Have you come across a Craigslist rental scam lately? Here are my tips to avoid Craigslist scams and real estate scams so that you can stay safe.
Over the past few weeks, we have been searching for the perfect rental home for us to move into, but sadly we have come across many Craigslist rental scams. We found many great homes, and actually signed a lease the other day on one (more information on that to come soon).
Even though we found a rental home, we came across many Craigslist scams and Craigslist rental scams firsthand. It led to us wondering “How do I avoid Craigslist rental scams?”
I only received around 10 emails back from potential landlords and three of those I knew were definitely scammers. There might have been others as well.
Due to this, I knew I had to create a post on the topic of rental scams for people who are looking for apartments and houses on Craigslist for rent.
You can find rental scams everywhere (Craigslist, Zillow, and more), and many people are duped every single day out of hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars due to fake listings on this platform.
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How do Craigslist rental scams work? How do rental scams work on Craigslist?
There are cases where the person might not actually be a scammer, but you should be on high alert if you decide to continue through with a potential rental that you are unsure about.
Hopefully with my advice on renting on Craigslist tips below, you’ll be able to find a REAL rental.
Some scams that you may come across include:
- Craigslist rental scams
- Craigslist apartment scams
- Craigslist housing scams
- Craigslist vacation rental scams
- Fake house ads on Craigslist
- Rent to own scams on craigslist
If you’re wondering if Craigslist rentals are legit – yes, they are! But, you need to be careful. So, before you hand over a check, your credit card, or your driver’s license, please make sure that it is not a Craigslist home scammer that you are dealing with.
Below, you’ll learn how to spot a scammer on Craigslist.
Related: What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House
What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?
If you get scammed on Craigslist, they may be taking your rent money, security deposit, or even your personal information. Plus, they may waste your valuable time, and you may even be thinking that you are truly moving into the rental property.
This can be heartbreaking, and you definitely do not want this to happen to you.
How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?
There are a few ways to tell if you are dealing with a Craigslist rental poster. Here’s how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist.
1. The “landlord” is showing you the home, but do they actually own it?
One of the many Craigslist rental scams I have been hearing about a lot lately is when a scammer seems legitimate and even shows you around the rental. You might believe they are the landlord since they somehow got into the rental, but that isn’t always the case.
Sometimes scammers will break into a back window or even steal the key from the actual landlord so they can show the rental to unsuspecting potential tenants. This can be a huge disaster, as many people will believe the scammer since they are pretending to be the landlord.
Another Craigslist scam I have heard about that is related to this is when a renter moves into a home, pays the deposit, rent, etc., only to find out weeks or months later that the actual owner is at their door. The owner might have been on a long vacation or they might have just let the home sit vacant while trying to sell it, and thieves noticed their absence only to take advantage of the situation. This can be bad as you will have to vacate immediately and you will be out of money, such as the refundable deposit you may have given to the scammer.
My Craigslist rental search tip: Always make sure the person renting out the home is the owner or the property manager. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist. You can usually do a simple search on who owns the property by looking up city records. You also may be able to call the building’s manager (if there is one) and ask if the apartment is for rent and who is renting it.
2. A rental that seems too good to be true is often one of the many Craigslist rental scams.
This is how some rental scammers try to lure you in and an easy way to know how to spot a scammer on Craigslist. They will create a listing, make the rental sound amazing, offer it at a very low price, not require money upfront, many luxurious amenities for a low price, and so on.
Also, if it says something like smoking and pets are allowed, I would be a little cautious as well. I haven’t seen very many rentals that would just say that upfront unless they were really desperate for a renter.
This is a clue that you might be the victim of a Craigslist scam. If the landlord makes it too easy for you to live in their rental, then you need to be very careful. Scammers are often hoping that someone will be caught up in a “great deal” and come running to them with cash.
My rental search tip: Always do your research before you give anyone money. You should check other listings in the area to see if the rental is comparable and you should also see if the place is actually for rent. In most cases, it is not.
Here’s one Craigslist scam email I received (I actually received this response for two different rentals I inquired about):
3. A scammer wants your information or money before you view the home.
If you are asked to fill out a rental application before you view a home, then you might be in the middle of one of the many Craigslist rental scams. The scammer is hoping that you will give them personal information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or something else. They will then disappear once they receive all of this information. This is a bad situation because you basically just gave your identity away.
Also, if you are asked to give money before you are allowed to view a home or see the interior, then something is not right. This is most definitely a scam and you should avoid it. You should never have to pay loads of money in order to just view a home.
My rental search tip: You should always do your research, view the home, and more before you give out any extremely personal information. Occasionally, you may have to give your ID to the landlord, but other than that they should not need anything personal from you just to show you the rental house or apartment. Now, many times the Craigslist rental does for your email address, so that they can contact you. That is fine, simply be safe!
Here’s another Craigslist rental scam e-mail I received. This person sent me two e-mails so I just copied and pasted both e-mails into one so that you can easily read them both:
4. The landlord’s email has been compromised – Big Craigslist housing scams!
One scary Craigslist rental scam I recently heard about is when all of the information in a rental listing is correct. The home is actually for rent, the e-mail and phone number are real, and more.
However, when you e-mail the landlord you believe you are actually talking to them. It turns out that you are actually talking to someone who hacked into their e-mail. This can be a scary Craigslist scam as it can be hard to detect.
