When Bill and his family were planning a four-day getaway for the Labor Day weekend last year, they decided to hire someone to look after their home and pets while they were away. Bill searched craigslist and found several possible candidates.
One person who looked particularly promising was 71-year-old Martha Smith. She was a grandmother type from a nearby town who seemed nice and trustworthy. The family went on vacation and left their home in her care.
When they returned, they found a very unpleasant surprise. Smith wasn’t who she said she was. She had given them a fake name, and police had shown up at Bill’s home the day before he and his family returned, and arrested the woman.
Acting on a tip from neighbors, Smith was arrested for what police believed was a long string of fraud and identity theft charges spanning four states. Neighbors alerted the police that the house sitter was leaving doors and windows open and unattended at the house for long periods of time.
When she was arrested, Smith had in her possession items from at least four of the other families she’d scammed, as well as items from Bill’s home.
Turns out, there were warrants in three other states for Smith’s arrest. The woman has been charged with credit card theft, receiving stolen property and theft by taking.
Craigslist has an anti-scam page on its site, warning customers to deal locally with people they meet in person, and never to send money by way of a wire service.
Bill said Smith was polite, and very well spoken – and downright charming – and she almost charmed his family out of house and home.
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Tags: craigslist, housesitting, Identity Theft, LifeLock promo code
