Craigslist scam...renters beware!

Con artists are using Craigslist to try to steal your money and personal information. Here’s how the shady scheme works…the scammer finds a 'for sale' listing online, steals the pictures and information from that ad, then reposts it on Craigslist using a bogus ad. In most cases, the scammer uses the names and information of the actual owners of the property and wants to make you, the renter, think they are temporarily living in West Africa...as the story goes, because they owners of the property are too far away from home, you must wire them a deposit in order to get the keys to their place. um...THIS IS A SCAM! DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY!

I copied one of those advertisements off Craigslist and pasted it below…
$605 / 1br - Amazing Luxury 1 Bedroom Condo, Available January Or February (DOWNTOWN)
Date: 2010-01-12, 9:33AM CSTReply to: see below
Large 1 bed room luxury Condo on the 5th floor, the unit is 715 sq ft.Condo equipped with - - ALL UTILITIES are included in monthly rent - Dryer, Window Covers, Stove, Fridge, Lighting Covers, Dish washer, Washer - Premium Condo Location - Concierge available 24/7 - Oak Hardwood floors - One parking spot included (additional space available) Lease Terms: - Must sign contract for twelve months or longer - Only $275 deposit and first months rent to move in - ALL Dogs and Cats allowed emailEMAIL joycegosserand525ve@hotmail.com
2600 N Ann Arbor Ave (google map) (yahoo map)
PostingID: 1548926273


Obviously a brand new or remodeled condo (even in Downtown OKC) will not go for $600 a month…it’s just not going to happen. Read on below…
Courtesy: www.scambusters.org.
Craigslist Warning: Selling a Home? Be Sure Scammers Don't "Rent" It First.
Planning to sell your home soon? If so, keep an eye on Craigslist.com after you (or your realtor) place an ad in the local paper or post information on the Internet's Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Otherwise, your property may become the "bait" that lures unwitting victims into forking over hundreds or thousands of dollars to scammers. In a number of recent cases, scammers have taken information from real estate ads placed in local newspapers -- and also scanned photos of the houses for sale -- and posted classified ads on Craigslist.com that have convinced potential renters that THEY (the scammers) were renting these houses. In some instances, scammers wanted just a little money from a LOT of people. They exchanged emails with victims, claiming they (the fake landlords) were outside the country. Then, they asked the victims to send small sums to receive copies of the house keys, so the victims can walk through the premises themselves.
In other cases, scammers actually gained access to vacant houses, gave tours to the prospective renters, and accepted deposits for renting the properties.
Craigslist.com, the world's largest online classified ad service, offers the following advice to people visiting them:
"Deal locally with folks you can meet in person.
"Never wire funds via Western Union, MoneyGram or any other wire service -- anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
"Fake cashier checks and money orders are common, and banks will cash them and then hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
"Craigslist is not involved in any transaction, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer 'buyer protection' or 'seller certification.'"
You can find more information on avoiding scams from Craigslist on their site. Here is information on a similar related scam: the overpayment scam.
Finally, Craigslist is obviously not the only place this scam can occur. Be wary of any listing anywhere that has these tell tale signs.