My rental search tip: Even though this Craigslist rental scam seems difficult, it can be easy to overcome. You should contact the landlord via the phone number that is listed on the real listing and talk to a real person. Then, you should verify everything that was discussed in the e-mails. Most of the time, landlords have no idea that their e-mail address was even hacked.
Related: Phone Scams: The Best Tips To Avoid Becoming A Victim
5. They give you a sob story.
Some rental scammers will give you a sob story in order to make you feel bad for them. But, think about it: why would a landlord need to tell you this at all in the first place?
It’s a business for them.
If they give you some sort of sad story, then it is most likely a scam. Lots of Craigslist rental scammers will give you a sob story such as having to move to take care of family, being forced to move due to the military, or something else.
Don’t believe it.
6. Lots of typos are a red flag
If the email or the paperwork has a lot of typos, then this is usually a sign that you are dealing with a Craigslist rental scam.
So, as you are reading their emails, the home rental application, and more, check to see if there are a lot of glaring mistakes. While the grammar and everything may not be perfect, if there are a lot of obvious errors then I would be a little cautious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craigslist Rental Scams
Below are answers to common questions about Craigslist rental scams.
How do I verify a rental on Craigslist? How can you tell a scam on Craigslist?
You may be wondering “How do you know if a rental is legit?” or “How do I make sure a Craigslist rental is real?”
There are many different things to be aware of when looking for a rental online. Here are my general tips before falling for Craigslist housing scams or Craigslist apartment scams:
- Always make sure the person showing the home is the landlord or property manager.
- If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
- If the landlord is trying to push a lot of urgency your way, then I would be wary. For example, if they say that they need someone to move in tomorrow because they are flying overseas, and that’s why they have such a good deal, then they may be a con artist.
- Be careful with your personal information, so that you are not the victim of identity theft.
- If anyone ever asks you to wire money, you should not. Most scammers will ask for money to be wired and this should be your first red flag that something is not right. Keep in mind that if you wire money, you CANNOT get it back. Too many people think you can get wired money back.
- Does the listing and/or e-mail communication with the “landlord” have many misspellings? Does the e-mail refer to you as Sir or Madam? Do they say they are out of the country and cannot show you the home until you pay? Do they claim to be a missionary or a reverend? If any of these are true, then this is usually the sign of a scammer.
- Does the person never want to meet in person? If you never meet the landlord, then it is most likely a Craigslist rental listing scam. The landlord or their property manager will want to meet you, not avoid you.
- Do they only want you to peak through the windows in order to view the rental? This is a huge red flag if they never want to meet you and instead want you to only look through the windows. Legitimate landlords will want to meet you and rental ads that state otherwise are most likely fake.
- Does the Craigslist home for rent seem like a really great deal? If so, you may want to ask yourself why they are offering such a great deal. Real owners don’t think you are doing them a favor. Instead, they see it as a way to make money.
- Do they mention Western Union or receiving funds via money order? If so, then it may be a scam as scammers love to mention Western Union. You simply want to be careful if they ask for either of these.
- Are they letting you skip any type of background check? Sometimes there are credit checks, background checks, and so on. If it is too easy to get the rental, then it is probably a scam.
- Always trust your gut instinct as there are always other places to rent in the world.
As you can see, there are many ways to learn how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist, so you want to be careful.
Are Craigslist rentals legit? How do I know if a rental is legitimate?
Yes, Craigslist rentals cans be legitimate. I have personally found Craigslist houses to rent (and lived in it) through Craigslist.
Below, you will see how to tell if a Craigslist rental is legitimate or if it is a fake Craigslist ad, and how to spot red flags.
Are Craigslist rentals safe? Is renting from Craigslist safe?
Yes, Craigslist rentals can be safe. You simply need to follow the tips in this article so that you can stay away from Craigslist rental scams and find legitimate home rentals.
Why do people post fake rentals on Craigslist?
People post fake rental ads on Craigslist because they are scammers and are looking for easy money. Plus, some potential renters who may be looking for a new home may be a little desperate as well, because everyone needs a place to live in, of course.
Is it safe to rent a room from Craigslist?
Yes, it can be safe to rent a room from Craigslist. Follow the tips here, and make sure you get along with your potential future roommates.
You also want to be safe on Facebook Marketplace, and anywhere else where you may be looking at potential homes to rent.
What can a Craigslist scammer do with my phone number?
A scammer can use the phone number that you give them to scam others, through Google Voice. I recommend being careful with giving your phone number out.
Someone posted my house for rent on Craigslist, what do I do?
If you have a realtor or real estate agent and your house or condo are currently for sale, I highly recommend contacting them and seeing what you can do. This is because many times homes that are for sale will be listed for rent on Craigslist through a fake ad.
You should also report the fraudulent Craigslist ad to Craigslist. Doing this will help to curb Craigslist rental frauds and help anyone who may fall for the Craigslist rental scam.
You also will want to go to your local police department and attorney general to see what they can do for you as well.
How do I protect myself from Craigslist rental scams? How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?
Don’t give money or any of your personal information (such as your bank account number, social security number, and so on) until you are 100% sure that it is a real rental on Craigslist.
Also, if the person requests money or your personal info from you before you even view the rental property, then I would be careful as well.
You will want to make sure you do your research before you give the person cashier’s checks, a PayPal account, or even Venmoing or sending a Zelle payment to them. Whatever way that they ask for payment, you simply want to be careful and spend your time to make sure that you are not dealing with a Craigslist scammer.
Unfortunately, there are many Craigslist rental scams on the internet which are scamming potential renters.
