Hawaiiʻ Island police
are warning the public about a real estate scam that falsely lists houses for
rent when they are really being offered for sale by someone else.
A South Kohala woman answered an ad posted on the website listed by a person
advertising a home for rent on Kawaihae Road. The person posing as the
homeowner claimed to be out of the country living in the United Kingdom and
asked the victim to fill out a rental application provided on-line and then wire
$2,258 via Western Union to cover first month's rent, security deposit and a
deposit for the house keys.
The rental agreement and keys were to be delivered to the renter via DHL
shipment. When the house keys did not arrive, the victim became suspicious and
drove to the street address for the rental, where she saw a real estate company
"For Sale" sign fronting the house. After contacting the real estate agent, the
victim learned the home was offered for sale and not for rent by the owners.
Police advise prospective renters not to make arrangements to rent property
without confirming that the person offering the property for rent is the owner
or authorized rental agent.
Copyright 2013 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
