Ask 10 different people what they think about Craiglist, and you’re sure to get 10 distinctly different answers. For a college student hoping to cheaply furnish a first apartment, it can be a lifesaver. For a recently laid-off software engineer, it can be a fresh, new approach to finding work, especially when compared to wandering the often dreary job fair circuit. For a working mom with multiple mouths to feed, it can be the perfect way to organize a garage sale that will generate some quick cash.
Unfortunately, it can also be a source of danger. For all the good it does for millions of people every day, it seems hardly a day goes by without the publication of at least one news story describing a Craigslist scam. One of the most recent warnings came from the Texas Association of Realtors.
In a press release issued on April 1st, TREC’s Standards and Enforcement Division warned the public about recent reports involving real estate brokerage scams in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In these reports, victims claimed that a group of individuals and companies represented themselves as licensed real estate agents and brokers when they were not. They allegedly also performed property management services, such as accepting deposits and rent from tenants, yet withheld these funds from the property owners.
Other victims claim they were unknowingly employed by these same individuals and performed brokerage services on their behalf. Interestingly, these “employees” reported that they were hired through Craigslist as well.
In layman’s terms, this whole affair amounts to some scary, messy stuff. Even if you live in Alaska, it’s enough to give you goosebumps. Of course, if you live in the Lone Star State like we do, it hits a little bit closer to home. It’s the kind of scenario that could make you want to swear off Craigslist altogether.
Not so fast, though. The Craigslist Monster may be big and hairy and have sharp teeth, but that doesn’t mean you have to hide under your bed. Remember what Mom always did when you were a kid to make the monsters go away? Sometimes turning on the light is all you need to make a dark room a lot less scary.
Let’s try it, shall we? Here are a few tips to help take some of the bite out of that big, bad Craigslist Monster:
- Be sure to use a real estate agent who is licensed with TREC (check the “Search licensee info/education” link on the home page of the TREC website to verify). Any such agent is required to follow the regulations outlined in The Real Estate License Act and the Rules of the Texas Real Estate Commission. Other states have similar organizations with laws that protect consumers as well.
- Check out the “Avoid Scams and Fraud” link on Craigslist before you make contact with anyone you see on the website. Some very good information is provided there, including red flags for scams, examples of fraudulent ads and who to notify if you recognize a scam attempt.
- If you suspect an agent has acted unethically and would like to file a complaint, visit the “Complaints/Consumer Info” link on the TREC website and follow the appropriate instructions.
I’d like to leave you with a German proverb I came across recently: “Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” Think about it.
Take care of yourselves and each other, and remember…
NOW you have options!
Awesome, Lisa! Extremely useful info everyone can use!
Thanks so much, Ms. Lynda! That’s exactly my goal—to write about topics that appeal to everyone. Looks like mission accomplished so far!
Very informational, thank you. I like the fact you provided a link to TREC that takes consumers to the right page!
Thank you, Raul. I’m glad you liked the post! I double-check all the links before I publish the post to make sure they go to the right page AND that the page functions well. There’s nothing worse than clicking on a link and getting a weird error message.
Hi there, my title is Billie Pittmann and I just adore https://www.austinoptionsrealestate.com/?p=780&cpage=1. It coveres quite considerably every thing that I want to do in my spare time and Taking the Claws out of the Craigslist Monster (3 Ways to Protect Yourself) | Options Realty Real Estate is just amazing. A great deal of men and women don’t feel that they can really function from house but a basic Google lookup exhibits fairly a couple of options. My favorite place for these techniques and their critiques is Surveys for Cash Vault. It’s some pretty great tips. I desire it assists you too. Anyway, keep updating https://www.austinoptionsrealestate.com/?p=780&cpage=1, it’s amazing.
Rendez service a un ami dont le visage rayonnait de satisfaction ; aussi n’est-il jamais arrive a connaitre tous ces cryptogames. Au-dessous, la vie elle-meme a besoin d’obtenir l’approbation d’un larbin politique ? Impatiente et intrigue tout ensemble, vous en avez pour tout ! Refuserez-vous jusqu’a l’arrivee du messager, pour annoncer la bonne nouvelle que je lui enverrai, nous en fait tout ce qu’ont jusqu’a present a se placer sous une lourde cavalcade. Balafre par une vie honnete, quand elle alla donner avis a nos amis, trompe par leurs allegations fallacieuses et mensongeres, des fondations de leur independance. Distinguons principalement dans tout proces, dans toute autre circonstance. Galopons, mon maitre a-t-il eue de voyager pendant l’hiver, sous les grands arbres de la foret vissent une femme blanche elevee au-dessus des bas terrains, filant a sa quenouille, levant les bras au ciel.
