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CRAIGSLIST SCAM ALERT!

By Doreen DuChette

Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Real Estate

July 01, 2011 05:14 AM

CRAIGLIST SCAM ALERT!

IF THAT RENTAL LISTING ON CRAIGSLIST SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...it is! Craigslist scams in real estate are very common. Especially, it seems, with rental properties. I recently had a beautiful colonial home for sale in Cheshire, CT listed for $450,000. Although not for rent, this property would rent for over $2,000 per month. One morning I received calls from 3 people asking about a Craigslist posting advertising it available for rent for $800. Fortunately they were suspicious enough to research the address online and contacted me directly. The individual posting the ad gave a telephone number. When a potential tenant called the number to reach the "owner," they were told that the owner was out of the country doing missionary work. They were told that the home was vacant, which was untrue, and that they could go look in the windows to view the house. They were also told to wire $600 to secure the lease! Scary stuff! When I contacted Craigslist, the posting was removed only to be reposted! The same has happened to me with legitimate rental listings where people have called saying they are from out of the country asking for a routing number to our bank account so they could secure a rental unseen. Agents need to cautious about renting to anyone who has not viewed the property and gone through proper credit checks and employment verification! Anyone looking to rent a home should be sure to meet the owner or their representative in person to view the home and be wary of any request to wire money. Again, if it sounds to good to be true...it is! Contact me at www.duchettehomes.com. Doreen DuChette 203-980-4601

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Sherri Berry

Reliant Realty, Murfreesboro - Murfreesboro, TN

Murfreesboro TN Homes & Real Estate

Wow Doreen hat is scary! Craigslist has always been known for scam artists. I am always cautious when it comes to Craigslist. Thanks for postnig this!

Jul 01, 2011 05:17 AM

Jimmy Katz

Wynd Realty & Katz Realty Group - Alpharetta, GA

"REAL Solutions for Real Estate!"

this is happening a lot down here in south florida. they are even scamming people out of mansions for rent for weddings, etc.

Brian England

Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ

MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have seen this before, pretty scary, I can't believe what some people will do, it's terrible.

Jul 01, 2011 05:26 AM

Jennifer Chiongbian

Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY

Real Estate Broker - NYC

We gets thos scams daily in Manhattan. I really can't stand Craig's List for that, and some of the other open sites. But CL is definitely the worst for that. Not only does it pain us in an already bad light, it makes the general public distrust us even more when we have nothing to do with those fake ads!

I wrote an article on how to avoid scams on Craig's List because it gets my goat every summer when the market is tight and is ripe for scammers.

http://buyandsellmanhattan.com/how-to-avoid-scams-for-manhattan-apts-on-craigslist/

Jul 01, 2011 05:39 AM

James Loftis

RealEstate911.com - West Palm Beach, FL

RealEstate911.com

Hello Doreen,

Had this rental scam happen to a seller of mine recently her in south Florida. Seller found out that there was a "tenant"

in the property right before closing and had to pay a considerable amount of money to the "tenant" in order to close on time.

Jul 01, 2011 05:45 AM

Jay Schmitt

Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg Real Estate Agent

We have to keep an eye out in all directions now days.

Jul 01, 2011 05:50 AM

Gary Streisand

Post Your Listings - Stony Brook, NY

It seems craigslist has added more security features to prevent these scams. I have been to about a dozen State MLS shows in the last year and we noticed that the scammers have been taking sales listings and changing them to rental listings with only the phone number changed.

There are a few things you can do to prevent overseas scams for your sales listing.

If you do not publish your address and email on craigslist it will make it harder for the scammers to duplicate the listing.

Our company has been using propriety security features that have greatly reduces the craigslist rental scams.

Why somebody in today's day and age would send money overseas to Nigeria to rent a house for much less them market value is beyond me, but they still do.

Here is a link to a web site that has the information to report an Internet scam

http://www.ic3.gov/faq/default.aspx

Jul 26, 2011 07:46 AM

Anonymous

Chris Burt, homeowner

I nearly fell into the trap a week ago while looking for rental properties on Craiglist in South Florida. Called the gentleman who was 'showing' a $2200/month home in Boynton Beach. Thank goodness his number was disconnected. Did a little digging: he's been taking first/last and security checks, depositing them and skipping town.

I can understand why people are going to Craigslist, though. Rental homes here are tough to come by here and overpriced. Many realtors are listing homes as both rentals and sales at the same time, which compounds the problem. Many of them are gone by the time you call (even on MLS). Realtors should be advised that it isn't good policy to try to rent and sell at the same time without clearly stating that the intention is to "sell" the property, not rent it.

Jul 26, 2011 07:55 AM

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