Craig’s List Rental Scam is Active In Corvallis Oregon
The Craigs List rental property scam is active and targeting
victims in Corvallis, Oregon
(and likely many other communities in the US.)
Don’t let this happen to you. This isn’t really anything new, but I think it’s good to remind the public. Be careful.
Here’s how it works.
1. Scammer, likely in a foreign country (like Nigeria), but hard to say because they use the internet as a tool. Steals the information from “for sale” properties and posts it on Craig’s List as a “for rent” property.
2. Scammer steals photos from MLS or other on-line sources to include with the post (tip, often the photos have a copyright logo on them.)
3. Scammer targets vacant homes, but sometimes includes occupied homes.
4. Scammer makes rent rate “too good to be true”. If it’s too good to be true, it likely isn’t.
5. Unsuspecting victim contacts scammer who proceeds to say that they’re out of the country, feel free to look around the house, etc. Get back to them.
6. Scammer is very convincing.
7. Unsuspecting victim sends scammer money (wire or other means.)
8. Unsuspecting victim send scammer rental application (form with personal information including signature, social security number, bank account information, drivers license copy or number.)
9. Scammer takes money or steals identity or both.
Things you can do to verify that you’re dealing with a legitimate party:
1. Google the property address to see if it’s listed for sale (the scammer will tell you that the listing is over, that they’ve decided to rent, you can call the real estate agent involved to confirm that information.)
2. Look up the property address on the County tax rolls to see if the person offering to rent it actually is the owner.
3. Don’t send money out of the country for this kind of scheme. Most property owners that are out of the country hire property managers to help them. It’s very difficult to manage a rental from afar.
4. Follow the advice in the Craig’s List | about Scams page
Don’t let this happen to you!
You will not get your money back. No one but the person that took it from you, owes it to you.
You could have to deal with long term ramifications of identity theft. See FTC site on How to Avoid Identy Theft.
Local Police/Authorities cannot help you if the scammer is not in the community they serve.
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