Craigslist rolls out anti-scam security measures.

The popular online website craigslist.org has a new set of measures aimed at protecting its users.

Ranked by ALEXA.COM as the 10th most visited site in the United States, craigslist has been a favorite for scammers.

Notwithstanding the bold warnings in red found on almost all pages on the site, people still fall prey to advance fee scams perpetrated by con men.

A typical transaction would involve a seller with a late model vehicle for an incredibly low price, who just happens to be out of the country, but is willing to get the low price if sent through instant payment services like Western Union or Moneygram. The victim wires the money, usually to Nigeria and then never sees the car.

These security measures have been long awaited. The new procedure locks out registered craigslist users and requires them to change their password. Then they have to be confirmed using a security code that they input on the website. It is sent through a US or Canadian number, and the user can choose either a voice call in English, French or Spanish, or an SMS with the code.

What this achieves is it authenticates that the user is an actual person, and not a computer, then, through the number to which the security verification code is sent, links that number to the account holder.

So, a scammer with no US number is effectively shut out of the system and those who pist multiple ads in many cities will easily be traced and can be banned from the website.

Expect a cottage industry selling craigslist authentication codes to take root.
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