Realtor Uncovers Rent Scam Involving Her Listing & Craigslist

In Chico, California, the Chico Enterprise Record recently reported:

• A local Realtor, who happens to be the 2008 president of the Chico Association of Realtors, was exposed to a new take on Internet scamming involving real estate. Debbie Brodie of Realty World Choice Properties discovered a house she was representing was the target of a scam when she started getting calls from people asking about renting the place. Brodie was trying to sell the house for the owner. Brodie discovered that scammers were promoting the three-bedroom house for rent on Craig's List, an Internet-based ad service. Scammers picked up the house photo from Brodie's Multiple Listing Service information, and included her name in a e-mail address that wasn't hers. The scammers were trying to get $600 a month for rent, with a $200 deposit, and may have been asked for two months rent in advance. Brodie uncovered the scam when she was called by potential renters who had searched for her name on the Internet.

For more, see Scammers find real estate a sweet target.

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