Full Notification

Periodically our agency receives reports of people who are scammed out of money after they respond to or apartment rental ads on Craigslist or similar public sale sites. We have recently received new reports about this type of rental scam.

The scam usually involves nice photographs of an attractive looking home or apartment. Prospective tenants are told to visit the property, but some excuse is usually made as to why they cannot go inside to examine the interior. For example, the owner is "out of state" or "travelling", or "current tenants haven't moved out yet".

The interested potential tenants are then asked to transfer money, gift cards, or some other form of untraceable payment to the landlord or owner as a rental deposit, or to pay a deposit and the first month's rent. The scam seems particularly attractive as the house is usually very nice for the rent being charged.

To protect yourself from this type of scam, never agree to rent a property if you have not personally met with a landlord or property manager at the property. There should be no issue with getting a tour of the interior of the property. It is also highly recommended that you verify that the property owner or landlord is the registered owner of the property by looking up Brown County Land Records, and never wire money, send gift cards, etc. to someone in response to an ad of this nature.

Most legitimate property management companies will meet with tenants at the property in person. They will show them the property, give them a lease application form, and if the lease is approved, they require traditional forms of payment like a cash or check and will issue receipts acknowledging receipt of the money.

Capt. Muraski