Intelligence Note  Prepared by the Internet CrimeComplaint Center (IC3)  March 10, 2010     
Rental and Real Estate Scams  

Individuals need to be cautious when posting rental properties and real estate on-line.The IC3 continues to receive numerous complaints from individuals who have fallenvictim to scams involving rentals of apartments and houses, as well as postingsof real estate on-line. 

Rental scams occur when the victim has rental property advertised and is contactedby an interested party. Once the rental price is agreed-upon, the scammer forwardsa check for the deposit on the rental property to the victim. The check is to coverhousing expenses and is, either written in excess of the amount required, with thescammer asking for the remainder to be remitted back, or the check is written forthe correct amount, but the scammer backs out of the rental agreement and asks fora refund. Since the banks do not usually place a hold on the funds, the victim hasimmediate access to them and believes the check has cleared. In the end, the checkis found to be counterfeit and the victim is held responsible by the bank for alllosses. 

Another type of scam involves real estate that is posted via classified advertisementwebsites. The scammer duplicates postings from legitimate real estate websites andreposts these ads, after altering them. Often, the scammers use the broker's realname to create a fake email, which gives the fraud more legitimacy. When the victimsends an email through the classified advertisement website inquiring about thehome, they receive a response from someone claiming to be the owner. The "owner"claims he and his wife are currently on missionary work in a foreign country. Therefore,he needs someone to rent their home while they are away. If the victim is interestedin renting the home, they are asked to send money to the owner in the foreign country. 

If you have been a victim of Internet crime, please file a complaint at http://www.IC3.gov/.

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