Craigslist verification code scam – Do not disclose your code!

Have you ever posted something to Craigslist and received a text message from an interested buyer asking for you to send them a verification code? If you have you might be in trouble. The Craigslist verification code scam is a malicious scheme used to associate your phone number with the scammer’s Craigslist account. This way, the scammer can verify their account using your phone number and then use their Craigslist account for various activities. The scammer won’t get in trouble for illegal or prohibited activities they conduct on the website; you will. The scammers might also sign up your phone for other third-party services outside of Craigslist.

Here’s what a conversation with a Craigslist verification code scammer might look like (this is an actual conversion that took place with one):

Scammer: I wanna Buy you still available?

Scammer: <listed item>

Seller: The item is available

Scammer: I have sent you a quick verification code from craigslist, if your post is real send me to the code, You know most of the post is fake.

Seller: No.

Scammer: ok atfast sand this code of you are real, than i call you, ok

If you’re new to Craigslist it is understandable that a verification code might seem like something often used on the website. However, it is not. The scammers use the code to sign your phone up for something or link your phone to their own Craigslist account. The code might be a real confirmation number used for a service and sent to your phone. I’m sure you’ve signed up for something that has needed a confirmation code; this works the same way except the scammer is the one signing up.

If you fell for the Craigslist verification code scam and sent a scammer your code contact Craigslist and let them know that someone asked you for your code:

• Visit this page: https://craigslist.org/contact

• Once on the page, click scams and then click I received a call/email from someone asking for my code to open an option to contact Craigslist.