August 4, 2010

This time of year, many people are looking for a place to rent, especially returning University of Virginia students. However, for those people using free websites, like Craigslist, to find home sweet home, you must beware of scams.

Charlottesville real estate agents say they're seeing more phony property listing scams than ever before. One phony e-mail reads:

"I've decided to rent the house because we're going to spend more time here in West Africa about five years, let me start by introducing myself. I'm very new in this Landlord business. However, my name is Joshua Lebbistein."

This is just one of many messages written to potential renters in cities like Charlottesville, and Jim Duncan says sites like Craigslist are full of imposters, and the e-mails should immediately raise several red flags.

"I've seen homes that are listed for $500,000 or $600,000 and they're being offered for lease for $1,200 or $1,500. That just doesn't make sense," said Duncan, of Nest Realty.

In these scams, posters are stealing legitimate real estate listings and posting them as if they're for rent, but they're not. The scammer then asks the potential buyer to make a monetary deposit to secure the property.

The scammers are obviously after your money, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says they're tough to track because many operate out of the country. So, if you send them money, don't be surprised when there are no keys in return.

Where, then, can you find legitimate real estate listings?

"When you're looking for rentals in Charlottesville, the best place to look really and truly is the Multiple Listing Service. [Locally there's] The Hook, Charlottesville Weekly and the Daily Progress is where I tell all my clients to start," said Duncan.

Still, Craigslist can be a great site for bargains, as many local residents will attest.

"I've had a lot of good experiences, generally very nice people. People who are moving in and out of town and looking to get rid of their stuff, and are looking for it to find a good home with somebody else," said Rebecca Cooper.

Duncan still advises anyone who is looking to buy or rent on Craigslist, or any other free online site, to do a little homework before handing over personal information or hard earned cash.