Due to the increase in rental scams, we recently asked the following question to the REALTOR community. “We are getting scamers using trulia and craigslist to market our sale listing as a cheap rental…who do I call to report? DRE, FBI?
Here’s what they said:
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Angie Fuller Hornsby I had that happen to me and I reported it to my local board and also here https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx – its the cybercrimes place
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | HomeThe IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from…IC3.GOVJanuary 22 at 11:18am · Like · 2 -
Pat Foley Flag the ad on craigslist and email trulia about it. Happens more often than you know.January 22 at 11:20am · Like · 5 -
Scott Mees I just went through the same thing! I freaked out when a cop called me to ask me about a rental that had been done in my name and my companies name. I had to go in a speak to the detective and he showed me the photos of the guys and asked me if they work for me. Of course they don’t and I had never met them before and I was cleared, but what a horrible experience.January 22 at 11:21am · Like -
Joe Kerouac Nice. So many people forgot about Dre. He’s still the same OG, just been low key…If you have his number, I’d call him…in the least, maybe he could hook you up with some sweet Beats headphones.January 22 at 11:24am · Like · 9 -
Lauren Lehr This has happened on our city so often for the past 8 years that were told to call the police everytime.January 22 at 11:29am · Like -
Sarah O’Leary Takacs Call craigslistJanuary 22 at 11:39am · Like -
Lisa Hatfield LeQuire Most local realtor associations have atty’s. Call them.January 22 at 11:44am · Like -
Melony Hunter Baldwin Trulia and Zillow feed off of MLS. The agent can’t control the external links, but I would directly contact the sources to cease and desist.January 22 at 11:54am · Like -
Shavonne Hull I’ve had this happen way back in 2007 and they are still getting away with it!January 22 at 12:15pm · Like -
David M. Seaton I’ve had it happen before on CL.. Most likely international (nigeria) and they are seeking tenants to send them 1st months rent / security deposit… not much you can do in terms of busting tbem, just don’t post full property details and flag their ads…January 22 at 12:16pm · Like -
Betty Aguilar Also set up Google alert of address if listing. You’ll receive a notification via email any time that address shows up on Internet. Report as spam to CL and truliaJanuary 22 at 12:24pm · Like · 7 -
Tammy Hayes We call the local police and you should inform Trulia and Craigslist too.,January 22 at 12:52pm · Like · 1 -
Debbe Hynes I had 2 and reported directly to Zillow and Trulia, they took care of it on the spot.January 22 at 2:50pm · Like -
Regina Drury It’s hopeless. We tried to get someone on it but it was hopeless.January 22 at 3:22pm · Like · 1 -
Michael A Trinchitella Yes it’s happening now on trulia all the time.January 22 at 3:48pm · Like -
Michael Childs Call the host services. T hey’ll take care of it. Don’t bother LE. They won’t/can’t do anything until someone is defrauded andthen they’ll just take a statement and file a report. January 22 at 4:44pm · Like -
Michael Childs This TIP has been posted in this group and in other forums. I think it’s even on the NAR website. “Create “Google Alerts” for the property address , owners name, etc,”. Any new postings online will be reported to you in an email. January 22 at 4:50pm · Like · 1
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Tina Yeates Put your information all over the house. That’s how I caught the one who did it to me. The prospect saw my stuff saw something was fishy and called meJanuary 22 at 5:28pm · Like -
Suzanne Cunningham The police won’t do anything unless money changes hands. You can have the listing pulled.January 22 at 5:32pm · Like · 1 -
Scott Kennedy Put a sign on the house that says if you are sending the deposit to a po box in dubi it’s a scam duh!It amazes me how many people think you can get a 3000 sqft house for $750. Come on people think! …See MoreJanuary 22 at 5:37pm · Like -
Mark Welker it happened to me, i first contacted the homeowner through the national database, and then reported it to the fbi…January 22 at 5:47pm · Like -
Tammy Lankford report the ad, it gets taken down. Not much else can happen they are doing it from overseas and U.S. law enforcement can’t really do muchJanuary 22 at 5:48pm · Like -
Desiree Hennessey Maurer My experience is local law enforcement won’t do anything unless money is exchanged. There is an online page where you can report it to the FBI but unless it is a huge amount of money that has been taken, it won’t sit high on their priority list. Scam…See MoreJanuary 22 at 5:53pm · Edited · Like -
Jona Jackie Briggs In another group here on FB, the owner of a property that is fraudulently listed on Craigslist post the fraud listing in the group and 20 people flag the listing. The owner lets the group know it has been pulled off Craigslist. It works really well. Better and faster then going through the authorities.January 22 at 11:30pm · Like · 1 -
Nina Kraus I had that happen with Craigslist and it took my seller numerous calls to Craigslist to have it removed. It was not easy.January 24 at 8:16am · Like