Selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist Without Harassment

It's the big spring cleaning. You decided to sell that bike gathering dust, that manga collection, or that sofa that's too big. You take photos, write the ad, and get ready to post it on Craigslist, Vinted, or Facebook Marketplace.

Comes the fateful field: "Your contact details".

You hesitate. You know that as soon as you hit "Publish", your phone number and email will potentially be visible to millions of strangers, scraping bots, and professional scammers.

But you want to sell, so you do it anyway. And ten minutes later, it starts:

• "Hi avail?" (at 2 AM)
• "I am very interested but I am currently abroad, I will send you a cash mandate..."
• "Your account needs verification, click here..."

Selling online has become an obstacle course where you have to dodge scams and harassment. Fortunately, there is a method to sell like a pro, without ever exposing your private life.

The Problem: Trust vs. Anonymity

Peer-to-peer sales platforms rely on a paradox. To build trust, they push you to be transparent (verified profile, phone number, quick response). But this transparency is a security flaw for you.

Once a potential buyer has your number or personal email:

1. They go off-platform: They can contact you directly, bypassing the site's protections.
2. They profile you: With a simple number, one can often find your Facebook, your WhatsApp (and therefore your photo), or even your address.
3. It's irreversible: Once the item is sold, the ad disappears, but your number remains in the phone of that weird stranger who absolutely wanted to come to your house at 11 PM.

The "Firewall" Strategy with JunkMail

The goal is to create a watertight buffer between the public ad and your private sphere. You must only be reachable as long as the item is not sold.

Step 1: The Sales-Dedicated Email

Never use your main email to create your Craigslist or Vinted account. If this account gets hacked (which often happens via phishing), hackers have access to your entire buying/selling history.

Create a specific alias on JunkMail: sales.leandre@junkmail.site. This is your control tower. All notifications ("You have a new message", "Offer received") arrive here.

Step 2: Securing Communication

On the ad, the "Phone Number" field is often optional (except in some categories). Do not fill it. Indicate in the description: "First contact by messaging or email only".

If the platform forces a visible email (like on some Facebook groups or Craigslist), put your JunkMail alias.

Step 3: The "Scammer" Filter

Scammers hate complex emails or people who master their tech. If you receive a shady email (the famous "cash mandate" or "Fedex carrier"), check the headers or simply the sender's address.

If you start getting flooded with spam on this alias because your ad went viral (or targeted by bots), you have a magic option: Disable the alias temporarily. Calm returns instantly. You can reactivate it later to see legitimate responses.

Step 4: The Final Transaction

Once you've filtered out the jokers and found a serious buyer, you can move to more direct communication if necessary (for the meeting).

Pro Tip: Use a temporary number app (like Google Voice or Burner) for the big day. Item sold? Delete the ad, and if necessary, delete the JunkMail alias if you created a specific address for a unique sale (e.g., a car).

Scenario: Selling the Car

Selling a car is the typical case where the stakes are high (large sum) and scams frequent.

Without protection: You put your cell number. You receive 50 calls a day, fraudulent SMS, and pros who want to buy your vehicle for peanuts. 6 months after the sale, people are still calling.

With the JunkMail method:

1. You create audi.a3.sale@junkmail.site.
2. You put this email big on the sign stuck on the rear window of the car (yes, in real life!).
3. Interested parties write to you. You sort quietly in the evening from your JunkMail dashboard.
4. Once the car is sold, you delete the audi.a3.sale alias.
5. If someone notes the email on the window 3 weeks later, their mail bounces ("Address not found"). You are never bothered again.

The Philosophy Moment: Compartmentalizing Public Space

The internet is a noisy public space. Putting your personal email on a classified ad is like shouting your postal address in the middle of a crowded marketplace hoping only the right person hears.

Using an alias is like having a counter with tinted glass. You see everyone, you can talk, but no one can enter your intimacy without your explicit agreement. This is the basis of a healthy commercial interaction: professional distance, even between individuals.

Conclusion

Selling your stuff shouldn't cost your peace of mind. By mastering your communication channel, you take back power over the transaction. You are no longer prey for spammers, you are an organized and secure seller.

The next time you post an ad, ask yourself: how much is my future silence worth? Surely more than the price of this JunkMail subscription.

Sell with peace of mind. Create your sales alias on JunkMail.