Perrysburg Blog

“I am an out of town owner, and I want to rent my 4000 sq. foot, river front mansion in Perrysburg.  I will sign a 12 month lease for $299 per month.   I need a deposit of $2000.  Email me back on Craigslist or call 419-260-XXXX!”

Hmm.

Too good to be true?

Yes.  It is.

People are actually out there purporting to rent houses THEY DON’T REALLY OWN.

There have NEVER been more vacant houses in Perrysburg than there are today.

This weekend I had to check on 2 new assigned assets for a bank.  Both in Perrysburg.  Both long vacant.

It is neither hard to find them or to pretend to own/control/rent them.

Here is how they do it – and what it costs.

1.  Get a prepaid cell phone.  Use a false ID.  $120

2.  Find an empty house.  $0

3.  Jimmy the lock – put your own on.  $25

4.  Place a bogus Craigslist ad – $0

5.  Make the “deal” so good . . . that you have multiple takers.

6. Spend one day collecting the rental deposits.

7.  Vanish.

This is happening in many other markets – here is a report from San Diego.

I have experienced versions of this scam in Toledo with foreclosed houses.   But . . . it’s just a matter of time in Perrysburg.

Do not “leave the money on the table”.

Don’t rent from a person who is offering something too good to be true.

Don’t trust anyone who does not have a legitimate business presence in the area.

Verify the actual ownership of the property you want to rent – the Wood County Auditor is free!