What do you do when you find someone has scraped your listing and photos as a fraudulent rental ad on Trulia or Craigslist? I just Google'd the phone number and found multiple ads in multiple states!

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Jim Paulson, Owner,Broker (Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info)

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Rainmaker
4,800,082

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

There's a link to report it on Trulia and on Craigslist. They are pretty good at removing them.

Apr 10, 2015 04:13 AM

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Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Rainmaker
175,614

Spirit Messingham

Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ

Third Generation Full-Time Realtor® 520 471-6900

It happens, and not a lot we can do about it. I was asked about it on a featured news story that aired on Dateline. I do not post on Craigslist and other sites like that for that very reason. When people call, I tell them that the property is not for rent and to be careful.

Apr 10, 2015 04:07 AM

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Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Rainmaker
921,404

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041

ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL

Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

When possible post notice on window stating "If you are not working with a real estate professional, you may become a victim of fraud."

On T and Z and CL visit often and post a question or answer stating the only way to be sure you are not going to be a victim is by working with a REALTOR.

The solution is the MLS needs to inhibit image copy and STOP syndication.

Too many companies making way too much money for that to happen so some poor agent and broker will be in front of the judge denying the peril and harm they created. Then someone just might start paying attention.

Apr 10, 2015 03:12 AM

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Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Rainmaker
1,230,709

Sam Shueh

(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA

mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

You also need to blame companies like MLS, Z syndicating someone's listing.

My seller is calling me that she is getting calls wanting to buy her place. I told her it is scammers.

Apr 10, 2015 02:54 AM

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Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Rainmaker
7,669,039

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Report the issue to your local authorities.

In our area, the police department issues fraud and scam warnings to area residents.

Apr 10, 2015 02:53 AM

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Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Rainmaker
1,714,301

Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI

HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA

Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Jim Paulson Time to post a disclaimer and camp at the property to try to catch the scammers when they try to rent the home to an unsuspecting party.

Apr 10, 2015 01:21 AM

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Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Rainmaker
630,251

Ajay Pandya

e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH

Realtor Ajay Pandya

Report.

Apr 12, 2018 11:19 PM

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Rainmaker
402,116

Jim Paulson

Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID

Owner,Broker

Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI the problem is the people doing these scams are out of state or worse yet, out of the country that typically do these types of scams. Not only do they try to collect the "security deposit", they also collect all the unsuspecting tenants private data on their application.

I think the FBI should have a task force tracking these things down and stopping them. I am amazed that the police and the FBI can't (or won't take time and resources to) yet some of the news media have been able to set up sting operations to catch them!

Apr 10, 2015 01:37 AM

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There's a link to report it on Trulia and on Craigslist. They are pretty good at removing them.
It happens, and not a lot we can do about it. I was asked about it on a featured news story that aired on Dateline. I do not post on Craigslist and other sites like that for that very reason. When people call, I tell them that the property is not for rent and to be careful.
When possible post notice on window stating "If you are not working with a real estate professional, you may become a victim of fraud."

On T and Z and CL visit often and post a question or answer stating the only way to be sure you are not going to be a victim is by working with a REALTOR.

The solution is the MLS needs to inhibit image copy and STOP syndication.

Too many companies making way too much money for that to happen so some poor agent and broker will be in front of the judge denying the peril and harm they created. Then someone just might start paying attention.
You also need to blame companies like MLS, Z syndicating someone's listing.

My seller is calling me that she is getting calls wanting to buy her place. I told her it is scammers.
Report the issue to your local authorities.

In our area, the police department issues fraud and scam warnings to area residents.
Jim Paulson Time to post a disclaimer and camp at the property to try to catch the scammers when they try to rent the home to an unsuspecting party.
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI the problem is the people doing these scams are out of state or worse yet, out of the country that typically do these types of scams. Not only do they try to collect the "security deposit", they also collect all the unsuspecting tenants private data on their application.

I think the FBI should have a task force tracking these things down and stopping them. I am amazed that the police and the FBI can't (or won't take time and resources to) yet some of the news media have been able to set up sting operations to catch them!