Those Internet rental scams are still out there and crooks are preying on the desperate and unsuspecting. A richmond woman called 12 to warn others after she says she was nearly click the following article. Renee Dowdy is like most hard working Americans, she's just trying to make ends meet. But recently, like countless others she lost her home. So I moved me and the kids in with my sister," she said.

Richmond Famous & The Craigslist Show

For Renee, things only got worse, her sister just got the news richmond home is going into richmond. She turned to Craigslist hoping to find an affordable place to rent -- that too was a nightmare.

She showed us several of the ads and emails from supposed homeowners on Craigslist. Most claimed to live in Africa. The Ads and emails were full of red flags. For example, Renee couldn't see inside the home, only pictures.

And of course they all wanted money to be shipped overseas before she could get the keys. Some even used God to try and collect. Rene did some investigating and was able to find out the truth before losing click the following article money.

She says the real homeowner usually has no idea what's happening and tracking the crooks down is almost impossible. Nelson says never wire money. Also investigate the property, Google it, make sure it's not in foreclosure or on any other real estate website. You can also check property records to see who actually owns the home. Craigslist is virginia looking, and hopes her story is a warning to others -- she's thankful she didn't fall for it.

Consumer experts say another red flag is if the homeowner will not agree to meet you in person. You can report the scams directly to Craigslist or the Internet crime Complaint Center. Skip to content.

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