Valerie Kumra was sitting at her house in Dillon Beach, a small waterfront community off Bodega Bay, one afternoon when she heard an unexpected knock on the door.
A young couple stood in front of her, looking excited. “We’re here!” the husband exclaimed.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
A young couple stood in front of her, looking excited. “We’re here!” the husband exclaimed.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
The couple had “rented” Kumra’s home after seeing an ad on Craigslist.
They had texted the alleged owners just 10 minutes before arriving to tell them they were almost there and they had responded that they would be there to greet them.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
They had texted the alleged owners just 10 minutes before arriving to tell them they were almost there and they had responded that they would be there to greet them.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
It all unraveled from there.
The couple showed Kumra that they had paid the scammer via bank transfer, they had signed a contract that included Kumra and her husband’s name and the listing even included extensive photos and a description of the home.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
The couple showed Kumra that they had paid the scammer via bank transfer, they had signed a contract that included Kumra and her husband’s name and the listing even included extensive photos and a description of the home.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
Kumra immediately got to work.
She searched Craigslist in hopes she could call to get the false listing taken down immediately, but was unable to find a phone number anywhere.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
She searched Craigslist in hopes she could call to get the false listing taken down immediately, but was unable to find a phone number anywhere.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
She called the sheriff's office, but there wasn’t much they could do to help.
Today’s technology makes it difficult to catch a scammer, they told her, especially when anyone can change their IP address.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
Today’s technology makes it difficult to catch a scammer, they told her, especially when anyone can change their IP address.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
She got back on Craigslist and quickly recognized other homes nearby also listed for rent, even though she knew none of them were.
She alerted everyone she could, and one by one, listings came down.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
She alerted everyone she could, and one by one, listings came down.
sfgate.com/local/article/…
One year later, she’s still keeping up the crusade, at least for Dillon Beach.
She checks Craigslist once a week for new listings to flag and renews her own ads warning anyone searching the area that any ad they see for a rental in the area is a scam: bit.ly/3bucpr1
She checks Craigslist once a week for new listings to flag and renews her own ads warning anyone searching the area that any ad they see for a rental in the area is a scam: bit.ly/3bucpr1
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