Rental Scams - Tenant Beware

Definitely an important announcement to be careful that in every type of market there will be scams to take advantage of unsuspecting people.

Craigslist is one site I no longer use due to all of the scams and spam.

Hi Joan,

I have been told about these types of things on Craig's list. There has been people who want me to advertise on Craig's list. But I don't want any thing bad to happen so I have not even considered it as of to date.

All of this stuff is bad for everyone. Thanks for spreading the news.

Have a great day in the Denver area.

Best, Clint McKie

It's a shame that Craigslist is a hotbed for all kinds of scams.

This happens so often in New York, I had completely given up on the site until recently, when I tried it again.

There are so many scammers out there, Joan. I guess it's part of our society these days. I wonder why these folks can't thing up something good  to do instead.

Joan, it is so important that renters read this, hope you don't mind a repost or two.  Thanks for the post.

The rental scams are everywhere. I recently had a house listed for sale, and got a call from a man who saw it on CraigsList for rent at a ridiculously low price. He answered the ad and became suspicious, did some more online research and found my name and phone # as the agent of record. I told him point blank that he was being scammed. Lucky for him, he never handed any money over to the scammer. I found the bogus ad myself easily. The crook had even stolen my exact words to describe the property. (of course he did. why would he be creative???) Yes, my office staffers reported the scam to CraigsList and it was removed asap.

Great advice for renters!  This is a major problem in Florida and I have met several people that fell for the scams on craigslist.

Every spring we go thru this when so many people are looking to change housing.  It's really a shame & the unsuspecting are getting scammed out of their hard earned money.  Many cannot afford to move again because basically they just got there!  That's why I would never rent from a blind ad.

I use Craigslist very effectively but we can't stop scammers trying their luck. This is a new one on me. This is a warning for all potential renters.

I tell the potential renters they have to know who they are giving their money to, ask to check the driver's license of the person showing the home and check with your friendly REALTOR and make sure they are the owner of the property.  Or better yet, use your real estate agent!!!

I just had someone who emailed me to verify whether a rental was real or scam. So the public is more aware now!

A friend of mine had a listing that ended up on Craigslist for lease (a scam). The potential tenant called me about it and yes already too late had sent a deposit to the "owner" just that morning. Luckily, though she wired through Western Union. They did get the guy because he had done it often and they had it on video.  Not often does that happen. These devils are always coming up with something. Took the potential tenant 6 months to get her money back. She thought she could get it from the real owner since he was living in the house.

Hi Joan, there was an example of that here just recently.  Fortunately they caught the crook.

There are evil people in every society regardless of what tool they use. With tools for renters readily available to research almost anybody or subject, getting scammed shouldn't be a challenge, yet incidents like you reported occurs everyday, doesn't it?

I have heard about this happening.  Fortunately, it has not happened to any clients in Dallas.  It sounds like all potential tenants need Realtors to double check the loan status of the property they are interested in leasing.

I guess there always have been and always will be crooks out looking for that easy dollar. It's too bad about Craig's List - it could be such a handy tool.

Unfortunately this happens in California too.  Desperate people are capable of anything.  Shame on them.