Rental Scam in Beach Area
SDAR was notified today of a rental scam taking place in the beach areas including La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. Someone has obtained the lockbox access codes for combination lockboxes located on vacant rental properties. These are not SentriLock lockboxes, but rather, simple combination lockboxes that can be obtained from retail stores. With a list of properties and lockbox combinations in hand, the scam artists list the properties for rent on Craig's List, show the property, take a deposit and then take off with the deposit money.
Steps that can be taken to limit this type of activity are:
- Use SentriLock lockboxes on your rental properties. They require a keycard and a PIN to access them. Never give out your keycard or PIN to anyone.
- If you must use a combination box, do not share your combinations with anyone and do not put the lockbox combination in your advertising - especially not on Craig's List. Do not use the same lockbox combination on all of your combination lockboxes
There was just a huge amount of that going on in Miami, smae thing as by you.. They would prey upon vacant Homes, or Pre- Foreclosure homes, change the locks, and put up for rent signs. Then collect first, last and security and they would be gone.. There was just a big Ring of people arrested a few weeks back.