Craigslist fraud.

Who are the victims?

I posted an ad on Craigslist last week for a wonderful home I have listed at 2617 Lakewest Drive in California Park, Chico CA.

The house is FOR SALE with a listing price of $342,000. 

Some industrious individual STOLE my photos of the home, my description of the property, my name, my personal photo, and my phone number to create a flyer advertising the house as a rental. He or she added this email address: baumansandi@yahoo.com, which is not mine, but certainly looks like it could be mine.

Why the person used my phone number, I'll never know. But thanks to that ingenious inclusion, I must have received an additional 150 phone calls over two days time. My phone already rings off the hook day and night, so the increased volume almost put me over the edge. My apology goes out to the many individuals that did not receive a return call from me. I simply could not keep up with the volume.

The lovely homeowners of 2617 Lakewest witnessed a constant stream of cars stopping to pull flyers from the box located on the yard sign, and people gawking at their house. They eventually resorted to posting a big sign out there stating that the house was not for rent.

Many potential renters replied to the email address provided. After an email or two exchanged, "Sandi Bauman" sent them this letter:

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 10:54 PM

Attn Applicant,

Thanks for your email and interest in renting my house. I am Sandi Bauman, the owner of the house you are making enquiry of. Actually I did reside in the house with my family, my husband and my only daughter before and presently we have moved out due to my official job transfer or posting, whatever you may call it, which has now found me in Warsaw, Poland.

Presently my house is still available for rent for $850 USD per month (which includes utilities), though i intended selling it off but on a later thought changed my mind and have decided putting it on rent. More so now, I’m currently in Lagos, Nigeria for an international Christian follower's crusade taking place at the Nigeria national stadium, by one Pastor Chris of the Christ Embassy Ministry.

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