P.S. There are over 200 comments below (you may have to click “« Older Comments” to see all of them), and many of you have been sharing your Craigslist rental scam stories and screenshots of exact emails. This is a great way to learn how to catch a rental scammer on Craigslist. Let’s continue to help one another out, thank you!
How to spot Craigslist housing scams? How to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist?
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find Craigslist rental scams. There are definitely many fake ads out there, but do not let a Craigslist scammer deter you. There are ways to learn how to avoid rental scams on Craigslist so that you don’t get scammed.
Instead, I recommend doing your research and being careful before you hand over money or start a wire transfer. You may want to ask locals about a specific rental property, search anything you can on Google to see if the rental pops up for you (such as if you can see any complaints for that specific address), reaching out to a property management company, and more. This is so that you can make sure you are talking to the true owner of the property or whoever works for them.
After all, you don’t want to give scam artists a security deposit, Moneygram, first month’s rent, application fee, cashier’s checks, Venmo, Zelle, or whatever else they want without some verification that it is all real.
And, if a landlord asks you to send over gift cards as a form of payment, it is most likely fake and you are dealing with a Craigslist scammer. I have never, never heard of a landlord asking for a gift card as payment. It can be easy to fall for a rental scam, especially in today’s rental market where there is no rental inventory, which can lead to a lot of desperation.
Also, please be careful and watch out for Craigslist sublet scams. You can use many of the same Craigslist rental scam tips above to avoid Craigslist sublet scams.
But, there are legitimate rentals on Craigslist, you simply need to be careful. This may mean making sure to meet the property owner face-to-face, doing some research on the contact information that you are given, and more before you give a personal check and last month’s rent.
I, personally, have found a home rental on Craigslist and it was a great home. You can find Craigslist apartment rentals, Craigslist house rentals, and more that are legitimate – you just have to be careful.
What Craigslist rental scams and Craigslist apartment scams have you seen or heard about? Have you wondered how Craigslist rental scams work? Have you ever been the victim of any type of scam?
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I was about to get scammed…luckily some thing click to mind I start searching and found out…the guy has multiple ads on craigslist with same ID…. he was saying he live in USA and he is trying to rent out his property in Canada while I was inquiring more about payment and keys and rental agreement he is like fill out the forum and send money thru western union and I will send you the keys and the paper work in mail…it does not feel right to me so stop the conversation right there.
This was the email ID mazaherimarjanrentalpeoperty @ hotmail.com
Thanks for this article, we just avoided a big time scam and we notified the people living in the home.
Unfortunately I became the victim of one these rental scams today, and mine just so happened to be an individual that said he and his wife were moving back to Nigeria and were going to be renting they’re property out. Since I am in a situation of trying to find a nice home for my family and I, I went with it, until I started picking up subtle clues like his name not showing up on property history and that since he was supposedly in Nigeria now he was calling me and texting using a number that began with a 313 area code(Michigan). Unfortunate, my bank is trying to help me dispute this so that I can reclaim my hard earned money. This is the email I received.
Hello,
Thanks for your interest.I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business,My name is Fred Mitchell,I got a 3 Years contract to work with a major printing firm in West Africa and that is the main reason why am renting out my house out ,I came over with my lovely wife because of the love I have for her and we shall be staying for at least 4 to 5 years before coming back to the state,i made up my mind to sell the house until my lovely wife advised that we keep it for future purpose. right now we are renting and not selling but we would like to leave it into a good hand.the house is currently vacant and locked while I’m seeking to find suitable , responsible couples , single or Student and if i may ask how long are you willing to stay ? . The house is furnished with all the necessary equipment and appliances and its inclusive all the bills too. The home is located at (808 Audubon Cir,North Augusta, SC 29841).Don’t be surprise if you find the home with another site and deference price, I have plan to rent it through Real estate before, but they are not serious simply because they have a lot of house to lease out and they added some money to the rent while there commission is not fair.We were not getting the responses we needed so i decided to terminated our contract with them and put it up for rent ourselves.If you notice, you will discover that the price we are offering is far below standard price and this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property.The house is available for as long as you want.
We offering the latest in contemporary features, including a spacious bedroom with an oversize walk in closet and large bathroom. The home as a Bathroom and Toilet , with a Kitchen. The kitchen Appliances-including, fridge / freezer and a dishwasher, four burner gas hob with an oven are present.The home has refrigerator and garbage disposal, kitchen and the site of the laundry, screen door that slipped of order in the lateral entrance.Newly renovated and we have each convenience that you could always wish.
Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purpose..If you are interested in renting my home then answer the question below
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home,cell and office line ) # :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
When do you plan to move in, please write exact date?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
If you are ask to make a down payment to secure the house today and take it off market, How much will you be able to pay:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Are you a section 8 applicant
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?
A picture of occupant________________?
How soon do you want to receive the keys/documents________________?
TERMS AND CONDITION:
~The lease is for long and short term , from 2 month or 1yrs and can be renewed
~It can be rented furnished or unfurnished.
~ You will have to take good care of my house
~Utilities are included in the rent
~Pets Allowed
Attn : I’d have actually left it vacant, but my wife advised that I must rent it out. It’s 3 bedroom & 2 bathroom, furnished, electricity, water and Parking space are included in the monthly rent. The rent, which includes all utilities is $720 per month. A Refundable damage deposit of $720 will be paid alongside the rent before you move in. I will like you to tell me about yourself because I am interested in knowing your capability of funding the rent and taking care of my house.Please make sure this questions are filled correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your application.I await your reply
You can contact at: (313) 855-5817 you are also free to text me.
