FAKE RENTAL ADS

My case today involved a rental deal that was just too good to be true.  When my client told me of an exciting opportunity for a three year lease in downtown Honolulu for one bedroom, one bathroom, two parking stalls, pets allowed, and all utilities included for $700 a month, I knew it must be a scam.

Tax map key information provided the true owner information who was easily accessible via an online search.  The owner answered her phone and was very surprised by the phone call.  She confirmed ownership of the apartment but denied the listing.  She immediately contacted her rental agent who asked for the links to the postings on Facebook and zumper.com by lease2rent21@gmail.com 

This reminds me of a case that I worked on with one of my favorite detectives, Robert Cravalho.  It was in March 2003 and the defendant placed advertisements in the Honolulu Advertiser offering to rent a property in Hawaii Kai.  When prospective renters would call, the defendant would arrange to meet them outside the home.  He told the renters that the property was being redone on the inside and would be done in a month.  The potential renters filled out a rental application and he would collect a deposit on the spot.  

The defendant led us on a merry case, actually a merry car chase but was eventually arrested.  He was a very interesting interview.  It turned out that he used alias names based on Stephen King novels.  A literary con artist.  The defendant, a career criminal, was convicted of three counts of felony theft, and one count of attempted felony theft.  He was sentenced to five years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 18 months.  

The property itself was also interesting because it was one of many purchased by a Japanese businessman who bought dozens of properties in East Honolulu in the 1980’s and then failed to keep the dwellings and even mansions in good care.  

The moral of the case, IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, ITS A SCAM.