We recently got a call from an upset seller requesting that the lockbox be removed from her listing, which had just gone under agreement for sale. Of course, we did so immediately. But why was she so concerned? Because - someone had put an ad on Craig's List advertising her home for rent!
Potential renters called us requesting information on the ad, and one young woman actually stopped by the house, asking about the rental. This young woman was thoughtful enough to provide our seller with an email she had received when she responded to the Craig's List rental ad. It had awkward syntax (i.e., "Dearest, I am Pastor Joseph Ebo", etc.), reminiscent of the ubiquitous Nigerian email scams.
It appears that with the ballooning number of vacant homes, rip-off artists have taken to advertising homes for rent which they have no ownership in. Innocent tenants have sent money to spoof addresses that look like the landlord's, moved into these vacant homes, and paid rent until they became evicted when the homes were foreclosed or sold at sheriff sale.
If you are selling a vacant property, make sure someone checks regularly that no unauathorized persons are in the home! It might not even be a bad idea to google for rentals in your area, just to make sure there are no unauthorized ads attempting to rent YOUR property.
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Brian Schulman offers expert real estate representation for buying and selling homes in Lancaster County, PA. To learn more, visit http://www.FindLancasterHomes.com/ |
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Brian Schulman offers expert real estate representation for buyers and sellers of homes in Lancaster County, PA. To learn more, visit http://www.FindLancasterHomes.com/ |
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Hi Brian this is the second time I have heard about a specific case. There is certainly a lot of scams out there and we have to remain vigilant.
Wow, this is unbelievable. I've heard of it happening, and I think my son was almost a victim as a tenant when he was looking for an apt in NY several months ago. It was only a matter of time before it hit the Lancaster area, as well.
Brian - Craigslist is becoming more and more of a hazard to home buyers, sellers and renters. You have to be very careful now. List no addresses, only a phone number and possibly a throw away email address.
Jennifer, vigilance is indeed the watchword. Many of these scams are made possible because the original owners have given up on them and are no longer paying attention.
Jeannie, how did your son come to believe that he might have been an attempted victim of an apartment scam in NY?
Mike, that's good advice, not to list an exact address. Craig's List unfortunately has become so popular that unsavory characters are attracted to it.
Brian: this may make trying to rent without an agent a scary thing to do. Not to mention a rental tenant filling out an application with confidential information given freely to who know who out there online...
Mary, that's true - good point. Not knowing who you're giving personal information to could lead to identity theft. A reputable agent can protect both landlord and prospective tenant.
409 takes on many new forms!!
That's been going on here too - much more prevalent recently. I'm re-blogging you over to the Fraud Group if you don't mind.
Well since I can't seem to figure out how to do that, can you please re-post this to the Fraud Group. Thanks. Very timely.
Gene, I certainly don't mind your reblogging me. There's a button in the top right of each blog that allows you to do that.
I didn't realize there was a fraud group. In any case, I'll put a copy of the post there.
Brian,
These types of things amaze me... Why can't these people use their brains for good??
Ann Hayden in sunny Wildwood, Missouri
Ann, it's true - if some of these misfits put their genuine talents and energy to good use, the world would be a better place!