Recently the DeKalb Police Department received a complaint regarding a Craigslist scam. The victim reported they learned of a house for rent in DeKalb through Craigslist. The victim was interested in renting the house and wired a significant amount of money through MoneyGram to the “landlord” renting out the home. The money was wired out of state.
The victim arrived at the property to move in and realized he was scammed. The suspect at that time had already received the funds. The DeKalb Police Department wants to warn residents of scams such as these. If you are asked to wire money to anyone unknown to you, especially out of state or out of the country, it is most likely a scam. Typically suspects will request funds be sent to them via MoneyGram, Western Union or Green Dot. Residents need to be cautious of all sites, not just Craigslist. Other sites may include Ebay, FaceBook, and others that offer items for purchase or rent.
If you are renting a house or apartment and question the legitimacy of the landlord or rental agreement, you can contact Crime Free Housing with your concerns at 815-748-8435. If you have a complaint or feel you were the victim of a scam, contact the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400.
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