Local renter issues warning about high country scammer

A Green Mountain Falls man said a trip to the mountains left him without a place to stay but a big bill to pay. He said a scammer pretended to be affiliated with a legitimate rental company to lure him in.

Thomas Hodapp was interested in renting a place in the mountains with friends. He started his search on Craigslist. He wasn’t having much luck, until he got a response back from a man calling himself Michael Martin. In an email, Hodapp said Martin told him a two bedroom place was available.

Hodapp said Martin told him he was a Realtor with Rocky Mountain Resort Management, RMRM. Hodapp called the company to verify that it was legitimate.

“Called the number to make sure it was a legitimate place and they were like “hey, Rocky Mountain Resort Management.” And I was like, ‘Do you guys do resort rentals?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah.’ And that’s all I really needed,” said Hodapp.

Hodapp signed the rental agreement and sent Martin almost $1,000 through a bank transfer.

Hodapp’s instructions told him to visit the “front desk” to pick up his keys when he arrived. But when he showed up, Hodapp found there was no front desk. He called the after-hours number for RMRM and found out, he had been scammed.

“He said, ‘Who did you deal with?’ I said, ‘Michael Martin,’ and he said, ‘We have had issues with him. There have been complaints before,'” said Hodapp.

RMRM’s owner, Jeff Depaola, calls this scamming situation a “nightmare.” He said Martin is pretending to be associated with two other rental property companies to lure in customers.

Depaolo has been working with police to try to track down Martin. In the meantime, he is monitoring Craigslist and flagging ads posted to Craigslist. Still, he said he is frustrated because the website is doing little to pull down and prevent the ads.

Crystal Johnston with the Better Business Bureau offered tips for people interested in renting properties.

“I would be shocked if this was not the first time I heard it,” said Johnston.

She said customers can call the BBB and verify that the company has been vetted.

Johnston also recommended reading all online reviews, especially the negative ones. And, make sure all correspondence between you and the company is in writing.

“Always makes sure you have items in writing. If you don’t have items in writing and you haven’t shaken the hand of the person you’re giving money to, you have nothing against them, especially when it’s just word of mouth,” said Johnston.

And if you have been scammed, the BBB asks you to notify it immediately.