Thanks and best regards
Fred Mitchell
Thank you thank you thank you for posting this. I got an email woth the same application, but different name, contact info, and location. Even the prices were around the same. Of course, the wife always suggests to rent it though, huh.
Holey crap! I found a house for rent on craigslist and emailed the owner. we have been emailing back and forth. his house is for sale and it checked out with the county assessors (names matching). I provided him with my work info, several references, employer name, an current rental address. I decided to try to safe guard against being scammed. I have not sent any money. I found this site and my jaw dropped when I saw #3. His listing was almost word for word!! wow. He has no Idea yet that I am now on to him. I am worried now that he has mine and my references contact info. No bank account #s or social security numbers THANK GOD!! Do I need to report it to the police? Who else should I report it to? I hate people who scam!
This JUST happened to me. What did you do?
wow i got the same email but when they asked for money i new it was a scam
I recently have also been messaging back and forth with a scammer, no money was sent, specially after “the owner” called me and forgot he described himself as female in the emails lol. I have provided an email and the joke of the contract they sent me, maybe they should be included in this article to help others avoid these people.
——–
“We will be away for Four years or more that is why We have made up Our mind to put up Our house for rent to whomever that will take good care of it. However, Our initial plan was to sell the house but it was not successful because the Realtor raised the price which made it difficult for Us to sell before leaving (Colton, CA) So you ignore the sign post because We have stop dealing and contacting the Realtor for too much fees We paid and the Realtor was trying to rip Us off.
We have a cordial relationship with the neighborhood as it is a neighborhood where,everyone keep to themselves go about their business without interference from anybody and we expect that as you move in.
We left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, a refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave,dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Access Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the house documents. Which I can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also I will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue ,but your absolute maintenance of my House is most important thing
HOUSE DESCRIPTION:
Property type: Single-Family Home
Address:458 W L St, Colton, CA 92324
Bedroom: 2
bathroom: 1
Monthly Rent: $800
Security Deposit: $800 (Security Deposit is Refundable)
Utilities included in monthly rent
Pet: Accepted.
SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT
APPLICATION FORM.
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
FIRST NAME: __________________
MIDDLE NAME: __________________
LAST NAME: __________________
PROFESSION: ________________
PHONE (____) __________ (WORK)
PHONE (____) __________ (CELL)
THE BEST NUMBER TO CONTACT YOU ON__________?
ATTACH ID CARD
MARITAL STATUS: _________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________?
PRESENT ADDRESS: ___________________________
CITY: _______________
STATE: ______________
CURRENT RENT: _______?
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
HOW SOON DO HAVE THE DEPOSIT AND RENT ?
HOW SOON DO YOU INTEND MAKING THE PAYMENT?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________?
*PETS*
IF YOU HAVE A PET,
NAME OF PET: ______________
KIND OF PETS: _____________
WEIGHT: ___________________
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
DO YOU DRINK? ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____
I CERTIFY that answers given here in are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenet screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental agreement entered into for any misrepresentation made above. you can bring in your stuffs and items, only inform me about your move in.
Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your applications.I know you would want to see the house before making any kind of rental payment , which is understandable.We can make arrangement for the keys and documentation including an Authorization letter to be shipped to you, this will give you the opportunity to view house.
Please get back to me today with a reply, You can contact me:+1(702) 751-4326
Best Regard
Lawson May & FAMILY”
_____________________
“LEGAL RENTAL AGREEMENT FORM
Residential Lease
• PARTIES.
APPROVED
Landlord Name: Lawson May
ADDRESS: 458 W L St, Colton, CA 92324
Tenant Name: —
ADDRESS: —
• to tenant as long as the premises is left in good conduct, landlord must have receive the total payment of $800 before the tenant receive the keys and the documentations of the house.
APPROVED
LATE CHARGE. Tenants shall pay a late charge of 5% of any rental amount not received by Landlord at the above address by 5:00 pm
TERM. The term of this tenancy shall run from MOVE IN DATE till tenant decides to move out from the house, this lease is year to year lease tenancy.
• RENT. Tenants shall pay a sum of $800 for security deposit which shall be refunded back
• .m. on the fourth day after the date the rent is due. (If rent is due on the first, a late fee will be assessed if rent is received by 5 p.m. on the fifth.
• SECURITY DEPOSIT. Landlord has acknowledged that he is going to receive the sum of $800 refundable security deposit. Landlord may, as allowed by law, deduct from the security deposit the amount of damages incurred by him due to Tenants’ breach of this lease. Tenants are not entitled to have the security deposit applied to late or unpaid rent, after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession (including return of all keys), Landlord shall return the unused portion of the security deposit.
• MOVE-IN CONDITION. Landlord shall provide the first Tenant to take possession of the premises with a “Move-In/Move-Out Condition Report” form. That Tenant shall complete the form and return it to Landlord within five days. Unless Landlord objects within five days of his receipt of the completed form, the report shall be deemed conclusive evidence that the premises are as described in the report.
Landlord shall deliver the premises and all common areas to the Tenants in a clean, safe, and habitable condition, free of pests and visible mole, with all smoke detectors installed in the premises in proper working condition.
• POSSESSION. Landlord shall be ready to deliver possession of the premises to Tenants at the start date of the tenancy. Landlord shall be responsible for having hold-over tenants evicted. Rent shall abate until Landlord is able to put Tenants into possession but he shall not be responsible for any other damages to Tenants unless Landlord’s failure was will full, in which case Tenants’ remedies shall be in accordance with law.
