LAKELAND --
Lakeland police are warning residents about a scam involving phony rental listings on Craigslist.
Police said the scam involves an ad for a home in Lakeland. The suspects list the residence with pictures, showing the house as a great deal, and then when someone who is interested responds, the scammers ask for a deposit to be paid using Western Union.
The incidents have reportedly taken place between mid-July and the beginning of August. Sometimes the ad will be listed as a vacation rental at a reduced monthly price. Police said the listing is generally designed to appeal to as many people as possible.
Police said phony rental listing scams have become more frequent and sophisticated in recent years, and that some of them even involve the use of fake rental application forms online, which the scammers then use to obtain third-party information for identity theft.
Officials said residents should take the following precautions to avoid being victimized:
Lakeland police are warning residents about a scam involving phony rental listings on Craigslist.
Police said the scam involves an ad for a home in Lakeland. The suspects list the residence with pictures, showing the house as a great deal, and then when someone who is interested responds, the scammers ask for a deposit to be paid using Western Union.
The incidents have reportedly taken place between mid-July and the beginning of August. Sometimes the ad will be listed as a vacation rental at a reduced monthly price. Police said the listing is generally designed to appeal to as many people as possible.
Police said phony rental listing scams have become more frequent and sophisticated in recent years, and that some of them even involve the use of fake rental application forms online, which the scammers then use to obtain third-party information for identity theft.
Officials said residents should take the following precautions to avoid being victimized:
- Do not send anyone money for a rental property unless you have personally inspected it and met the landlord.
- Do not send money to a foreign country for a rental property that is local.
- Never wire funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is likely a scammer.
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