More apparent scams have surfaced on Craigslist for “too-good-to-be-true” offers in Richmond’s scarce rental market.
After the Richmond News published a story last week about a renter in the city avoiding being duped into handing out deposits for a non-existent apartment near Kwantlen Polytechnic University, another reader has come forward with two similar experiences.
Ginette Generoso also replied to an advert on Craigslist, this time for a three-bedroom condo in Carlton Park Gardens on Mortfield Road, in south Richmond, for a bargain $1,000 per month.
Another ad she looked at was for a similarly great looking deal for a three-bedroom apartment on Garden City Road.
On both occasions, Generoso received an inarticulate reply in broken English and her requests to view the apartments were ignored.
“I’m hoping this will pique further interest and forewarn the community that the struggle is real with finding affordable housing and more so when there are scammers trying to take advantage,” she wrote in an email to the News.
James Marshall last week told the News of receiving replies from West Africa to his requests for more information about a rental ad.
“He wanted me to send me the money through a money order and he would DHL the keys. It was obviously a scam, but I would be worried that, given how desperate people are right now for affordable rental accommodation, someone is going to take the risk with this guy and give him the money,” said Marshall.
Marshall said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the scammer gets lucky.
