People need to be cautious when posting rental properties and real estate on-line. Rental scams occur when the owners (victim) has rental property advertised and is contacted by an interested party. Once the rental price is agreed upon, the scammer forwards a check for the deposit on the rental property to the owner (victim). The check is to cover housing expenses and is, either written in excess of the required amount, with the scammer asking for the remainder to be remitted back, or the check is written for the correct amount, but the scammer backs out of the rental agreement and asks for a refund. Since the banks do not usually place a hold on the funds, the owner (victim) has immediate access to them and believes the check has cleared. In the end, the check is found to be counterfeit and the owner (victim) is held responsible by the bank for all losses.

The other type of scam involves real estate that is posted via classified advertisement websites. The scammer duplicates postings from a legitimate real estate website and reposts the ads, after altering them. Often, the scammers use the broker's real name to create a fake e-mail, which gives the fraud more legitimacy. When the tenant (victim) sends an e-mail through the classified advertisement website inquiring about the home, they receive a response from someone claiming to be the owner. The "owner" claims he and his wife are currently on missionary work in a foreign country. therefore, he needs someone to rent their home while they are away. If the tenant (victim) is interested in renting the home, they are asked to do one of two things either send money to the owner in the foreign country or to go to a website for a credit check which of course tenant is ask all personal information then scammer can steal their identity.
As a Realtor I have had scammers copy my listing and post it on craigslist as a rental wanting people to go get the credit search done and I have had them contact sellers wanting to buy their home for full price and send a bank check for over the amount and the seller to refund them the overage back. Please be VERY careful on such sites.


Terrie Fuehrer
386-677-8188 Direct Line]
Remax Property Centre
www.Talk2Terrie.com

If you have been a victim of an internet crime, please file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit at http://www.IC3.gov