7 On Your Side: Home Scam?

The "For Sale" sign is out at Aria Kilpatrick's historic Hyde Park home, but she was confused when renters started calling her.

"My phone just kept ringing off the hook," she said.

The callers said they had seen an ad on Craigslist advertising Kilpatrick's house for rent -- an ad she said she never placed.

"Well, I was really confuased at first," said Kilpatrick. "I didn't post an ad on Craigslist, and it's not for rent."

The ad said a thousand dollars a month for rent. A thousand dollars? That's what some people in this neighborhood pay in just taxes alone.

The craigslist ad is gone now, but those who responded got an email from "sandra0518@yahoo.com." The e-mail directed potential renters to a credit reporting website, where they were instructed to enter all kinds of personal information. Neither "Sandra" nor the website responded to e-mails seeking comment. At this time, there is no evidence anyone's personal information has been misused, but Kilpatrick feels violated nonetheless.

"Even though I wasn't the victim in it, I did feel taken advantage of," she said.

Kilpatrick said she reported the scam to Craigslist, but never got a response. Craigslist did not respond to us either, but their site claims they work dilligently to filter and remove fraudulent ads.

"People can get taken advantage of," said Kilpatrick.

And they do. Austin Police report they investigate up to a dozen Craigslist scams each week, but they're nearly impossible to prosecute.

The site gives users the following suggestions:

- Deal locally with people you can meet in person.
- Never wire money
- Fake cashier checks and money orders are common, and banks will cash them and then hold you responsible.
- Never give out personal or financial information.
- Avoid deals involving shipping or escrow services.

"They seemed like they were preying on people just looking for a bargain in the economy right now," said Kilpatrick.

Kilpatrick is still taking offers on the house -- for sale. She hopes no one else becomes an unwitting accomplice in a potential scam.

Believe it or not, APD said it's not a crime to claim you own someone else's house and try to rent it out. However, it is identity theft if someone uses your personal information to steal from you.