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Agent: Beware fake landlord scam
November 12th, 2009, 11:00 am · 15 Comments · posted by Marilyn Kalfus, real estate reporter
An imposter landlord has been preying on people looking to rent homes in Huntington Beach, using an online scam to lure victims, a Surf City real estate agent says.
The fake homeowner tells people who respond to his ad that he recently took a management job overseas and wants to make sure his place in Huntington Beach is taken care of in his absence. He promises to send the would-be victim the keys as soon as he receives $3,000 for the deposit and rent for the unit and a “promise that you will always maintain its beauty.”
At first, he doesn’t seem terribly concerned about the prospective renter’s credit, which can be a selling point among those who have a less than stellar history.
“When people are struggling (to find a rental) any little glimmer of hope may make them lay their normal good sense aside,” says Kimber Wuerfel, a RE/MAX Realtor who learned this week that one of the properties she’s listing was being offered as a rental by this man on Craigslist. That ad has been yanked off the site, she says.
Wuerfel says she knew something was up when she got several calls about the 2-bedroom rental just west of Beach Boulevard near downtown, which she listed for $1,450 a month in her own ad. But the callers said that they were told the amount would be $1,150.
Kimber Wuerfel
Then a woman who had been negotiating with the man via email drove over to see the property and was surprised to see the Realtor’s sign in front. The woman called Wuerfel.
Wuerful said yesterday she obtained all the emails the woman received from the man and ”I’m taking that package down to the police station tonight … They said they had a few people this week who had been scammed by someone who said send them money and they’ll send them the keys.”
“I just want to make sure it’s brought to the public’s attention.”
Thanks, Kimber, you just did that.
Related:
Warning! Online rent scams grow
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ANYONE who sends money to an unseen landlord AND an (as of yet) unseen property has to have his head examined. Even those with horrible credit should know better. But then again, this is exactly why they have terrrible credit in the first place. A fool and his money quickly part ways.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Herself?
“overseas”
Meghan, thank you! Of course! Fixed.
More reason why having an attorney–and some common sense–is important.
I emailed a similar scam ad for Costa Mesa. I emailed him back a sarcastic email. Acting all interested and than telling him off.
Oh man that’s Funny. You really STUCK IT TO HIM!
Send money, Manager/Owner sight unseen? Sorry to hear some people fall for that.
What a great scam. Anyone falling for deserves to lose their money. hahaha
This is actually fairly common with cars too, usually high end cars. If the situation sounds too good to be true. 99% of the time, it probably is. Do your homework before sending $$$.
Here’s an ongoing problem that seems to be true as well… RENTERS beware of the property that you’re getting yourself into–not only should tenants be screened, the landlords need to be checked too! Many homes are being rented while in preforeclosure.
Couple things I’ve covered before on this topic since it happened to me. You can check to see if its in default, but doesn’t mean they are paying.
1. Have the landlord provide you a recent payment stub of the mortgage or some sort proof its current.
2. Modify the contract to stipulate if a NOD is filed on the home the contract is void and becomes month to month.
3. Modify the contract to stipulate if an NOD is filed the deposit can be used as the last months rent.
If everything is on the up and up they shouldn’t have issue with this. I have a rental and could/would do this is requested.
2. Modified - contract is not void the term/length of contract is void.
Got any more pictures of Kimber?