Unfortunately, this scam has been going around for a while and must be working since it's still here.  When in doubt, contact someone reputable to verify rental property owners.  At Ferrari Pacific Realty, we will be happy to assist you in researching owners if you need assistance.  Any time you're renting from an owner or anyone except a legitimate rental brokerage, please contact us.  There is no obligation and no charge for this service.  You can email Robert@FerrariPacificRealty.com or call 808-896-0661 to talk about the property.  We will need the property address and the name of the person claiming to be the owner.  You may want to ask if the property is in their name, some are owned by groups or corporations making it more difficult, not impossible, to locate the names of authorized owners.
 
Please be advised that there continues to be a threat to the real estate industry from scammers using Craigslist and other classified advertising websites. Crooks are scraping information from real listings and are posting them as fake rental properties, posing as an owner or management company.  Once someone responds, they attempt to get the person to send deposits and advance rent payments, usually to overseas addresses, promising delivery of keys after receiving the funds.
 
These scams are found nationwide, but they have been reported in Hawaii on several occasions, so please be cautious and aware.  If possible, you may want to periodically check Craigslist using the addresses of your listings or key phrases from your property details to ensure that they aren't being misrepresented.
 
Here are a few helpful links to recent articles concerning this scam:
 

    * KITV: Housing Scams Pop Up on Craigslist
    * PBN: Hawaii BBB, Realtors warn of rental scams
    * KPUA: Rental scam hits Hawaii
    * New York Times: Rent in Haste, Repent at Leisure