Scammer finds a fresh listing on one of any number of real estate sites.

• Realtor.com
• Trulia.com
• Etc…

They copy the images via right click “Save As” this is the giveaway. Our MLS watermarks the images it sends out to the internet. So if the images have the RSC copyright info on them be suspicious. Now if the scammer is industrious they can simply photoshop the watermark out.

Next step is to copy the property details from the same site including price. It’s important that they choose a very unreasonable rental rate in a desirable neighborhood. Next stop is a quick visit to the County Tax Assessors site to find ownership information, in order to reply to any e-mail inquiries.

Next, they simply post the home as a rental on craigslist and make it look very appealing, great home, great neighborhood, etc...Once an interested party asks about the home, the scammer replies. Here is the next clue! The following is the actual e-mail copy sent to unsuspecting renters, it really has a distinctly “Nigerian Diplomat” Scam-ish Feel. Note the mention of work in the West African Region. This so called emergency transfer gives the scammer the opportunity to work from their home.

Hello,

It is a great pleasure that to you are interested in my Home, Thanks for your email and I am very glad having receive an email from you regarding my Home. I am (owners last name) and I am the very owner of the House you are making inquiry of. Actually we resided in this particular House  with the entire family, such as my Lovely Wife and our Three children, before and presently we packed due to an emergency transfer from my working place to make due to the increase in the production of attires / fabric productions and this transfer is a temporary but will last for at least 53months (4years+), right now we situated in the (West Africa Region) and presently our House is still available for rent. (Utilities also Included). I want you to know that the House is Unfurnished, so you can move into the House with your own Personal furniture but the Utilities are intact such as Water, Sewer, Garbage, Cable ready etc. Facilities also include: Dishwasher, Dryer, Electric Stove, Fridge, Vinyl floors, Kitchen pantry, Washer etc. This House is also in a Conducive Area and has good Neighborhood. All kind of Pets are Allowed with no extra Deposit and 2garage parking space available.

Now here’s the part that really makes this scammer despicable. The scammer’s hope is to find a deployed service member PCSing to Colorado Springs. The scammer asks for a deposit check, something in the range of $500 to $1,000 in order to hold the home until they get here. Once they have the money they are long gone and the home owners and Realtors are left to deal with the emotional would be renters.

The FBI is aware of this scam but unfortunately there’s not a lot they can do. If you think you see this scam on craigslist, simply flag the content as suspicious.