APPROVED
If Landlord is unable to deliver possession due to circumstances beyond his control, he shall have ten (10) days to remedy the situation and put Tenants into possession. If he fails to do so, Tenants may immediately terminate the lease and recover all prepaid rent and deposits. If Landlord is unable to deliver possession due to his or his agent’s fault, Tenants may choose to both give the Landlord ten (10) days to remedy the situation as above or immediately terminate the lease and recover all prepaid rent and deposits.
• SUBLEASES & ASSIGNMENTS. Tenants shall not sublease or assign this lease without the prior, written permission from the Landlord. Landlord shall not unreasonably deny permission to sublease or assign.
• USE OF PREMISES. Tenants shall not permit any other persons to occupy the premises. For purposes of this agreement, “occupy” is defined as residing, living, or staying on the premises overnight for more than seven nights in a row or for more than fourteen nights in a twelve-month period.
Tenants shall use the premises only as a residential dwelling. Tenants shall not use the premises or permit any guests to use the premises for any unlawful activities or to unreasonably interfere with the rights, comforts, or conveniences of their neighbours or other Tenants. Tenants shall not host any party or gathering of more than fifteen (20) people at any time.
APPROVED
• LANDLORD’S RULES. Tenants acknowledge receipt of Landlord’s Rules. Tenants shall comply with all written Rules provided to the Tenant. Landlord may, with reasonable written notice to Tenants, modify these rules as allowed by law.
• LOCKS, KEYS, & PEEPHOLES. Even if no local ordinance requires it, Landlord shall provide locks and peepholes Tenants shall not change or add any locks on the premises without immediately providing duplicates of all keys to the Landlord. Landlord shall issue to each Tenant one set of keys to the premises and mailbox. Upon Tenants’ surrender of the premises to Landlord, each Tenant shall return to Landlord all keys issued to him as well as all copies. If Tenants fail to return all keys, Tenants shall pay the cost of making replacement copies or replacing the locks, at Landlord’s option.
• RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. If rent is unpaid when due, and Tenants fail to pay rent within five days after written notice is served notifying the Tenants of the non-payment and of Landlord’s intention to terminate the lease if the rent is not paid within the five-day period (i.e. within five days of service of the “Five Day Pay-or-Quit Notice”), the landlord may terminate the lease and proceed to obtain possession of the premises in accordance with the law. Acceptance of rent after the five-day period shall not act as a waiver of Landlord’s rights and Landlord hereby reserves all rights to receive payment of rent after the five-day notice and proceed in court for possession of the premises and all other remedies allowed by law.
• PROPERTY DAMAGE & MAINTENANCE. Tenants shall promptly notify Landlord of any defects in or damages to the plumbing, sanitary, electrical, gas, heating, or cooling systems as well as any leaks in the roof or evidence of structural damage. Tenants shall not repair these defects or damages without obtaining the prior, written permission of Landlord, which Landlord may reasonably refuse; however, Tenants shall take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage.
APPROVED
Tenants shall pay Landlord’s reasonable expenses for repairing damages caused by Tenants and their guests, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Landlord shall present a written, itemized bill with copies of receipts for material and outside labour before demanding payment. Landlord shall not consider payment as being late until fifteen (15) days after presentment of the bill.
Tenants shall ensure the lawn is mowed at least once every two weeks during January through February and in no case shall Tenants allow grass and weeds to exceed six inches in height at any time during the year. Landlord shall be responsible for all other yard maintenance and for having the gutters cleaned.
• DEATH. If a Tenant dies during the tenancy, any of the surviving Tenants or the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate may terminate this lease by giving thirty (30) days written notice to Landlord and the other Tenants. Termination under this clause does not relieve the surviving Tenants or the estate of the deceased from their liability to pay all rent and charges owed through the date that Landlord is put in possession of the premises.
• EXTENDED ABSENCES & ABANDONMENT. If all of the Tenants will be absent from the premises for a period in excess of ten (10) days, Tenants shall give Landlord advance, written notice of the absence. If Tenants fail to do so, Landlord may consider the premises abandoned and avail him of all lawful remedies.
• MOVE-OUT INSPECTION. Tenants may request to be at a move-out inspection to be held within seventy-two (72) hours of Tenants’ delivery of possession to Landlord. If Tenants wish to be present at such an inspection, they shall give Landlord written notice two weeks in advance.
• APPROVED
• UTILITIES. Landlord shall maintain all the utility charges such as Heat, water, sewer, gas, and electrical utility service at the premises starting on or before the start of the tenancy and until possession of the premises is returned to Landlord. Tenants shall ensure that the heat is maintained at a temperature sufficient to prevent freezing of pipes during cold periods.
• PETS. After providing written notice to Landlord and paying any pet deposit required herein, Tenants may keep one aquarium with fish up to 100 gallons and one cat. Tenants shall keep any other pets if he/she wishes to.
• JOINTLY AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. All Tenants shall be jointly and severally liable for all Tenant obligations (rent, damages, and other). The Landlord may collect the entirety of any damages from any one or all Tenants, no matter which Tenant is actually responsible.
• INCORPORATION & MODIFICATION. This Lease is the complete and entire agreement between the parties and all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, have been incorporated herein. It may only be modified or amended by executing another written document signed by all parties or their authorized agents.
• SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this lease are severable, and if any part of the Lease is held illegal, invalid, or inapplicable to any person or circumstance, the remainder of this lease shall remain in effect.
APPROVED
• CONDITION. This lease is conditional on being signed by all parties named on page 1.
We, the undersigned, hereby represent that we have read this entire lease and agree to be bound by its terms and conditions.
Landlord: Lawson May Tenant:
Tenant Signature
Date: 06/10/2017
APPROVED”
Received a similar email today with the same phone # (702) 751-4326 for an ad for a townhouse in Hugo, MN. The poster for that one goes by Michael Hagglund with an email address of plsz.own@aol.com.
Yes, I just had the same scam saying they’re in Turkey for a mission for 4 years the email is almost identical to the one that is above and that the same phone number. I just called them out on it though cuz I said why would I need to send money to Turkey if you are only visiting you should still have financial institutions in the states and I just asked him who’s the name of the person to showing as the realtor was to them. I noticed slip-ups in the email the email wasn’t making much sense words weren’t used in the proper context, and he would slip up and call himself Laura but then refer to his wife either he’s a lesbian or you just called yourself a man.
I gave out my name and add. Is that bad but no money HELP
I gave out my name, add, and a picture of myself. Lol HELP
Lol, same thing’s happening to me
A guy who’s reting me an apartment has everything was mentioned.
Big red flag.
Be aware guys!!!
My wife and I are looking for an apt in St. Louis. While searching we came across a listing on Craigslist advertising, 1000 soft 1 bedroom, 1.5 bath, washer/dryer, Internet/ cable included and a 2 car detached garage for $600 per month. 1st of all I drive around St. Louis all day for my job and the area described is all big commercial. When I emailed and asked for a more accurate address, I got back a “canned” response not mentioning an address just that they needed us to fill out a background check ourselves @ $30.00 each on a site they provided the link for, before they show the property. Didn’t receive any more response.
Two days later we see the same ad listed, but br a different email. We got back the same form letter requesting background check. I sent I didn’t have a problem doing the background check but after we looked at the apt. Haven’t heard anything back.
I drove past the area just to make sure I didn’t miss something, but no. There wasn’t any housing within a 4 block area of the intersection they advertised and not anywhere $ they were wanting.
Make sure to do some digging before you commit to anything. In this case knowing the area set the “bells off” in my head and saved us from a potential ID scam.
I was wondering if anyone here could help me tell if this is a rental scam. I found an insanely cheap 2 bedroom in Manhattan on Craigslist. I replied to the post and the email I received back was from someone with a different name and email address than was listed on the post:
“Hi Kylie,
Great to speak with you. The unit is here still to rent. We thought we had the unit leased to someone that we gave a walk-through to today, but now it seems that they can’t get out of their current lease, so we need to keep searching. You were the second one to contact me.
I am sure you want the address of the place, but my husband doesn’t want me to advertise the address as a measure of safety. Last time we did that without verifying people, it was broken into and ripped up. As you can imagine, we want to avoid that! That is why we require you to confirm you recieved your updated credit report before we setup a tour.You will be responsible for cable, internet, and phone, if you decide to have these services. For the FIRST time, we are allowing pets at this property. The rental term is 12 month lease, but can be switched into a 6-month term if preferred. We require one month notice before moving out, as a courtesy.
When you want to come look at the place, then please visit the link below and grab your credit report. All of our tenants use this site because it is widely trusted. Just fill out the form and indicate that you want the report. We aren’t interested in specifics of your score, it’s more of a formality to ensure you have rental history. You can get your report by CLICKING HERE
Do not send me the report over mail, bring it to the tour. We’ll waive your security deposit if your score is above 560+.
Please let me know when you grab your report. I can then schedule you for a showing of the place.
Thanks again,
Sherry Wright”
It doesn’t have a lot of the factors I’ve seen people mention, but there are a few red flags.
Help!
….Nevermind…I just read the same email in an earlier comment….
Thanks!
Omg I got the same email yesterday!!!
Question – Could capitalization in your craigslist search identify scams? For instance, I searched my city, both words lower case, and 12 legitimate-looking postings came up. But with I capitalized the words, 12 more appeared. 12 that were much cheaper & nicer than the others. None of them gave their addresses and only a few showed pictures. When I messaged one of the location, they responded by asking me to fill out a credit check which I absolutely did not. This whole capitalization thing has me curious. Do you know anything about it?
Hey Andrew! Sorry, I do not know. You would think that proper capitalization would mean legitimate posting, not fakes ones. Interesting!
How can I tell if an apartment listed in Rome, Italy on craigslist is a scam or legit? I am hoping to move to Rome and I need a really cheap apt.
I am interested in an apt.in Rome, Italy I saw on Craigslist. The landlady is asking me to send her a depost to airbnb. That sounds legit to me. Is it?
Is the Airbnb account verified?
This is clearly not relevant to you anymore, but just for others to know. Nobody in Europe uses craiglist, so just go straightly to airbnb or something like that. Never heard of airbnb scams, as people there are verified and have same listings for years, where renters leave their comments, so you really know whats up with that place. I wish craighlist was the same.
