Renters Beware: Craigslist Scam

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KIIITV News

(October 5, 2009)

A warning about a rental scam you should know about if you've been looking a property. A Texas A&M Corpus Christi student spotted a scam, when she started to look for a new place to live. She didn't fall for the scam and wants to make sure others don't either.

Tired of living in an apartment, Leslie Meyer decided to look for a home to rent. She turned to Craigslist, found a home she liked, and emailed the renter.

Meyer says, "He pretty much said I'm a contractor in west africa and I can't show you the house because I'll be gone for the next 2 years, but send me the deposit and first months rent and I'll send you the keys."

She drove by the home and came to find out the home already had owners.

Meyer says, "I knocked on the door and it ended up that there's a family that lived here and it's just a big scam."

Aaron Guevara of 361 Realty says, "This isn't the first time that I've heard of it, but this is the first time that I've been approached with it."

Guevara with 361 Realty had actually just sold the home to a friend.

Leslie didn't fall for it, in fact she reproted the scam to the Better Business Bureau, but they're still out there.

If you've fallen victim to a scam or want to warn others, send us an e-mail at: news@kiiitv.com

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Oct 7 at 3:46 PM

You Don't need a realtor for this kind of transaction all you do is pay additional fees. Most of the realtors I've met in this town are a bunch of buffoons.

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Sarabel said on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 9:42 PM

Craigslist scammers usually don't use a phone number. They like to use email and money wires because it's not traceable. Try to avoid doing business with foreigners. That's almost always a scam.

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ray johnson said on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 3:32 PM

One more reason to let a Realtor help with the process.

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Patricia said on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 1:53 PM

I had the same experience x2. There were 2 different add with different names and places to rent. When I sent an e-mail I got an application(which of course I did not fill) and a request for a check (which of course I did not send).The explanation was that he was "working for the Lord in S Africa" and could not come back to Alameda. Be alert! as Jill said, if it sound too good it probably it is not true.Does anybody know where can I report this type of adds?

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Jill said on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 1:18 PM

we live a gullible society and that's why other people prey on us. If it's sound too good to be true it probably is

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