I attended a VHDA 1rst time homebuyer event about one week ago in Oakton VA. These are always good trainings with a variety of lenders, agents, housing counselors, etc in attendance. During this event, the topic of rental scams came up. A new method that I hadn't heard about yet involved scammers identifying vacant foreclosure properties. These guys would go to the houses, verify they were vacant, then remove the yard signs if there were any. Then they would cut the lockboxes off with bolt cutters. In some cases they would destroy the lokboxes to get the keys out, or they would find another way to break into the house. Then they would change the door locks and dead bolts that they had brought with them. Then they would put their own combo box ( which are available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc), on the door.
Ok, their trap is set. Time to put ad on craigslist etc with way below market rent. For Rent: Just bought at foreclosure. Won't last. I'm out of state and don't have time to do repairs. Will give 1/2 price rent for 1 year if you fix up. Call for combo. If you want house, send money order for 1rst months rent and security deposit to: Scamuel Ripoften PO Box 666 Sucker VA 55512. Or a similar scenario, some lures including rent w option to buy, rent to own, no credit check, etc.
Hopefully 5 or more desperate would be renters / homeowners will jump on the deal, all rush to 7/11 or Post Office to get money orders, or even get cash, then mail to trap setter.
Beware of housing scams. Never rush a decision no matter how good it sounds.
If you need help finding a rental property in Virginia, consider talking to a housing counselor, not a scam artist.
http://www.virginiahousingcounselors.org/
Jeff Pearl / Lic in VA
Remax Distinctive - McLean VA
703-727-4876
Homes / Land / Farms / Historic
Equal Housing
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