A phone number for selling online
Listing a couch on Craigslist shouldn't mean a year of spam texts. Put a Ghost number in the listing, talk to buyers from the Ghost app, and keep your personal number out of it.
- A local area code buyers recognize
- Auto-reply for "is this still available?"
- Keep selling calls off your personal line
$60 every 2 months. Cancel anytime. No contracts.
See why thousands trust Ghost for their virtual phone number
Why sellers use a second number
A phone number in a public listing gets copied. Scrapers collect numbers from classifieds sites and sell them to spam lists, and some buyers will keep texting long after the item is gone. Once your personal number is out there, you can't take it back.
A second number keeps the listing traffic somewhere you control. When the sale is done you can mute it, set an auto-reply, or delete it.
Where it helps
Anywhere you have to publish a phone number or give one to a stranger to close a deal:
- Facebook Marketplace, when a buyer wants to text instead of using Messenger
- Craigslist listings, where the number is in the post itself
- OfferUp, Nextdoor, and local buy and sell groups
- Selling a car privately, where buyers call at all hours
- Rental listings and roommate searches
Set it up for selling in a few minutes
- Get a Ghost number in your own area code so local buyers pick up.
- Turn on auto-reply with your pickup details, price, and hours so you don't answer the same question 20 times.
- Add a text signature, like your first name and the item, so buyers know who they're talking to.
- Set business hours so calls after 9 PM go to voicemail. Texts still arrive.
- Read voicemails as text instead of calling people back to find out what they wanted.
Avoiding common marketplace scams
A second number keeps your personal line out of scam lists, but the usual scams still target sellers. The most common one asks you to read back a verification code "to prove you're real." That code is usually for your own account, and the scammer uses it to take over your number or account. Never share a code someone texts you.
Other red flags: buyers who offer more than your asking price, want to pay by check or a payment app you don't use, or ask you to ship before paying. Meet locally, in a public place, and take payment before you hand anything over.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a Ghost number in a Craigslist ad?
Yes. It's a regular US or Canadian number, so buyers can call or text it like any other. You answer from the Ghost app.
Should I use a local area code for selling?
Usually, yes. Buyers are more likely to answer or reply to a number from their own area. Ghost lets you pick from 200+ US and Canadian area codes.
What if a buyer keeps texting after the sale?
Set an auto-reply that the item is sold, or delete the number. Your personal number was never involved.
How much does Ghost cost?
$60 every 2 months. Cancel anytime. No contracts.
List it without your real number
Get a local Ghost number for your listings and keep buyers off your personal line.
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