Comments for The Borrowed Abode http://theborrowedabode.com Adventures in decorating a rental home. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Julie B http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10258 Julie B Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:54:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10258 Oh wow.  I had no idea that kind of thing was happening.  Horrible!!! Oh wow.  I had no idea that kind of thing was happening.  Horrible!!!

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Tricia http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10257 Tricia Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:22:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10257 We had a similar experience, but it wasn't as obvious. Amazing apartment, cheap rent, even had real information about our town. But when we asked to see it, they told us that because of the level of interest, they were requiring applications before showing the apartment. They didn't ask for money, but they wanted social security #s, etc. Luckily we realized it was a scam and didn't send them any info. (There was also no way to contact them except via email). We had a similar experience, but it wasn’t as obvious. Amazing apartment, cheap rent, even had real information about our town. But when we asked to see it, they told us that because of the level of interest, they were requiring applications before showing the apartment. They didn’t ask for money, but they wanted social security #s, etc. Luckily we realized it was a scam and didn’t send them any info. (There was also no way to contact them except via email).

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Anna Hull http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10256 Anna Hull Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:20:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10256 Ugg.  That's obnoxious.  =(  I have sent money overseas to Africa, though.  Although I was sending it to friends I lived with in SA, so I guess that's a little different.  =) Ugg.  That’s obnoxious.  =(  I have sent money overseas to Africa, though.  Although I was sending it to friends I lived with in SA, so I guess that’s a little different.  =)

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Lauren Margaret http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10255 Lauren Margaret Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:32:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10255 First of all, Mike and I look at Craigslist, Zillow, and HotPads all the time - so I think you're not a nut :) Second, I'm really really glad you posted about this because people need to be aware! When we were looking for an apartment last April/May, we came across dozens of these. After a while I got in the habit of sending a cursory "Hi, can you send me more information" email just to see what came back, then if it was definitely spam I would report the email address as spam. Unfortunately that's kind of all we can do :( First of all, Mike and I look at Craigslist, Zillow, and HotPads all the time – so I think you’re not a nut :)

Second, I’m really really glad you posted about this because people need to be aware! When we were looking for an apartment last April/May, we came across dozens of these. After a while I got in the habit of sending a cursory “Hi, can you send me more information” email just to see what came back, then if it was definitely spam I would report the email address as spam. Unfortunately that’s kind of all we can do :(

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Anotheryarn http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10254 Anotheryarn Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:11:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10254 Eeek.  This is way worse than the annoying "you can buy a home!" ads I noticed peppered in between real rental listings last time I checked. Eeek.  This is way worse than the annoying “you can buy a home!” ads I noticed peppered in between real rental listings last time I checked.

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Amy http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10253 Amy Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:59:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10253 I had the same thing happen a couple of times looking for rental homes in Falls Church and north Arlington in December. Weird email responses from "abroad" and discrepancies in pricing between Craigslist and Zillow. Ended up going through a management company to rent our house because we could check up on them and see if they were legit. I reported the few scams I got to Zillow but they don't seem to have a very strong vetting system in place if this scam is as rampant as it seems like looking at these posts.  I had the same thing happen a couple of times looking for rental homes in Falls Church and north Arlington in December. Weird email responses from “abroad” and discrepancies in pricing between Craigslist and Zillow. Ended up going through a management company to rent our house because we could check up on them and see if they were legit. I reported the few scams I got to Zillow but they don’t seem to have a very strong vetting system in place if this scam is as rampant as it seems like looking at these posts. 

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Martina@BuildingBeauty http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10252 Martina@BuildingBeauty Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:50:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10252 Wow. This is insane! So lucky you guys were sharp enough to spot the scam a mile away!  We ran into the same thing when looking at vehicles (we knew we weren't going to buy new). It's appalling how ubiquitous these scams targeting honest people are. Wow. This is insane! So lucky you guys were sharp enough to spot the scam a mile away!

 We ran into the same thing when looking at vehicles (we knew we weren’t going to buy new). It’s appalling how ubiquitous these scams targeting honest people are.

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Ashley @ Design Build Love http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10251 Ashley @ Design Build Love Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:21:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10251 wow!  That is totally insane and a complete bummer!  Those nigerian scams are simply awful and I wish there was a way to get rid of them altogether!!! wow!  That is totally insane and a complete bummer!  Those nigerian scams are simply awful and I wish there was a way to get rid of them altogether!!!

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by Loren Cline http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10250 Loren Cline Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10250 Ugh, I was looking around for a place in our town they did a similar thing. Took real photos of real rental properties and listed them at about 1/3 the real cost on Craigslist. If you contacted them they would ask for a ridiculous amount of personal info including credit card numbers to run the rental application. Ugh, I was looking around for a place in our town they did a similar thing. Took real photos of real rental properties and listed them at about 1/3 the real cost on Craigslist. If you contacted them they would ask for a ridiculous amount of personal info including credit card numbers to run the rental application.

]]> Comment on Renters Beware: A newer type of scam by JennDee http://theborrowedabode.com/2012/02/renters-beware-a-newer-type-of-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-10249 JennDee Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:50:00 +0000 http://theborrowedabode.com/?p=10626#comment-10249 I actually just went through the process of finding a new home and (finally!) signing the lease, and it took three months because almost everything listed on Craigslist in my area was part of this scam. These scams are popping up everywhere--I'm near a major city in Pennsylvania and you wouldn't believe how many listings are false once you begin looking at legitimate sites (I always use something like Trulia or Prudential Homes that many real estate agents use for their properties). Thanks for all the details, Jane!  I actually just went through the process of finding a new home and (finally!) signing the lease, and it took three months because almost everything listed on Craigslist in my area was part of this scam. These scams are popping up everywhere–I’m near a major city in Pennsylvania and you wouldn’t believe how many listings are false once you begin looking at legitimate sites (I always use something like Trulia or Prudential Homes that many real estate agents use for their properties). Thanks for all the details, Jane! 

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