Receiver’s Name: Amy DupontReceiver’s Address: 1701 Micanopy Ave, Miami, FL 33133 heres the name and address of scammer wantedaware
other to send 500$ for a house in walnut ca. Please be aware
This is a very helpful post. However, I’m running into another curious issue looking for a place to rent on craigslist. Since a week ago, I’ve sent off around 10-15 inquiries to the places I was interested in, hoping to schedule a viewing/tour and not one has responded to my emails. Since then, i sent off another 5 and still no response. I’ve even seen some being reposted the next day. I checked if something was wrong with my own email system and it was working fine, nothing in the spam folder either. All the leads had only email contacts so I had no numbers to call. In the past, I’ve had success in finding a place on craigslist and I’ve never encountered this type of issue. Do you think this could be a scam too?
You should check your spam folder to see if it went there. But usually it is a scam. They want your email to direct you to other rental sites. They usually use a fake listing with a really good price.
Hi I was wondering what you should do if you “sort of fell” for a scam.
Trying to get an apartment, I got a reply from a person that send images and asked questions. I answered the questions vaguely and told I could show ID when I meet you.
After sending that, I did some research and realized that this could be a scam. I also found the real landlord and said he never advertised the apartment for that price (the scammer took the 1 in front off the number and got the apartment price)
I was wondering if I gave them really vague information, would I still be open to identity theft?
Did any thing ever happen i gave my name and home address
Thanks so much for this information!!! These tips are definitely helpful. I’m currently in the process of looking for a new rental place, and the scams on Craigslist are TOO numerous to count! In fact, I would venture that about 70% of the ads on Craigslist are either some type of ad, OR a scam. I’ve been actively looking for over 3 months and I keep running into the same thing, so now I’ve sort of figured out which ads on Craigslist are scams, and which are legit.
Of course, it’s always good to do your due diligence and be VERY cautious even if an ad seems legit, but I’ve started to learn how to spot these scams a mile away.
Some *RED FLAGS* that let me know that a Craigslist ad MAY be a scam/false/fraudulent:
-The EMAIL address is from hotmail, gmail, aol, etc. Not always a “red flag”, but USUALLY I notice that if the email address is not a Craigslist/encrypted email address, then it’s typically a SCAM. Don’t ask me why!
-There is not a phone number listed. Usually a LEGIT ad/landlord will provide you with their phone number because they’re actually honestly looking for a tenant and they aren’t doing anything shady. Still, it’s good to be cautious.
-There isn’t ANY contact info listed. You don’t know how many times I see this smh.
-There is NOT an address to the rental property. HUGE red flag!!!
-The rental price/amenities/inclusions sound WAAAAY too good to be true! Maybe the rental is priced FAR below market value, or the landlord promises to pay for all utilities, w/d in the unit, the house looks immaculate, and you know that the rentals in your area go for much higher prices, etc. Those are all red flags. Now, that’s not to say that there aren’t some really good LEGIT deals on Craigslist. I’ve seen some that were definitely legit and priced far below market value. But as always, proceed with caution.
-The landlord wants you to provide you with your personal information before you meet them or see the property. DON’T do it!
-You’re asked to give/wire money before seeing the property.
-The scammer emails you back with some LONG drawn-out story about how they are “out of town” or living in another state and won’t be able to show you the house/rental, but you can drive by or peek through windows, etc… Ummm…..sorry, but talk about suspicious? Besides, I’ve noticed that whenever an email is super LONG and drawn out, that means there is something fishy going on. A legit person trying to rent their place out would rather CALL you or have you call THEM. These long emails (which can just be copied and pasted to respond to other unsuspecting people who are looking to rent) are usually a BIG sign this ad is not legit.
Hope that helped!
We have just received an email back, while looking for a house in the Bay Area. We knew after the long explanation they blurted out, that we needed to do some research. The email we received was similar to one of the above. This is a copy and paste of the exact email fyi.
************************
Hi,
We are pleased that you have an interest in our Apartment, our lovely home is still available for lease and we want responsible adults/family that are neat and also believe that they have what it takes to take care of our Apartment as if it were theirs. My wife and I initially had it up for sale but had a change of mind in leasing it out ourselves because the agent that was in charge of our rental property was asking too much of an agent fee and also making it difficult for people who cannot afford the rent, stay away from renting my Apartment.
The reason why our Apartment is up for lease is because I got transferred from my place of work to PRETORIA,SOUTH AFRICA and I will be away with my family for at least 4 to 5 years because of the love I have for them, I have decided not to sell our Apartment and also assuring them that we only have few years to spend here and will be willing to lease it out to person/family who is willing to assure us of taking absolute care of our home and pay their rent on time. I will start by telling you more about me and my family. We have two children ages 8 and 11. They are pretty shy and they are the sweetest little babies in the world. They love to read, color and play at the park. They also love to do homework and are very interested in school and learning new things. They are very helpful little girls and are always offering to help mummy out with chores.. I work at Topeka Foundry & Ironworks CO here in SOUTH AFRICA and got married to a lovely wife who is a member of First United Methodist Church. We will be very pleased if we can find the right tenant to rent our home, a person who is a clean freak and does not tolerate anything that has to do with dirt… If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the Apartment because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the Apartment and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the Apartment if you can promise me that you will surely take very good care of the Apartment for us as if it were your own. I have my furniture in the Apartment, if you which to move in with your furnished items there is a storage room where you can move my furniture’s. we also would like to know more about you and your family, your renting experience and how long and when you plan moving into our home.. RENTAL FEE IS INCLUSIVE WITH UTILITIES LIKE CABLE, HEAT/AIR, WATER, GAS, HYDRO, SECURITY AND INTERNET E.T.C…
Please if you are ready now to occupy the Apartment kindly provide the information below for record purpose
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
Full Name__________________________
________________________ Phone ( ) ________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
________
Other Phone ( ) ___________________
Current Address_______________________
________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving_______________________
_____Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
Are you married_______________________
_____
How many people will be living in the Apartment_____________________
_______
Do you have a pet___________________________
_
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
First & Last Month Deposit is required prior moving in?
