# Craigslist Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2022, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569 "2022-11-26T05:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/1 "2022-11-26T05:33:00Z")
Over the last few days, I have posted a few ads on Craigslist. The ads are in different For Sale categories. Today, something happened that hasn’t happened before now. When I tried to “publish” an ad, I received this notice… **Please enter a complete phone number.** **Phone Verification is required before proceeding** **Use the form below to receive a one-time verification code on your mobile phone or land line.** Can someone please explain this to me? Would there be any problem with giving them my home phone or cell phone number? Thanks for any help, Saucy ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/2 "2022-11-26T06:51:20Z")
I’m not a frequent poster. Maybe 5-10 ads a year. I’ve never seen that. Possibly phishing? ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/3 "2022-11-26T16:54:11Z")
Thank you! The notice from Craigslist stated it was to control spam. I hope it’s not phishing. Not sure how I can post my ads without giving a phone number. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/4 "2022-11-26T17:00:01Z")
Did you receive the message on the site or in email? If it was on the site, it seems unlikely to be phishing. This page from the craigslist help says they do use phone verification, although it does say why or when they do it. I’d say it’s probably ok to enter your phone number. [craigslist | about | help | phone verification](https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/phone_verification#:~:text=How%20does%20phone%20verification%20work,next%20page%20of%20the%20process). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/5 "2022-11-26T17:01:39Z")
Pretty sure it’s a scam. See here — [https://www.google.com/search?q=Craigslist+Please+enter+a+complete+phone+number.+Phone+Verification+is+required+before+proceeding+Use+the+form+below+to+receive+a+one-time+verification+code+on+your+mobile+phone+or+land+line.&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari](https://www.google.com/search?q=Craigslist+Please+enter+a+complete+phone+number.+Phone+Verification+is+required+before+proceeding+Use+the+form+below+to+receive+a+one-time+verification+code+on+your+mobile+phone+or+land+line.&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/6 "2022-11-26T17:02:58Z")
Thanks! I received it on the Craigslist site. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/7 "2022-11-26T17:03:52Z")
I hope not. How can I post my ads otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/8 "2022-11-26T17:07:13Z")
Can you look at Bullitt’s link and see what you think? Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/9 "2022-11-26T17:11:10Z")
I think Bullit’s link is describing something different. Their link describes a kind of man-in-the-middle attack where you get a text message or email asking you to reply with a 6 digit code. That doesn’t sound like what happened to you. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/10 "2022-11-26T17:15:05Z")
I googled the exact text provided by @saucywench . Those were the results. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/11 "2022-11-26T17:16:51Z")
Here is a link I found before I started this thread… > **[Craigslist Locks Down Site With Phone Verification](https://techcrunch.com/2008/07/17/craigslist-lockdown-site-with-phone-verification/)** > > Craigslist has long had problems with spam. The one feature that has made the site a success, the ease at which one can post, has become a hindrance as spammers and law breakers have taken over. In early March Craigslist began what is now turning out... I’m not very tech savvy, but it seems it’s legit on Craiglist. The trouble seems to be sharing it off their site. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/12 "2022-11-26T17:18:40Z")
I found this, which seems to indicate this is a newer feature to reduce spam: > **[How to bypass Craigslist phone verification?](https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/10/how-to-bypass-craigslist-phone.html)** > > If you wish to post an ad on Craigslist, you will have to go through a Craigslist phone verification process and verify yourself. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/13 "2022-11-26T17:21:13Z")
But did you read any of the results? The first one I see is a Google support page that describes a completely different scam whereby a scammer causes Google Voice to call or text your phone number with a 6-digit code which you foolishly give to the scammer and lets them set up a Google Voice account attached to your phone number. That’s not at all what the OP describes. The second search result is this thread. The third one is a [digitalinformation.com](http://digitalinformation.com) page that explains why Craigslist uses phone verification and says you can’t bypass it, no scam described there. The third is a Quora question which begins “More than 90% of the time Craigslist would ask you for phone verification code sent via sms…” and again doesn’t describe any scam. I don’t see anything that indicates that what the OP describes is a scam. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/14 "2022-11-26T17:21:32Z")
Thank you! To everyone- From the Craigslist site… About phone verification link [https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/phone\_verification](https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/phone_verification) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/15 "2022-11-26T17:46:28Z")
Thank you very much! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craigslist-question/975569/16 "2022-11-27T21:39:34Z")
Thank you! I ran the quick search but did not delve into the results, and was erring on the side of caution.