I’m writing to share a distressing experience I had while searching for a rental property, with the hope that it might prevent others from falling into the same trap.

My search for a place to rent led me to Craigslist, where I found what seemed like an ideal home. I communicated with someone online and over the phone about the property. They even sent me the address to go and view the place in person, which I did. After inspecting the property, I got back in touch with them, and they promptly sent me a copy of the lease. Everything appeared legitimate at first glance; the lease was even notarized.

Convinced that this was a genuine deal, I sent them the money for the rental. However, immediately after receiving my payment, they blocked me on all platforms and ceased all communication. This action left me in a dire situation, as I had invested everything I had in this supposed rental, causing me to lose my current home. As a result, I’m now facing incredibly challenging circumstances, including homelessness.

I want to alert everyone in this community to be extra cautious, especially when dealing with rental properties on platforms like Craigslist. The legitimacy of documents like a notarized lease can still be part of a scam.