Avoid Rental Scams

Kennedy Group Property Management received multiple calls and emails today from parties interested in one of our rental properties in San Clemente, Orange County, California. It’s a beautiful 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath house in the Forester Highlands that rents for $3100.00 per month. You can view the property here http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5750-Calle-Polvorosa_San-Clemente_CA_92673_M10534-09009 .

These interested parties found our listing fraudulently advertised on Craigslist at $1100.00 per month. The fraudulent ad in question is at the following address http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/apa/2096930981.html.

One of the interested parties had email communication with the fraudulent ‘owner’ and emailed me the following, “I thought you would like to know that there is a scam going on this property. Someone on Craigslist is listing the property for rent at $1100.00 per month. here is copy of email: Thanks for your response and interest in my house. The house is very much available and it is a large 3 bedrooms and 2 bathroom house. Which was formally occupied by me and my family before we left for Nigeria for a pastoral duty, we left for a volunteer mission together with other missionaries for a development program with the aim of developing the people of west Africa physically and spiritually as God as directed us. We wanted to sale the house initially but we later changed our mind after we discovered that we wouldn’t be spending more then 6 years here in Africa So as you know where the house is located at (5750 Calle Polvorosa, San Clemente CA 92673). Which my family and I have spent so much time and money to maintain it up till its standard. We have been trying our best to make the house as clean as possible, because am a clean person and we don’t like dirt around our surroundings and also the Bible says cleanliness is next to Godliness. So we are looking for a well-behaved, clean and honest tenant to rent out our house too. So will like you to give us your word and promise us that you will take good care of our house so that we will be happy when we come to visit you in the future… We accept short or long-term rent and month to month also…. All the utilities are included in the rent… Pets are allowed. So kindly get back to us with this information below. RENT APPLICATION FORM Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( )________________________ Date of Birth_________________________________ Other Phone ( )___________________ Current Address_________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________ Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( )____________ Are you married____________________________ How many people will be living in the house____________________________ Do you have a pet____________________________ Do you have a car____________________________ Occupation____________________________ Your Exact move in date____________________________ How soon can you make the deposit payment________________________ How soon do you want to receive the keys and documents of the house________________________ Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you,please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that we do not see our self’s yet and only putting everything into Gods hand, so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this. Looking forward to hear from you. Best Regards Pastor Jay Avery Contact me at : +2348160809715″

First, Craigslist offers the following valuable bit of advice at the top of all their property listings: “Avoid scams and fraud by dealing locally! Beware any arrangement involving Western Union, Moneygram, wire transfer, or a landlord/owner who is out of the country or cannot meet you in person. More info”

Second, remember the Latin phrase Caveat Emptor, which means Let the Buyer (or Tenant in this case) beware. Do a little research and you’ll likely find a property that’s being advertised at a price that seems ‘too good to be true’ is listed elsewhere at it’s actual reality based price.

Third, if it sounds too good to be true 99.9 times out of 100 it’s too good to be true.

Fourth, if someone claims to be living in Nigeria on pastoral duty…….they’re 99.9% not. Have no doubt that they’re living in Nigeria but claiming to be a pastor is a lie to give you a false sense of security. These are the same people who still run the 419 scam. If you don’t know what that is think about the many emails you’ve received from Wumi Abdul addressed to the honorable sir with slightly off English asking for you to help them transfer the 31 million they’ve just inherited out of their bank account and into yours, if only you’ll provide them your bank account information. Both of these scams run on the same principle and target the same people.

Fifth, don’t ever send application or personal information via email. Email is an extremely insecure way to transmit your personal information. There are secure ways to apply online and a professional property management company will provide a secure way to transmit your application information not request it via email.

There are other real estate and rental property related scams out there so do a bit of research. It helps to deal with a professional property management company like Kennedy Group Property Management who operates in Orange County, California. You can easily identify our professional html ads on Craigslist and our advertising elsewhere on the internet with a minimum of research. Any professional property management company should have a physical office address and be listed with the California Department of Real Estate. If you ever have a question about scams that target owners, landlords and tenants feel free to email it to us at customerservice@kgpropertymanagement.com