Craigslist Scam Strikes Springs Woman

Cynthia Holmes told KRDO Newschannel 13 she is looking for a new home to rent. She said she found a ?4 bedroom, 3 bath home for $700 per month? which she described as ?very beautiful? and ?too good to be true?

Holmes responded to the listing and the male, who referred to himself as John, sent her the application.

?Then I got an email back stating that he accepted my application and I needed to send the $700 deposit and $700 in rent, a total of $1400, to him via Western Union and within 24 hours I would have the keys via UPS,? said Holmes.

Holmes said the email correspondences from John were filled with grammatical errors and poor verbiage.

According to Holmes, John said the home was not able to be toured because the owner ?had a job offer in another state and that they had left the day prior. So that?s why he had to do the transaction through Western Union.?

Holmes also said John had called her several times during the middle of the night to ensure that she had received the acceptance email, which she said seemed unprofessional.

Holmes confirmed that this listing was a scam when she ?Googled the address and the Realtor?s website popped up.?

Holmes said she contacted the Realtor, and when he called her back he said ?I have had calls from others. Unfortunately this guy has put a scam out there on Craigslist. Certainly the property is not for rent, we have nothing to do with this posting that?s been put out there.?

According to Craigslist website, to avoid being scammed always meet in person, insist on seeing the interior of the home and never wire funds.