I'm sure you have seen this classic scam a few times.
"Osa posted an apartment for rent on Craigslist two years ago, and her life hasn't been the same since.
'They had my e-mail,' she said. 'They had my address. They had my cell phone number. And to a point you think they could show up to my doorstep.'
In the post, Osa advertised that she needed one month’s rent up front -- $330 -- and someone e-mailed back right away saying that they wanted the apartment.
Osa said the first time the woman mailed $2,700 and the second time it was $3,500.
The payment came in the form of two checks. The woman e-mailed Osa frantically explaining that she'd accidentally sent her entire moving budget instead of one month's rent. She begged Osa to keep the $330 rent money and then go to a bank and cash the checks and wire back the rest through Western Union.
'We didn't think anything of it,' Osa said. 'We thought, OK, it seems a little weird, but the money cleared so obviously, you know, this must be the truth. It's not my money. I felt guilty for having it. She's trying to get to the States.'
Experts said it's a classic scam. Con artists hope you will cash the fake checks and wire six grand to them. And when the checks bounce, the banks come after you for the entire amount."
Nearly every time a post a Craigslist ad I get a scammer who wants to buy the home cash. Instead of sending me the amount for the home, the scammer wants to send more to cover inspections, taxes and closing cost.
What ever is left over they want me to wire the remaining back. If you have posted a Craigslist ad, you know what I'm talking about.
It is good to know that law enforcement is investigating these scammers.
Blog post written by the Dowell Taggart Team of RE/MAX Best Associates
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Blog post written by the Dowell Taggart Team of RE/MAX Best Associates
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