Was e-mailing a person who said they were a Reverend and just moved to Indiana with SIM (a missionary program). All e-mails from them were so long, many grammar and spelling mistakes, and talked all about maintaining and cleaning the house. The final e-mail stated that they liked us and would rent to us. Downpayment would be sent through CVS money transfer and keys would then be sent by Fed-ex. I found the original house on Trulia and Zillow. I am trying to reach the owner now. I will also be calling the cops shortly. Please be careful.
Craigslist Rental Scam, Zillow, ETC.:
The scam works like this. They advertise a property for rent, sometime (many times) at a rate lower than what would be normal. They are always out of town, either deployed, going to be deployed, working, living, moving, going to be a missionary, etc. They always communicate by text or email because they are deaf, can’t get phone reception, etc. The reason for this is that they are uneducated foreigners and talking to them would give that away. They ask a few random question. And then decide that you are “perfect”. So they tell you to send a security deposit and a month’s rent to them by untraceable means (Western union, Moneygram, etc.) and they will send you the keys, etc. They don’t own the property, the property might not exist or if it does, it might not even be habitable. You are then out the cash you sent them. Always deal with someone local, who will meet you and show the property, who can prove they own the property (all property tax records are open to the public, most are on line), or deal with a reputable real estate agent from the area.
http://dc.curbed.com/2016/1/4/10850342/rental ... e-washington-dc