***RENTER BEWARE*** Rental Scam Alert
Investigators stated Florida area criminals are lifting rental listings from real estate property managers, falsely adding their name as a contact and then posting it on the rental section of websites such as Craigslist.com. The consumer views a real home for rent, but then contacts the criminal to request more information. Criminals have drilled into lockboxes and placed renters in properties in an attempt to collect the first month’s rent and a security deposit. So far, the problem seems limited to the central Gulf Coast area, but it could be duplicated anywhere in the state. If you suspect a similar crime has occurred, you should call the local police or sheriff’s office rather than try to deal with the problem.