Rental Scams on Craigslist (Santa Fe: for sale, real estate, 2013)

[GreatSantaFe]

Hi All - I ran across this article today and because we have many readers who are looking for rentals, I am posting this as a word of caution to them.
Scammers Dupe Renters on Craigslist

Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Americans continue to fall prey to a growing number of real estate scams — most often rental scams — on free classified ad sites. Craigslist, in particular, has been a site that housing experts have warned visitors to beware of when it comes to real estate transactions.
A recent case in the news from Lynchburg, Va., has reminded Americans the scams are still prevalent. A couple responded to an ad to rent a vacant home in the area, wiring $1,000 to the so-called landlord who posted the ad. The couple received keys to the home and moved in, only later to have police arrive at their front doorstep. While the home actually was listed for rent, a “fake” landlord — who had no claim to the property — had reposted the ad on Craigslist.
Janet Hart from the Better Business Bureau told AOL Real Estate that Craigslist real estate scams are particularly prevalent and online visitors need to be careful. One of the most common scams is selling and renting “fake” homes, she says. She advises renters or buyers in these real estate transactions not to wire transfer any money unless it is to a reputable organization. Housing experts also suggest a simple online search may help avoid others from being duped: If the home appears elsewhere on the Internet for sale or rent and it’s from someone else, this should serve as a red flag.
Source: “Renters Beware: Fraudsters Still Lurking on Craigslist,” AOL Real Estate (March 12, 2012)

[oldbird]

One way to help prevent this (far from perfect, but reduces risk) is to check public records for the owner's name. Most county clerks or assessors have public information regarding owner name and address, and you can at least double check that the person you are giving money to actually owns the house.

This may turn up homes in foreclosure as well, if it is recorded (probably not in Santa Fe records).

[GreatSantaFe]

oldbird - what you say is true; one can go on the county assessor's website, type in the address and get the owner of record. The caution is that you get the owner of record - and that may not be current. So, if a property sells in, say, March of 2012, to someone who buys that property to use as an investment/rental, the name of the new owner might not show up until sometime in 2013.
My advice: don't send money to someone you don't know.

[GM1258]

Originally Posted by GreatSantaFe

My advice: don't send money to someone you don't know.

That's good advice on any day -- but especially for Craigslist.