The Scam Alert Blog

Another online scam becoming popular these days is targeting renters, here is an example. Here’s how it works: a scammer advertises on CraigsList or another free classified source that they own a house and are out of the country (presumably doing missionary work or some other activity), they wish to have someone watching their property so they offer it for rent at far below market value. They then give the address and encourage the victims to drive by and check the property out. Contact is made again if there is interest and the scammer requests first and last months rent and maybe a damage deposit be paid by Western Union and then they’ll FedEx the victim the keys. You guessed it, the keys never arrive as the listing was made by someone who doesn’t own the house. Always double check any online deals, don’t let the scammers take your hard earned money.