http://bookmarkerportal.com/story.php?title=wpec-tv-cbs12-news-news-top-stories-scam-alert-bogus-home-rental-ads-on-craigslist-1
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- A warning going out to home buyers or renters tonight. There's another scam to watch out for. This one involves properties advertised on Craigslist.
A local woman nearly fell for the scam and would have been out hundreds of dollars. But thanks to her due diligence and the help of a real estate agent, she found out the whole thing was a hoax.
A yellow, two-bedroom house in a nice Boynton Beach neighborhood for rent on Craigslist for just $700. It may sound too good to be true. That's because it is.
"This guy was trying to scoop up a couple of people real quick I think, to fall for it," said homeowner Boyd Boggess.
Boyd Boggess owns the house on Southwest 23rd Terrace, spoke to us on the phone. He's trying to sell or rent the house for about twice that amount, but he didn't place the ad on Craigslist. Someone posing as him did.
"He said I am Boyd Boggess. I need someone responsible. I'm away on a Christian fellowship three year tour," said Boggess.
The homeowers listing agent says he found out about the scam after getting a call from a woman about to send money to the person who the Craiglist Ad that's when he went online and discovered the bogus posting.
"He told her thats a scam the owner is out of the country," said Boggess.
These scam artists are going to real estate web sites and doing a simple right click, save as, copying the pics taking listing information and creating these craigslist postings," Stephanie Slater, Boynton Beach Police Department.
Boynton Beach police haven't yet received any complaints from people who have fallen for the scam. But they do warn potential buyers or renters using Craigslist to do their homework.
"Verify if its a licensed realtor and go to other sites to see if can find same property," said Slater.
Boynton Beach police say they're investigating, but admit these cases are difficult to prosecute.
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