Has this been happening to your listings? Make sure to check the rental listings for anything suspicious. Thanks for the heads up Debe.
A New Form Of Identity Theft--Agents and Consumers BEWARE of Craigslist Scam
PLEASE: RE-BLOG to spread the WORD!
I post all of my listings on Craigslist from my website, among many other sites. I began receiving calls about my 'rental' that was on Craigslist. It was regarding a brand new listing that was posted there and the home was NEVER listed for rent and won't be--it is strictly FOR SALE. Several callers had seen 'my ad' for $800/month rent with a $400. security deposit and wondered if they could see the home! They find my number when they drive by the home for sale, grabbing it off of the sign.
I finally was able to get one of the callers to email me the information that the 'other' Debe Maxwell had sent her and the DebeMaxwell06@gmail.com that was being used for correspondence. When I check for the ad on Craigslist, it has been removed. I received another call yesterday and the ad had been removed once again.
The 'other' Debe Maxwell is reporting that he and his wife have had to leave their home to do mission work and are renting for only $800/month with a $400 security deposit to be sent following a brief lease application that is included in the body of the email. Here is the scammer's contact information:
"The rent is $800 and 400 for Security Deposit.
For this 3BR/2BA. Below is my contact,
0112348082008226 or +2348082008226
DebeMaxwell06@gmail.com"
I do NOT have a DebeMaxwell@gmail.com account (with ANY numbers after my name!)--If you respond to an email like this, it is NOT me! Consumers BEWARE!
I'm assuming that this fraudulent scammer is giving a false address and a real but, temporary banking account in which the tenant-not-to-be will transfer the $1,200 funds when the Craigslist customers call. I don't have the time nor the bandwith to phone this guy and 'catch' him and I'm hoping that the government agency to whom I've reported this DOES! I have warned my Seller and my agents who hold open houses here as well. I want every bit of information that the potential tenants can gather for me to report these frauds!
It's a crazy world out there--identity theft is a bear if you're scammed! BEWARE!
About the author:
Debe Maxwell is a Charlotte Residential Real Estate Broker, Certified Neighborhood & Relocation Specialist, ABR & e-PRO who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Charlotte NC Metro Area. If you're relocating to or from any other area of the country, Debe connects you with any member of her team of relocation professionals in your destination or exit city of choice. The destination service is of no cost to you! The Maxwell House Group's quality service guarantee puts this team far ahead of the competition; providing unsurpassed customer service is their #1 priority! Debe Maxwell -- Helen Adams Realty -- 704.491.3310
Copyright© 2009 By Debe Maxwell, All Rights Reserved...**A New Form of Identity Theft--Agents and Consumers BEWARE of Craigslist SCAM!**
Disclaimer: All information provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, which may or may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and may be time sensitive.
Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley
Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086
Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How
Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed
What a story, things are getting desperate out there and I guess we will see more of these stories
I hope not but you are most likely right Anne
Paddy--Thanks. I will pass the word here in Erie, PA. Recently Craigs List was implicated in prostitution. We can never be too careful. Amazing.
it is good that we can alert each other about these things Mary. I had someone try to scam me about buying a car once on craigslist.
Paddy - it's happening here too. we got a call from a buyer saying that saw a house for rent there for $1000. Well it was listed by another company for over a million. Spreading the word. ~Rita