The Better Business Bureau provides the following tip-offs that an offer could be an Internet scam:

* Large pay for simple tasks. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

* Upfront payments and start-up costs.

* High-pressure tactics that require immediate decisions.

The BBB’s advice to avoid being scammed whether you are buying or selling on Craigslist:

* Complete your transaction with someone who is local that you can meet in person.

* Never, ever make a wire transfer. If you pay this way, you will likely never receive what you bought and will have no recourse because wire transfers are virtually untraceable.

* Never accept a cashier’s check as payment. These are usually fraudulent checks and you will owe the amount to your bank once it determines the check is fake.

* Do not click on links. They are likely to be viruses or attempts to hack into your computer.

* Do not trust claims stating Craigslist “guarantees” the transaction. Craigslist is not involved in any way with transactions that take place on its sites.