waiting.
