Community Corner

Police: Be Aware of Craigslist Rental Scam

A man informed police of a scheme involving a rental property in Upper Gwynedd.

Police want the public to be aware of a Craigslist scam that involves a scheme involving an Upper Gwynedd home and sending hundreds of dollars to Nigeria.

On May 27 at 2:01 p.m., Lansdale police received a report of a possible scam on Craigslist.

A 26-year-old man from the 600 block of South Broad Street reported he was looking for a new apartment to rent, police said.

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The man emailed an individual claiming to be the owner of a home on Sumneytown Pike in Upper Gwynedd.

The Craigslist ad provided a picture of the house and its address, and advertised rent at $700 a month.

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Police said a response email to the man included information that the owners were missionaries living in Africa and were looking for someone to rent their house and keep an eye on it.

When the Lansdale man asked if he could see the inside of the property, the alleged owners told him to send $600 to them in Nigeria and they would send the key, police said.

The man drove by the house and discovered the house was for sale. He then contacted the real estate agent, and was advised that it was a scam. The real estate agent had received hundreds of calls about the ad, police said.

No money was sent, and no loss occurred, police said.

Lansdale police ask citizens to be very cautious of any type of Internet communication where monetary transactions are involved. 

Contact Lansdale police at 215-368-1801 with any questions or concerns about this type of situation.


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