Craigslist is a wonderful marketplace, but it must be used with caution. The anonymity, no cost listing, and little administration mean that this classified ad site is prone to scams and fraudulent listings. There are some key things to look out for when buying or selling baseball cards on Craigslist. Most of it is common sense, but bears repeating.

Buying baseball cards on Craigslist may be a real opportunity. Often people cleaning out estates will list cards for sale. There can be some real bargains. There are plenty of crooks, though, that list cards that are dubious. A popular scam involves reproduction or altered cards that have been placed into graded card holders. Many times the paper information “flip” has also been altered to reflect a higher grade. There was a rash of PSA graded Mickey Mantle cards being posted on Craigslist that ended up being clearly fraudulent. Often, a novice will accept a graded card slab as gospel, but these holders can be opened and resealed. Learning how to examine graded cards and holders for potential fraud is crucial. There are many online discussions in baseball card forums about tactics used by fraudsters. Experience in handling the real thing is vital. Again, if something appears too good to be true then it probably is. Avoid sellers that pressure you or give vague answers to your questions about authenticity or origins of the cards for sale. Never buy a card blindly on Craigslist. You are sure to be disappointed most of the time.

Craigslist can be a great place to sell cards, too, but you have to be careful here. Thieves target nice collections. Never meet a potential buyer at your home. Meet in a well lit public place to allow them to examine cards if necessary. Do not talk too much about other cards you may have at home. Be discrete. Crooked buyers have been known to use fake certified checks. Just be sensible and safe in your dealings and don’t divulge too much personal information.

Ebay has gotten to be a difficult place to buy and sell baseball cards so more and more people have turned to Craigslist. Use the site and good luck with your collecting. Just be careful!