Realtors Warn About New Online Scam Hitting Charlotte

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by Kirk Hawkins, Photojournalist Tim Mullican

Story Created: Nov 23, 2012 at 12:07 AM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 23, 2012 at 2:57 AM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Searching for the picture perfect home is now just a click away. Granite countertops, custom bathrooms and balcony views from exclusive penthouses. All the features online. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "The photographs that I put on the multiple listing service, Craigslist and the other service are out there for anyone to look at.  We want you to see the house. But also, anyone can take the pictures and use them in the way that they have in this case," said Scott Lindsley of Janus Real Estate.

Realtors like Lindsley are warning of those pictures being used as part of online rental scams.
"It's been over a year now that one by one by one I've seen these cases happen," Lindsley said.
Lindsley said scammers are posting fraudulent lease and rental listings. The pictures, re-posted from legitimate ads on places like Craigslist.

Holly Lam manages properties for Brown and Glenn Realty. She scans Craigslist on a daily basis for any sign of her company's ads and photos. As Holly's work continues, the Better Business Bureau of Charlotte says potential renters should be weary of anyone asking for first month's rent via wire transfer or cashier's check, even without getting inside the property. "If it seems too good to be true. The rule has been around forever. It probably is," said Lindsley.

On its website, Craigslist says renters should not sign lease agreements without seeing the interior of their properties they are looking at living in. Police say the scammers are tough to catch because they often don't leave a paper trail and live outside the United States.

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