My house has been used for an ad scam!

[DianeLeahy]

I just got in from the all day conference to get a call from my next door neighbor in Fort Mcmurray. It seems that my house ad has been duplicated with a lower rent and a different # / email and 2 people showed up to see it with no one to let them in. Both these individuals decided to knock on my neighbor`s door to ask about the house. Some how he realised that something fishy was going on and took down the name and number of these "potential tenants"...he then called me to share their name and phone number and tells me that one of them had put a deposit on the house sent to someone in North Carolina($300 and that she needs to forward the next $2,500). The second person has no money involved in this as far as I know. I called them both but was only able to leave them a message. I was specific as how I got their phone number and warned them not to forward ANY money to anyone for this home as I was the owner and have not been aware of their interest in the home. I have also advised them to call me to share the contact name or numbers they where given about our house before attempting to contact them to advise them of the scam or no show.I have not heard anything from these "victims" YET!

I did receive an email 2 days ago that stated "WAYNE LITTLE MAN`s" interest in the house and requested the EXACT address. I was feeling confidant to pass on the details to my soon to be PM without responding myself to the email, so I forwarded the email request to my soon to be PM. However, my lunch hour, during the conference today, lead me to some information that has me questioning my " future" PM ( property manager) ...and HIS future. He is getting fired according to someone that was VERY KIND to share that information with me over lunch. I say this to you as I travel the world every week...the world is SMALL! All this has happen since lunch time at the conference in Toronto, just before getting ready to go to my surprise "reward" concert that my husband managed to coordinate...including babysitting!!! It was a nice brake to a very busy 2 days..but now I am back to reality. I managed to warn the website about the SCAM before leaving for the show however I can not seem to find the SCAM AD ..only mine is still posted. Here is the deal ...my address is not on the ad ...I am thinking, the PM that I was about to sign up with is in on it ?or that he just responded to the email that requested the address and gave it up instead of calling to set up for an appointment or whatever he should be doing ...I am presently very tired and a little confused on what is next. Tomorrow may look easier....as I need sleep . I would appreciate any feedback or guidance to crosscheck my intentions with your ideas..or vice versa. What a day! I met great people in the last 2 days! Thanks for your HELP/EXPERIENCE/FEEDBACK...I will keep you posted!


a very tired real estate investor,

 

[wealthyboomer]

Sounds like your ad was on craigslist,
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)
Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)
Non-emergency number for your local police department.
If you suspect that an item posted for sale on craigslist may be part of a scam, please email the details to "[email protected]". Be sure to include the URL (or eight-digit post ID number) in your message.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

 

[SamEfford]

I had a similar problem last year. No one had sent any money, however the rent listed was very cheap and one expected me to honour that amount!

I no longer provide a street address on my ads. Seems to have stopped the scammers, for now...

 

[ShannonMurree]

I still don`t understand why ANYONE would give away their hard earned money as a "deposit" for something they haven`t seen.

You haven`t done anything wrong. The people whom spent money should call the authorities and by you taking the suggestion of the above poster should be enough. As long as you have a paper trail.

I`ve had a similar issue and someone did that with one of my listings. I advised my client and we just let the proper authorities know. It`s unfortunate.

Hope you had a great time at the concert!

 

[gwasser]

My daughter was advertising for a room mate on several internet sites including CraigsList. We received three `overseas renter` scam e-mails - all via CraigsList.

BTW. We got the best responses when hanging up notes in the complex - that is how we rented the parking spot and now have a solid lead for a room mate.

BTW. BTW. Also, although the of UofC complained in the Herald about the lack of student rooms for rent, we received virtually no responses from students. We are located within 5 minutes walking from the Dalhousie LRT. Strange eh?

 

[MikeMcCrae]

There really is nothing for you to do. The fraud was perpetrated on the "tenant" until they complain there is nothing that would need to be done.

 

[DianeLeahy]

Thanks for all of your feedback. It was posted on Kijiji! The potential tenant did call me after I left her a message not to send any $. She sounded fine and felt stupid for doing that. She lost $300...She reported the incident to all the authorities mentioned and I reported it to Kijiji and the Tenant and Landlord office in Fort Mcmurray. What a weekend!


PS: the concert was the perfect reward to a long day! She is a great performer

Merci! Thanks