One of my listings has been hit with a Craigs List Rental Scam. I listed a property in Hartford one week ago. I am not an expert on how this scam works but this is what I know.
Someone takes your MLS listing and posts it on Craigs List as a rental or a rent to own. Unusually cheap. They post their phone number and then make arrangements to meet the person at the house. (This is what I do not understand-how they get in) Then they take a check or cash from the prospective tenant and run.
Well, I started getting phone calls that they were at the property and no one showed up or they passed by the property and were very interested in renting it and how soon can the see the property. I had a lady call me and she gave me the phone number of the person she spoke with and he told her he is in Africa on mission work and the house will be vacant for the next year and that he owns the house outright and only wants the taxes and insurance covered.
Has anyone out there run into this?
What did you do?
What can we do to prevent this from happening on other listings?
By the Way this is a great house in Hartford, would be a great house for House Hartford. 3 bedroom, formal dining room, main level laundry, great deck.
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