Scam Artist Arrested in San Francisco

August 4th, 2010 by Matt DiChiara| Posted in Weekly News Update | 5 Comments »

Local alleged lump of human garbage Rachael Marie Smith has been arrested for using Craigslist to scam potential renters out of their deposits. Ms. Smith advertised her apartment on Craigslist, accepted deposits from several renters and then postponed their move in date, claiming that her mother was sick with cancer.

The scam was uncovered when one woman who signed a lease with Ms. Smith but could then not get in touch with her new’ landlord.’ She mentioned her troubles to a coworker, who, lo and behold, was having the same difficulty with the same woman and had heard the same sob story. The two women hired a lawyer, who also had clients complaining of the same scam and the police were called.

Ms. Smith is accused of stealing a total of $20,000 from at least four renters. Police also think that others may have fallen prey to the hoax and encourage anyone who has been defrauded to call Inspector John Monroe at 415.553.1936.

If you believe you have been defrauded by a similar scam elsewhere in the nation you can contact the authorities (from RentalScams.org):

* FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
* FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
* Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501

If you have any questions about this or other questionable activities, please call our customer service center, or visit The Federal Trade Commission’s website at:

(www.ftc.gov)

Internet Crime Complaint Center

(www.ic3.gov)