Local Realtor's Listing Used in Craigslist Rental Scam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Ellen Butters
Owner/Principal Broker
EXIT Cornerstone Realty
540-825-9898
info@exitcornerstone.com

Local Realtor's Listing Used in Craigslist Rental Scam

Culpeper, Virginia (Grassroots Newswire) December, 10, 2014 -- BUYER BEWARE: In this season of good will, it is easy to be too trusting of a seemingly wonderful deal. Such is the case in a scam coming from a recent Craigslist ad. Both consumers seeking rentals and fellow Realtors listing properties should be made aware of the con that was uncovered last week by EXIT Cornerstone Realty Agent John Fischer. Fischer recently listed a home for sale through various online listing service, to include Craigslist. Unknowingly to Fischer, an imposter stole the photos and listing information and posted, on Craigslist, the same home for rent at a phenomenal and unrealistic price of $650 per month. The scammer posed as a "Christian pastor" who wanted a good family to take care of his 3 bedroom home while he was out of the country doing missionary work. He included a fake lease application and asked that one month's rent be sent along with the completed form.

Some consumers, feeling uneasy about the rental "deal", called EXIT Cornerstone directly. Upon taking their calls last Thursday and Friday, Fischer immediately flagged the fraudulent Craigslist ad and had it removed, but unfortunately the damage had been done.

After informing the homeowner of the scam, Fischer warned him that there was potential for unknowing victims of the crime to show up at his door, fake lease in hand. Sure enough, at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday December 4th, excited "renters" arrived at Fischer's client's home expecting to move in! Their excitement soon turned to shock as they realized that they had signed a fraudulent lease and been conned out of $650.

EXIT Cornerstone's principal broker Ellen Butters phoned the Virginia Association of Realtors legal hotline and spoke with legal counselor Laura Murray. Murray advised the firm to set up internet searches for their listing addresses and check Craigslist and MilitaryByOwner.com regularly, as these websites have been used in the past to defraud the public.

EXIT Cornerstone Realty has notified local law enforcement and the FBI, and urges consumers to report any scams they encounter at FBI.gov. Click the Scams/Safety tab, then E-scams & warnings, and finally click on Internet Crime Complaint Center & File a Report.

For more information about EXIT Cornerstone Realty, please call 540-825-9898. EXIT Cornerstone Realty is located at 15367 Brandy Rd, Ste A, Culpeper, VA 22701.
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Documents and/or Photos available for this release:

Home used in scam
John Fischer, Realtor
To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 381018