Two Charged In Alleged Scam Involving Foreclosed Homes Advertised For Rent On Craigslist; Suspects Pocketed $16K+, Say Prosecutors

In Carlsbad, California, the San Diego Union Tribune reports:

• In what may be yet another wrinkle in the collapse of the housing market, prosecutors allege that Alexander Braslavsky, 34, and Anthony Patrick Marshall, 38, posted ads on Craigslist for five foreclosed homes in Carlsbad, Corona and Stanton and rented them to [unwitting prosepctive tenants].

• The two Orange County men pleaded not guilty Monday in Vista Superior Court to four counts of felony grand theft, one count of felony conspiracy, and one count of felony attempted grand theft. Prosecutors say the pair took in about $16,500.

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• [Prospective tenant Linda] Smith, 44, said she discovered she had been swindled when she tried to turn on the utilities and was told someone had just bought the house at auction.(1) The news “steamrolled” her. [...] Carlsbad police weren't optimistic about recovering Smith's money. All Smith had was a cell phone number and a handwritten receipt. But Smith fought back anyway. She went on Craigslist and posted a notice identical to the one she had clicked on for the same Carlsbad house, explaining how she had been ripped off. A man from Huntington Beach, who was planning to meet two men about a rental house on Sierra Morena Avenue in Carlsbad, became suspicious and contacted her. Smith called police, who showed up at the meeting instead.

For more, see Would-be renter says she lost $4,500 in scheme.

Go here and go here for other posts on tenant victims of rent hoaxes.

(1) According to the story, there were red flags she ignored in her eagerness. The men never asked to check her credit, didn't know where the valves for the sprinklers or gas were and didn't give her a copy of the lease. unwitting tenant rent scam yacht