Reference Details_________________________
Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my Apartment..
MONTHLY RENT: $880
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 225 Pennsylvania Ave,Fairfield, CA 94533
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE BY AND SEE MY APARTMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING IT GET THE APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO ME. I WOULD HAVE REALLY LOVE TO SHIP THE KEYS TO SOMEONE IN STATE BUT I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY THERE RIGHT NOW AND I DON’T WANT TO MAKE USE OF ANY THIRD PARTY THAT IS WHY AM HANDLING MY PROPERTY MYSELF..
I can be reachable here any time at ( +27623601884) ….. ( If i didn’t answer call, text is best since I’m super busy at the moment )
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Weindorf.
Hahaha this is the email I received.
Same email DIFFERENT address
Hi,
We are pleased that you have an interest in our Apartment, our lovely home is still available for lease and we want responsible adults/family that are neat and also believe that they have what it takes to take care of our Apartment as if it were theirs. My wife and I initially had it up for sale but had a change of mind in leasing it out ourselves because the agent that was in charge of our rental property was asking too much of an agent fee and also making it difficult for people who cannot afford the rent, stay away from renting my Apartment.
The reason why our Apartment is up for lease is because I got transferred from my place of work to PRETORIA,SOUTH AFRICA and I will be away with my family for at least 4 to 5 years because of the love I have for them, I have decided not to sell our Apartment and also assuring them that we only have few years to spend here and will be willing to lease it out to person/family who is willing to assure us of taking absolute care of our home and pay their rent on time. I will start by telling you more about me and my family. We have two children ages 8 and 11. They are pretty shy and they are the sweetest little babies in the world. They love to read, color and play at the park. They also love to do homework and are very interested in school and learning new things. They are very helpful little girls and are always offering to help mummy out with chores.. I work at Topeka Foundry & Ironworks CO here in SOUTH AFRICA and got married to a lovely wife who is a member of First United Methodist Church. We will be very pleased if we can find the right tenant to rent our home, a person who is a clean freak and does not tolerate anything that has to do with dirt… If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the Apartment because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the Apartment and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the Apartment if you can promise me that you will surely take very good care of the Apartment for us as if it were your own. I have my furniture in the Apartment, if you which to move in with your furnished items there is a storage room where you can move my furniture’s. we also would like to know more about you and your family, your renting experience and how long and when you plan moving into our home.. RENTAL FEE IS INCLUSIVE WITH UTILITIES LIKE CABLE, HEAT/AIR, WATER, GAS, HYDRO, SECURITY AND INTERNET E.T.C…
Please if you are ready now to occupy the Apartment kindly provide the information below for record purpose
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
Full Name__________________________
________________________ Phone ( ) ________________________
Date of Birth_________________________
________
Other Phone ( ) ___________________
Current Address_______________________
________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving_______________________
_____Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
Are you married_______________________
_____
How many people will be living in the Apartment_____________________
_______
Do you have a pet___________________________
_
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
First & Last Month Deposit is required prior moving in?
Reference Details_________________________
Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my Apartment..
MONTHLY RENT: $880
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 2012 Powell St,San Francisco, CA 94133
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE BY AND SEE MY APARTMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING IT GET THE APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO ME. I WOULD HAVE REALLY LOVE TO SHIP THE KEYS TO SOMEONE IN STATE BUT I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY THERE RIGHT NOW AND I DON’T WANT TO MAKE USE OF ANY THIRD PARTY THAT IS WHY AM HANDLING MY PROPERTY MYSELF..
I can be reachable here any time at +27623705326 ….. ( If i didn’t answer call, text is best since I’m super busy at the moment )
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Tonnette.
I have had one close to the same wording except they said to ignore the For Sale sign in the yard because they were going to sell the house but decided to rent it, and the agent hadn’t gone by to pick up the sign. I thought that was clever.
I have had more scams from Craig’s list than I can count. There are roughly 4-5 versions of a story. I fell for the first one and gave him lots of info, but thankfully, not my date of birth or social security number. They stated they were missionaries with a group that I knew about, so I thought it was real.
I have also found that not all scammers are looking for money. Some of them are collecting email addresses and/or phone numbers to sell to telemarketing firms. I now don’t even give out either of these by saying they can reach me through the CL email relay to set up an appointment to view the rental. They don’t typically respond to that!
There is great info on the CL site if you look at the bottom of the page of listings. They have articles about how to spot scams, what to do or not do, examples of known scams, and how you report them to CL. There is a box tagged as ‘prohibited’ right next to the ‘reply’ button. If you find out that an offer is a scam, or even if they are trying to sell you something other than that category, you check the prohibited box. When enough people check that box, than CL investigates and will take the ad down. I found out all about that by going to the CL forums and just reading through what other people have experienced. It just really kills me that so many people just want to steal from people who are just desperately trying to make ends meet. I have sent back a few nasty emails to the ones that I have found to be scams. Maybe a few will grow a conscience.
I am so glad I read this. I just recently had an experience similar to this. It felt wrong from the jump but I was so eager to move into a bigger home. I am so relieved that I saw this before I did anything that would have jeopardized my family because we did not have $2000 to waste.