Scam Alert!! Renter Loses Security Deposit, Forced to Move

Donne, I just read an email from a local Agent on the same subject manner. I stopped using CL a couple of months ago because I was getting so much spam that I felt I was spending more time reading and erasing garbage emails. This is just another reason to stay away from them. Thanks for the post. I was about to do the same thing. =)

Donne, great reminder to all

I had a friend of a friend of mine who found one on craigslist and was asked for money right then and there. No credit check or anything..........................red flag

We found is a place in a few days

Enjoy the day

Donne this is an awful shame and happening over the ocuntry, I hear of it around here at least once a week. All th scams lead back to that one online site. Tenants to be aware of these scams. It is great to get the word out. Have a great Monday

Donne -- It is terrible that people will stoop so low as to scam people trying to find appropriate housing for themselves and their families.  Your advise is well founded.  Maybe some of these online sites have gotten too easy (especially for scammers).   If not signing the documents at the owner's office, then maybe the renters need to get some ID to prove the person renting to them is in fact the owner.

I've heard about these scams...such a horrible thing to do to someone. Home should be more sacred.

Donne, this scam is happening country-wide. A similar story was reported here, but hadn't gone as far as what happened in your post, thankfully! 

It was reported that the scammers are using the likeness of local realtors, and then posting under our identities as leasing agents. I've already posted on this on my website. The numerous scams are why I do NOT use craigslist.

Donne, thanks for the reblog! @Chiara, that is news to me and really scary! Wow!

That's a dreadful story Donne. I had a client contact me one time after she'd answered one of those ads. I warned her off of course. She had a near miss. These guys are out there. 

In this example it beats me how the scammer got a key to the place. Although thinking about it, I had a locksmith get me into one of my own listings recently, because the seller left the wrong key with me. (Note to self to check the key before the sellers leave town next time). At any rate I wasn't asked a lot of questions. (I did talk to the seller on the phone at the same time, but of course anyone could say they were the seller, it wouldn't have to be true). Still think they need to have a lot of nerve though, don't you?

Thanks for the reblog Donne!  I have a friend on her way to court this Friday regarding a similar situation.  The only difference is the scam is on the part of the tenants, who of course came from Craigslist!  Like many homeowners, my friend was trying to save money by not having to pay the brokerage fee to lease her place .  Unfortunately, things did not turn out well for her.