U.K. resident Scott Armstrong thought he caught the deal of a lifetime when he saw a posting on website Craigslist.com for a $600 (monthly rental) Sandyport one-bedroom apartment. It was an offer he hurriedly jumped at for his imminent Bahamas move, only to have alarm bells go off later about something strange in the listing.
"I should have remembered the old adage 'if something looks too good to be true it generally is'," Armstrong told Guardian Business. "The man advertising the property purported to be away in South Africa on missionary work but he kept insisting I fill out an online application form asking for personal details such as my passport number, address and age [and] I began to get suspicious.
"It was then I searched the address online and discovered someone else owned the property."
Indeed, Armstrong had stumbled on the first published case of a rental scam targeting The Bahamas in the online ad community.
It's a situation even the real owner of the property had no knowledge of, despite the schemer using a similar neighborhood description for the con.
Still, there was one telling sign for Armstrong when he researched the actual unit: Although the description was the same, the real listing was for a three-bedroom apartment.
The property listing was a con to swindle personal info out of interested takers — an increasing identity theft scheme being noted on Craigslist.com.
While increasing cases of such scams are popping up around North American on a frequent basis, it's the first documented con that has reached The Bahamas.
Bahamas Real Estate Agency (BREA) President Willie Wong is now cautioning buyers in the Bahamas market to be aware that there are ongoing scams and encouraged interested persons to use the proper channels that have been set up to avoid such occurrences.
"This is the first time I'm hearing something like this," Wong said. "The best way to safeguard themselves is to deal with a licensed BREA agent.
"Because at least with licensed BREA agents, we're governed by an act of Parliament [and] if one agent does foolishness, they are in serious problems. So at least the public has protection."
Wong added the organization currently has a monitoring committee that combs the market for any hint of foul play, adding that the Craigslist.com scheme would now be placed on the list.
Already the situation has caused the real rental property owner to take action, demanding that the schemer cease and desist or the appropriate authorities will be notified of the activities.
The situation, however, has served to teach Armstrong a tough lesson.
"While looking for a property [in The Bahamas] I went to Craigslist.com but never expected to be targeted by a fraud," he said. "It goes to show you can never be too careful with your personal data."
By INDERIA SAUNDERS
Nassau Guardian Business Reporter
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"I should have remembered the old adage 'if something looks too good to be true it generally is'," Armstrong told Guardian Business. "The man advertising the property purported to be away in South Africa on missionary work but he kept insisting I fill out an online application form asking for personal details such as my passport number, address and age [and] I began to get suspicious.
"It was then I searched the address online and discovered someone else owned the property."
Indeed, Armstrong had stumbled on the first published case of a rental scam targeting The Bahamas in the online ad community.
It's a situation even the real owner of the property had no knowledge of, despite the schemer using a similar neighborhood description for the con.
Still, there was one telling sign for Armstrong when he researched the actual unit: Although the description was the same, the real listing was for a three-bedroom apartment.
The property listing was a con to swindle personal info out of interested takers — an increasing identity theft scheme being noted on Craigslist.com.
While increasing cases of such scams are popping up around North American on a frequent basis, it's the first documented con that has reached The Bahamas.
Bahamas Real Estate Agency (BREA) President Willie Wong is now cautioning buyers in the Bahamas market to be aware that there are ongoing scams and encouraged interested persons to use the proper channels that have been set up to avoid such occurrences.
"This is the first time I'm hearing something like this," Wong said. "The best way to safeguard themselves is to deal with a licensed BREA agent.
"Because at least with licensed BREA agents, we're governed by an act of Parliament [and] if one agent does foolishness, they are in serious problems. So at least the public has protection."
Wong added the organization currently has a monitoring committee that combs the market for any hint of foul play, adding that the Craigslist.com scheme would now be placed on the list.
Already the situation has caused the real rental property owner to take action, demanding that the schemer cease and desist or the appropriate authorities will be notified of the activities.
The situation, however, has served to teach Armstrong a tough lesson.
"While looking for a property [in The Bahamas] I went to Craigslist.com but never expected to be targeted by a fraud," he said. "It goes to show you can never be too careful with your personal data."
By INDERIA SAUNDERS
Nassau Guardian Business Reporter
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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