• Woman Uses Craigslist To Launch Rental Scam | Planet Antares Scam Solutions

    Date: 2010.10.22 | Category: Scam | Tags: ,,,,,,,,

    Planet Antares Scam Solutions – A woman being evicted from her rental home used Craigslist to “rent” the home to three different unsuspecting tenants. Police in North Lauderdale Florida say a woman who owed nearly $5,000 to her landlord placed an advertisement on Craigslist offering the home for rent.

    Three different prospective tenants responded to the ad and gave the woman deposits of various amounts totaling $3,100. One of the woman’s victims was a co-worker who lost about $1,000 in the deal.  The new tenants each tried to move into the home on different occasions but could not since the power to the home had been turned off.

    The home’s true owner, who recently purchased the property, said that the woman vacated the home but left rotting food and garbage throughout the house.  Local police arrested her and she is now facing grand theft charges related to the rental deposits.

    To help avoid being taken advantage of by property rental schemes, here are a few tips from planet antares scam.

    Verify that the prospective landlord actually owns the property you want to rent.  You can do this using county, city or township property records, which are available to the public at no cost.  If the name on the property doesn’t match the prospective landlord’s, demand proof-of-ownership before paying a rental deposit. Planet antares scam suggests asking the landlord to verify that any mortgages on the property are in good standing.

    Do not rent property you have not inspected personally.  If the landlord seems evasive about showing the property, or the property is occupied at the time of showing, find out when the property will be vacated and cleaned.  Note any major repairs that are needed and ask when these will be conducted.  Offer to escrow the rent deposit until the property is cleaned, repaired and available for lease.

    Know the rights you have as a renter in your state. Ask to see the leasing contract for the property. (Most states have standard rental contracts.) If the prospective landlord cannot produce a lease contract or says that no rental contract is needed, find someplace else to live.

    Find out where the rent checks should be sent. If the address does not match that on the municipal property records, planet antares scam solutions warns you to be alert to the possibility of fraud.

    If you find that you have become a victim of a bogus landlord, report the problem immediately to both the local police and the legitimate property owner.