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RENTAL SCAM ALERT in San Diego

By
Real Estate Agent with Pacific Sotheby's International Realty Cal BRE # 01256537

Rental Scam in Beach Area

SDAR was notified today of a rental scam taking place in the beach areas including La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. Someone has obtained the lockbox access codes for combination lockboxes located on vacant rental properties. These are not SentriLock lockboxes, but rather, simple combination lockboxes that can be obtained from retail stores. With a list of properties and lockbox combinations in hand, the scam artists list the properties for rent on Craig's List, show the property, take a deposit and then take off with the deposit money.

Steps that can be taken to limit this type of activity are:

  • Use SentriLock lockboxes on your rental properties. They require a keycard and a PIN to access them. Never give out your keycard or PIN to anyone.
  • If you must use a combination box, do not share your combinations with anyone and do not put the lockbox combination in your advertising - especially not on Craig's List. Do not use the same lockbox combination on all of your combination lockboxes
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Comments (4)

Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer
WOW!!!!!!!  I make Realtors call and identify themselves with their Public ID in the event that I use combo lockboxes (rare)
Aug 24, 2007 12:58 PM
John Barry Seattle Washington Home Loans
Home Loans - Kirkland, WA
thanks for the tip...we have been trying to set up a vacation in SD and Craiglist was one of the places we were checking out.
Aug 24, 2007 01:01 PM
delete me delete me
delete me - Dixon, CA
Wowsers...that's a good scam...it's hard to believe that people come up with this stuff and people actually fall for it. It's very unfortunate for the property owners.
Aug 24, 2007 01:38 PM
Jay LaGace
RE/MAX Realty Team - Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral / Lee County Real Estate - 239-443-8795

There was just a huge amount of that going on in Miami, smae thing as by you.. They would prey upon vacant Homes, or Pre- Foreclosure homes, change the locks, and put up for rent signs. Then collect first, last and security and they would be gone.. There was just a big Ring of people arrested a few weeks back.

 

Aug 24, 2007 01:59 PM