LIBOR has been advised about a recent Rental Scam incident involving Craig’s List that is prompting us to re-run an article we previously published. 

The following is worth a second read.

“RENTAL SCAM"         

Recently, there has been fraudulent activity with some brokers’ listings on websites such as Craigslist, Zillow, Trulia, and Hotpads. 

A scammer will post a broker’s listing for rent without the broker’s authority.  The scammer will collect the money from an unsuspecting renter for the property and then disappear.  This scam will only be revealed when the potential renter tries to move into the property only to learn that the house was never for rent.  It seems that the scammers are stealing information from brokers’ listings of home sales and are using the information to attract unsuspecting people looking to find rentals on those websites.

Brokers should regularly check Craigslist, Zillo, Trulia, and Hotpads to see if any of their listings have been posted without their authority.

If you discover that one of your listings was advertised without your permission, you should contact the website immediately and advise them of the situation and tell them to remove the post.  You can also contact the Attorney General’s Office at 516/248-3300 and ask to speak to the Consumer Protection Bureau.