If It Seems too Good to be True - Rent Scams on Craigslist

 If It Seems too Good to be True – Rent Scams on Craigslist

You know the old saying, ”if it seems too good to be true it probably is”, well nothing could be closer to the truth with some Craigslist rental offerings.   

I got another call this morning from an unsuspecting renter who has been duped out of their hard earned money by someone offering a house for rent on Craigslist.  Now, I’m not saying that every apartment or house for rent on Craigslist is a scam but the consumer must beware.  

The rental housing scam is worked by criminals searching websites that list homes for sale. They take the information in those ads lock, and post it, with their own e-mail address, in an ad on Craigslist (without Craigslist's consent or knowledge) under the housing rentals category.  To sweeten the pot, the houses are almost always listed with below-market rental rates.  You arrive at the home on the agreed-upon date, but there's just one small problem the house is not actually for rent and its owners know nothing about your agreement.   

Recently, I heard about an extension of this scenario where someone will meet prospective tenants at the vacant house to show it to them.  This in some ways validates that the house is actually being offered for rent.  But, the supposed owner still required cash to be deposited, no money orders or checks.   

The scenario is this.  A lot of agents promote their sales listings on Craigslist.  What happens is someone will copy all the photographs and get the address of the house and post the house for rent at a ridiculously low price.  People answer the listing and the individual tells them to go by the house and take a look then emails them a rental application.  Next thing they do is ask them to deposit cash into an account for the deposit and they will send them the keys.  Only the keys never arrive.   

Agents need to be vigilant of their listings and constantly search to be sure that their listings haven’t been hijacked by a scammer.  And, renters need to be vigilant that the property they are looking at truly is what it seems.  Better still find a Realtor that works with renters to help you find a home to live in.  I can give you a referral if you need one or I can list your home for rent or sale.