A Private Phone Number for Your Craigslist Listings
In short: post a dedicated Petitext number on your Craigslist ad instead of your cell. Replies arrive in your email, you answer from your inbox (or text a buyer first via the email subject line), and your real number stays off the page. Passes from $1.99/day, no app required.
Craigslist still moves an enormous amount of furniture, cars, gear, and gigs — and a lot of it gets done over text. But putting your personal cell number in a public Craigslist post is one of the fastest ways to lose your privacy. A Petitext virtual number lets you list, get replies, and close the sale while your real number stays completely off the page.
Why you shouldn’t put your cell number in a Craigslist post
A Craigslist ad is public and easy to scrape. Any number you type into the listing can be collected automatically, not just read by genuine buyers. That’s how a single post can turn into a steady trickle of spam texts, robotext “we buy houses” messages, and calls from people who were never interested in your item at all.
Even legitimate buyers create long-term exposure. Once someone has your real number, they keep it — and they can share it. The item sells in an afternoon, but the contact lasts indefinitely. Listing a separate, disposable number solves the problem at the source: there’s nothing permanent to leak.
The “verification code” scam targeting sellers
One Craigslist scam goes after your phone number specifically. A supposed buyer asks for your number, then says they’re sending a code to confirm you’re a real seller. The code is actually a verification code the scammer triggered to register a Google Voice (or similar) account in your name, using your real number — and if you read it back to them, they’ve taken over an account tied to you. Consumer-protection groups warn sellers about this regularly. The fix is to never post your real number and never share a code with a buyer. A Petitext number takes the bait off the table entirely: buyers only ever see your disposable virtual number, so there’s nothing for this scam to hijack.
How Petitext keeps your number off the listing
Petitext gives you a dedicated US or Canada number that you post in the ad instead of your own. When a buyer texts it, the message is forwarded to your email. You reply by email, and Petitext relays your reply back to the buyer as a text from the virtual number. To the buyer it looks and works like an ordinary text thread. Your real number is never shared, never displayed, and never delivered.
When the listing comes down and your rental ends, the number stops. No lingering contact, no number floating around in strangers’ phones.
Reply from your inbox — no app, no setup
You don’t need to install anything or create a complicated account. Inbound texts land in the email inbox you already use, so you can answer questions about your item from your phone or your computer. Reply, and it goes back as a text automatically.
This is deliberately simpler than the second-line apps people download and forget to cancel. There’s no app running in the background and no separate inbox to babysit — just email.
Pricing that matches your listing’s life
Most Craigslist listings do their work in a few days. Petitext’s short rentals are priced for exactly that:
- Day Pass — for a fast-moving item you expect to sell quickly.
- 3-Day Pass — for the typical listing that takes a little back-and-forth.
- Week Pass — for pricier items, several listings at once, or a slower category.
Each plan comes with a dedicated number, unlimited inbound messages, and the reply-by-email workflow. You rent the number for as long as the ad is live and let it expire afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Is this for receiving Craigslist verification codes?
No. Petitext is for real conversations with buyers and sellers — not for receiving one-time verification or sign-up codes. Using it for verification or account creation isn’t permitted.
Will buyers see my real phone number?
Never. Buyers only see your Petitext virtual number. Your personal number is never attached to any message.
Can I choose a local area code?
Yes — you can pick from available US and Canada area codes so your number looks local to your listing.
What happens to the number after my pass ends?
It stops forwarding once your rental period is over, so any later texts won’t reach you and your real number stays private.
Want a private number for your next listing? Pick a plan and get your number. Listing on other platforms too? See Petitext for Facebook Marketplace and Petitext for rental & for-sale-by-owner listings.
Last updated: July 16, 2026