Craigslist scam cheating Denver residents

DENVER, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Some Denver homeowners say they and unsuspecting renters have been victimized by a Craigslist scam apparently based out of Nigeria.

Homeowner John Kurowski said the Web site had featured an advertisement that placed a property he owned up for rent at a cheap price without his consent, KCNC-TV, Denver, reported Wednesday.

"First of all it's not his house, whoever this person is; it's not their house," Kurowski said. "Second of all they have no right to use my house as part of a scam."

Kurowski said when his real estate agent inquired about the offer, a reply said the home owner was in the West African country of Nigeria but was accepting rental deposits.

Connie Yamauchi with Heartstone Properties said there have been similar complaints from other Denver residents, who send funds in the hopes of renting such discounted properties through Craigslist.

"It's been a horrible experience. They've lost their money and he does sometimes send them keys," she told KCNC-TV, referring to the unidentified perpetrator of the online scam. "He'll overnight a key and it's just a blank key that goes to nothing."