Here's a tip to avoid getting ripped off. NEVER send money to Nigeria. OK?
A local family just lost approximately $2,500 when they contacted someone advertising a rental for an Aikahi Gardens townhome in Kailua. The true owner of the property had advertised the unit for rent on a couple of websites. The scammers copied the photos and description, placed them on craigslist with a lower rental amount and BINGO! somebody took the bait.
It's kind of hard to believe that a renter would fall for this, but it does happen. The prospective renters were looking for a low priced rental and this unit seemed like everything they wanted and for much less than comparable rentals in Kailua.
The prospective renters sent their payment to Nigeria. The alleged owners then claimed that the keys were lost in the mail and authorized the renters to hire a locksmith and deduct the charges from the next month's rent. The renters with contract in hand called a locksmith and had the locks changed.
Here's where it gets interesting!
The actual owner of the property was out of state and returned to Kailua to check on her townhouse. Her key didn't open the door, so she looked through the window and noticed boxes and a TV set in the living room. She called the Kailua police department and they entered the unit, finding more furniture upstairs.
Later that evening, a man came to the townhome with more boxes. The police confronted him and he explained how he had rented the unit from the owner, who is living in Nigeria! The police informed him that he was duped and he'd have to move out. Since the "tenant" was acting in good faith (believing that he had a valid rental contract) he was not charged by police.
The Kailua Police Department has no jurisdiction in Nigeria, so the duped tenants are out $2,500 without recourse. Meanwhile, the actual owner of the property has incurred costs to clean the unit, change the locks and warn others not to fall for the scam. She has tenants paying market rate scheduled to move in next week.
Tip-offs to ripoffs
1) Don't send money to Nigeria.
2) The duped tenants thought they were paying $1,200 per month rent for a three bedroom, two bath townhouse in Kailua. Market rents for similar properties are $1,950 per month. Think about that carefully before sending payment to Nigeria. Oh yeah, and see #1 above!
3) The false advertisements also said the "owners" wanted tenants with the "fear of God." It's against the law to discriminate based on religion. A Savvy property owner should know that and so should a prospective tenant.
Renters, please spend your money carefully so that you can one day buy your own property and enjoy the benefits of home ownership.
Aloha, Mike Bates
Comments(5)