| If you're a buyer, renter, seller, or landlord, Craigslist | | | | can't see the inside (the current tenant is ill; the place is |
| could be the place where you find your real estate | | | | being fumigated, etc.). Often, the price listed for these |
| soul mate. Apartment rentals, shared accommodation, | | | | places is so attractive that people turn a blind-eye to |
| and real estate sales are all advertised on Craigslist, | | | | any suspicious behaviour. |
| which is one of the most popular sites on the web. | | | | Seller Scams |
| Property listings have in fact become so popular on | | | | You're not immune to Craigslist scams if you're trying |
| the website that real estate related advertisements | | | | to sell or rent out your home either. The most |
| have increased by about 70%, according to Craigslist | | | | prevalent type of fraud involves an out-of-country |
| CEO, Jim Buckmaster. Unfortunately, like so many | | | | buyer (or renter) who responds to your ad. They say |
| other websites, Craigslist is vulnerable to scam artists, | | | | they want the property, and to ensure that you hold it |
| so it's important to have a critical eye when replying to | | | | for them, they'll send you a cheque or money order for |
| any real estate related advertisement. | | | | the deposit. |
| Rental Scams | | | | The transaction gets fishy when they say that they |
| The most common rental scam on Craigslist goes | | | | need to send you a money order for more than the |
| something like this: say you're looking for a house or | | | | deposit amount, with a request that you wire them |
| apartment to rent. You find an advertisement for a | | | | back the difference. For instance, rather than sending a |
| place that's located in your preferred neighbourhood, | | | | money order for just the $1000 deposit, they tell you |
| and is available at an excellent price. You feel | | | | an elaborate story about why they need to send a |
| confident that the ad is legitimate because it's | | | | money order for $3000 instead. They'll ask you to |
| professional looking, and includes photos and details of | | | | take out your $1000 and send them back the |
| the property. You contact the poster to express | | | | difference via Western Union. You receive the money |
| interest in the home, and they quickly reply. | | | | order as planned, and agree to wire them the |
| The poster says that they're very happy to hear from | | | | difference. Soon you receive a call from your bank |
| you; that you sound like a nice, responsible person. | | | | saying that the money order was a fake, and that |
| They're grateful to you because they love their home, | | | | you're liable for the fraudulent money order. You're |
| but have had to leave the country because of | | | | now out the money you wired to the con artist, in |
| business or personal reasons. If you send them a | | | | addition to owing the bank money. The scammer on |
| deposit, they'll be happy to mail you the key. Naturally, | | | | the other hand, is laughing all the way to the bank. |
| you send the money, but no key arrives in the mail. | | | | You may feel that these scams are fairly obvious to |
| What happened? You got scammed. | | | | spot, but con artists are notorious for pulling on victims' |
| In another rental scam, you respond to an ad, and the | | | | heartstrings and for making things appear legitimate. |
| poster agrees to show you the property. You view | | | | They're very good at what they do, and have |
| the place in person, and all seems well. The landlord | | | | successfully taken people for thousands of dollars. |
| asks for a deposit, which you give him. Later on you | | | | To avoid being taken advantage of, it's critical to only |
| find out that the person who showed you the property | | | | deal with people that are based in your area; you need |
| is not the actual owner. You're now out both the | | | | to be able to meet in person. According to Craigslist, |
| money and the place. | | | | "you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on |
| To make his ad look legitimate, he copied details from | | | | Craigslist" by insisting that you meet in person before |
| another online ad or from the MLS itself, and created | | | | exchanging money or personal information. |
| his own advertisement. He also met you in person, | | | | If you're a renter or buyer, you'll also want to check |
| seemed friendly, and showed you the property. Unless | | | | with your local property records office to make sure |
| your instincts are really sharp, it would be hard to | | | | that the seller you're in contact with is in fact the |
| detect this person as a scammer. | | | | owner. |
| In some cases, the scam artist is able to gain entry into | | | | While the internet can be a scary place, it is easy to |
| a home thanks to finding details about the lockbox | | | | protect yourself from fraud. Remember to never give |
| (with a key to the property) on the MLS. If that | | | | out personal information like your bank account |
| information is inaccessible to him, he will either break | | | | number, and be extra careful if the person you're |
| into the house, or show you just the exterior of the | | | | dealing with is located in another country. Meet them in |
| property—with a convenient excuse as to why you | | | | person, ask for ID, and always trust your gut instinct. |
