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ATTENTION -REALTORS - Has Your Listing Been Listed For Rent By Scammers Online? Report it here!!!

By Lizette Fitzpatrick

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lizette Realty - Richmond KY 205403

August 30, 2010 11:18 AM

Let's catch these crooks! Please reblog this or forward on to those that have been scammed.

A few months ago I posted my run in with the Craigslist and HotPads scammer that had put my two listings up for rent.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1730357/for-rent-scams-on-your-listed-home

Detective William Therrien in Cailfornia is investigating and is building a case for the FBI to review.

They are meeting with the FBI tomorrow 8-31-10.

If you have had any listings scammed or know any victims.

Please use the contact information below to report this. Together maybe we can all find a way to catch these criminals that are causing us lots of trouble and loss for our clients.

What he will need:

(1) all of the names (Victims) who may have been scammed,

(2) the names of the real estate companies that have knowledge of the scam.

Please CONTACT DIRECTLY ASAP-

William Therrien / Senior Deputy Ventura County Sheriff's Department Major Crimes / Robbery-Homicide william.therrien@ventura.org

Desk: 805-477-7024

Cell: 805-797-6401

Fax: 805-477-7010

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Russell Lewis

Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX

Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Lizette, it is amazing the lengths people will go to in order to scam others! Thanks for pointing out this issue!

Aug 30, 2010 11:21 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

My only brush with this was my daughter was looking on Craigslist for a rental... when she would find one she'd call me to look up the info on the owners in the public records... Once the listing persons info didn't match at all... we called the true owner and he said no his house wasn't up for rent, just for sale... he thanked us for alerting him. My daughter didn't know it was listed at all because there was no sign. Turned out the scammer had changed the locks and taken the signs and the agent didn't know it.

Aug 30, 2010 01:18 PM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

They were having a huge outbreak of this in Nashville. I know my son called on a potential prior to gettiing licensed. They wanted up front money before they even saw the house. RED FLAG.

Fortunately I told him to RUN, not WALK.

Aug 30, 2010 02:22 PM

Christine Bohn

RE/MAX Professionals - Gainesville, FL

The Bohn Team, Gainesville FL

Scary stuff. Thanks for spreading the word on this.

Aug 30, 2010 02:31 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Lizette this is becoming a real problem. I sure hope law enforcement can help with the issue, but this is going to be a real challenge. Sorry to hear it happened to you.

Aug 30, 2010 02:37 PM

Michelle Gibson

Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL

REALTOR

Lizette - I haven't had this happen to any of my listings, but I have seen it done.

Aug 30, 2010 02:56 PM

Evelyn Johnston

Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN

The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I read about several of these scams from Craigslist. I don't personally know of anyone who got involved, just remember reading about them.

Aug 30, 2010 03:12 PM

Lizette Fitzpatrick

Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY

Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

I find it amazing that these people are not caught and procecuted. Now is the time if everyone will forward this on.

Copy this and have your MLS board post it for the members to call if they have had their listings involved or know someone that had contact with the scammers as a renter.

Aug 30, 2010 03:33 PM

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Lizette,

Whenever I list one of my rentals on Craig's I get some really weird contacts that I think, if I followed up, would be scammers.

Aug 30, 2010 03:43 PM

ATTENTION -REALTORS - Has Your Listing Been Listed For Rent By Scammers Online? Report it here!!!

Comments(9)

Lizette Fitzpatrick

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