Job Discussion Forums

Angelfish · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

I'm sure there are very reputable and honest people who use Craigslist, but this is just a warning to watch out for the not so reputable users we've encountered over the past couple of month.

My boyfriend's a writer and he used to look on Craigslist for writing jobs. About half of these "jobs" he applied for would be lazy-arsed American college students who couldn't be bothered to write their own essays and then proceeded to get pissy and wouldn't pay when presented with an essay writen by a Phd-qualified professional writer. These guys, though ignorant and annoying, weren't so bad. The ones to really watch out for are the ones that promise to pay you a deposit for the job you're doing and then ask for important stuff, such as your bank details, passport details, etc... with no intention of a job.

I don't know about the rentals' side of Craigslist, but just be careful. Don't go sending off any deposits or key money to anyone you're not 100% certain about.

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

Thanks for posting about this, AngelFish.

Is there a Craigslist for Japan?

For folks interested in knowing more, the type of identity-theft AngelFish describes is called "phishing". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

keister · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

Rentals on craigslist has to be up to your discretion. Most of them are advertisements for property outside of japan, I guess trying to target rich Japanese. Or even advertisements by Japanese real estate agencies, trying to target the gaijin population in Japan. There are also a lot of people wanting house swaps in Japan. But there are a few rental offers that are legit. I've only seen rooms for rent (sharing bathroom and kitchen with roommates), but haven't seen actual apartments up for rent (other than advertisements).

anne_o · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 172 Location: Tokyo

PhD's look for work on Craigslist??? Makes me happy I never got my Masters! Anyway......Common Sense goes a long, long way......apparently a longer way than academia Shocked

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

anne_o

I don't think Angelfish meant that she or her partner actually sent the info, just that malicious people use Craigslist to prey on people who are hungry for work.

We all gotta earn a buck or a yen, eh?

Angelfish, you and your partner didn't actually send your details, did you?

Is writing/editing papers that lucrative? I write for print publications sometimes, but I haven't done editing.

Angelfish · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

No, neither me nor my partner sent in any details.

He's currently a Phd qualified struggling writer, so any money is good money, except when it's bad money. Wink

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I knew you were smart Very Happy

Thanks for posting about Craigslist and reminding us that it's here in Japan, too - http://tokyo.craigslist.org/

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Interesting. You know, I've been hearing about this "Craigslist" for years now and not once (until now) have I ever been remotely curious enough to see what it was...

Well, since TokyoLiz so helpfully posted up the link to craiglist Japan, I checked it out. Man, that's gotta be the largest waste of pixels and server space I've seen in a while. Most of the "ads" on there, be they job-related, stuff-for-sale-related, personals-related, or whatever were just pure, unadulterated garbage.

Between Gaijinpot, Japan Today, and a few others (not to mention Yahoo Japan auctions) there are just much better resources out there than craigslist. Plus, I can be reasonably sure that the stuff on the sites I mentioned is actually IN Japan and intended for purchase IN Japan, as opposed Craigslist "Japan" where we have some guy in Arizona trying to sell a 1979 Datsun truck! WTF?!?! Also ignoring the fact that for EACH and EVERY ad you read, there's a huge, legitimate fear that you're looking at a scam!

Here's a cross-link for anyone who does need some info on classified ads in Japan. Plz feel free to bump that thread if you have a useful site or resource to add to it.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=37091

ghostrider · Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 147

craig's list was great as a small, underground site for residents in the bay area to buy/sell/trade. it shouldn't have been expanded without some system to prevent fraud. instead, anyone can post something and claim they're anyone. with its popularity, it's attracted a lot of scammers.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Nevertheless, craigslist in the U.S. has become THE source for job postings. Employers have to post on craigslist first and foremost to find qualified candidates in many, many fields.

Yes, you have to be careful when selling or purchasing or renting. But that's a given with any financial transaction, right?

And there is NO advertising!! Craig Newmark is an American hero. Wink