My understand is that these scams were quite normal during the height of the foreclosure crisis in markets with a lot of properties from which owners walked away. Some people are gullible, but it is also true that some scammers are exceptionally good at their craft.

Different situation, but somewhat related: I know of a nice couple who was paying rent for a condo for close to a year before they were suddenly forced to move out because the owner had decided to not pay the mortgage and let the property go into foreclosure. So, he collected rent for a year, never paid his mortgage and let the property go into foreclosure with nary a consequence: he lives in England, so the credit issues are moot to him, and the condo was WAY underwater as he had borrowed like 95% at peak price, and the property had taken a beating shortly thereafter.

I saw a craigslist ad a couple years ago for a Hamilton Park area apartment that seemed a little too good to be true. I emailed for more info and asked if it would be ok if I had a pet baboon. They replied and said pets were ok.

I'd like to see the paperwork he drew up and the set of house keys as well. Some people are gullible.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a North Jersey man they say swindled thousands from an unsuspecting couple by renting out a vacant Linden home that he did not own.

William Prokos, 35, of Kearny and Cliffside Park, is wanted on charges of burglary and theft by deception, said Capt. James Sarnicki.



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This scam is happening in GV, I know of one victim, so be very careful who you rent from.