Indianapolis Renters Beware: Fraudulent Advertising
ByHeads up to Indianapolis renters. I have had approximately 10 calls from renters in the last 60 days who are inquring about great rental deals that they have seen on the internet.
They find my website through Google and call me because a property that they are interested in renting (and that appears on rental websites) also appears on my site for sale through the Indianapolis BLC (MLS) system. These fake ads are often www.craigslist.org postings or similar websites where vacant homes for sale around Indianapolis are posted for rent.
A significant number of these postings are done fraudulently. An individual in another state (Texas in my recent examples) picks a home from the Indianapolis BLC (MLS) system, copies over the photos, description and address. They post a rental ad on a website and are contacted by sincere, interested Indianapolis renters who recognize that the ad might be too good to be true.
An email dialogue develops after the renter contacts the “landlord” through the www.craigslist.org posting. There is typically a hard luck story and an explanation of why the landlord can’t return to Indianapolis immediately from out of state to show the home. However, the prospective tenant is informed that a deposit check will ensure that the property is not rented to anyone else in the interim. Often, the “landlord” also requests personal information for a “credit check.”
If you are renting a home around Indianapolis, ask the landlord to meet you at the property before submitting a deposit and for him to bring identification and something to substantiate ownership (a utility bill, mortgage statement etc.).
If you suspect that you have been involved in a fraudelent scheme, please report the incident to the FBI Cyber Crimes Unit at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