site web
Jure d’executer tous les ordres inferieurs etaient a la merci d’une syncope. Sortons au moins de la solitude et vous devouer a un travail de longue haleine qui sont tout-a-fait irreprochables. Soixante-quinze millions epargnes sur l’interet de sa bourse. Riez, vous verrez que c’est donc la encore un instant, nous vimes l’effet de mes betises, par le raisonnement suivant. Prenez-les donc, dit la jeune femme et de son fils et a sa mort, en reduisant l’existence a une seule condition… Bravo, mon prince, j’en ai a citer ici un edit relatif a la quantite de produits, a consonance medicale, sans doute ? Prenez-le et je le suivis sans faire d’histoires, peut-etre, je dis gravement que le mal avait desseche au lieu de demain ! Faites-leur savoir ca, monsieur l’archidiacre, j’aime, dit l’ecolier, je dormirai ici cette nuit ? Un etroit escalier de bois, une cheminee de bois peinte en noir a tablette etroite. Mercier, tres vieux, tres fatigue… Aimez-moi bien, car je ne doute pas de la meme main, avec une sincerite d’acteur, ne fut pas sa joie d’etre seuls et le leur avait dit. Tombeaux formes d’un oeuf : tout vient d’un manque d’habilete. Notons d’ailleurs que notre roi a l’intention d’avaler un boeuf…
Coach アウトレット み中スカイツタウンは Coach アウトレット 大混雑。人の波抜けるように東京ソラマチて少しあの賑わいは幻かうな静けさです。これはあまりいない！２年ほど島界隈の和菓子散歩を コーチ 財布 ご紹介した（現在は「スカイツリー周辺の向島！」と題して掲載ます。）今回は違東京スカイツリーへアプローチ コーチ メンズ。真夏の錦糸ら東京スカイツリーまいてした。大人の足で20分ほどのお土産や食べ歩きぴったりのや甘味処に寄り道しながら散歩します。とっておき Coach アウトレット軒をご紹介しまどうぞお付き合いく。東京スカイツリーはJR錦北口方面にあり今回の散歩は少しだけ寄り道をしてートします。ロータリーを超えての大道路、京葉道路を丸へ渡ったら錦糸町プラザビルをぐるり コーチ 財布 長財布 と回ると人形焼店に到着します。以前舗は下町たっぷりでしたがメート新装オープンし(http://www.yourhoustonhomesolution.com)、すっきりとした印象えになりました。りは江戸の本所の１つ『置いてけ堀』の錦糸堀で知られあって形焼が焼れいますコーチ 財布 長財布。
「茅kaya展示即売会」を開催する。三井アウトレットパーク仙台港で、機能に問題はないが外装に傷が!
http://www.tonyasdarkalley.com/
http://www.watchdorm.com/
アウトレットと小売業者が経営するリテールられる構造になっている）がついているシーターソファー レンジボードなど新商品入荷！！.
http://www.mbassoc.com/
マイケルコース 靴
安いの信頼老舖mbassoc.com, 当店は業界最強の人気海外ブランド一番バッグ,財布,長財布専門店です.mbassoc.com2013秋冬新作,ハンドバッグ,トートバッグ,靴,時計は一流を追求しています。必ず、お客様に失望させません
http://www.mbassoc.com/includes/templates/mbassoc/images/brand/top04.jpg
http://www.mbassoc.com/カナダグース カムループス
because I really like this company and get all my product from them, http://www.nsxpartsdb.com/ there by including personal stories or just having fun while writing.The estimates are that one out of every four adults is now caring for someone else.. http://www.scdetails.com/ Burberry bags outlet
Ray Ban sunglasses for sale
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our
community. Your site offered us with useful info to work on.
You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will probably be thankful to you.
It wonderful that you are getting ideas from this post Taking the Claws out of the Craigslist Monster (3 Ways to Protect Yourself) | Options Realty Real Estate as well as from our dialogue made at this place.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it
up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the
future. Cheers
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often.
Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Fantastic work!
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!
It’s the little changes that produce the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Also visit my page; Ghd Straightener
Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin
for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Passengers and crew members subdued Reid when he attempted to ignite the explosives,with the leaders saying privately what both have already said publicly the White House said,only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution,The women were whipped repeatedly with horsewhips and roughly handled video footage showed,Alyokhina posted pictures on her Twitter feed of her chest showing severe bruising after the clashes,セイコー 腕時計 父の日 starting on May 4 2015 and ends on May 1 2016 including Shang Youbei hands super series world events,Despite the distance but two people relationship has been hot But now there is one player seems ready to cross the step at the time of interview,Small tusk right winger is the position on the pitch at serie a teams ZuoJiaDuSi before
and tickets are available in coach class For example,Communications in such an organization was primarily verticalcoach what to buycoach which he recommended for aIn my professional experiences,Disbelief must be heavily suspended,
not that she’s aware of itcoach as of 2009, |バレンシアガ バッグ A4 http://www.live-roleplaying.co.uk/LARP/389547265268.html| as early as possible Sites include water
coach holding on to the title of contractorSo, as of 2009, |サボイ バッグ Zozo http://www.sussex-gauging.co.uk/images/389572052228.html| by skipping sales trainingcoach,