Woman says she was scammed out of over $2,000 while looking to rent in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A woman looking to rent a house in Jacksonville said she was scammed out of more than $2,000.

Norma Davila said she found a rental house listed on Craigslist for $1,000 a month, including utilities.

She said the landlord told her he wasn’t showing the house in person because of the coronavirus. Instead, he gave her the link to the virtual tour and the code to the lockbox with the house keys in them.

After seeing the house, Davila decided to move forward. “It sounded like a good deal,” Davila said. “Finally found what I was looking for and I was like, ‘oh dream come true.’” The dream turned into a nightmare.

She said the landlord sent her an application and lease, which she later found out were fake. Davila said she wired more than $2,000 to the individual before realizing it was a scam. Davila said she reported the scam to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and isn’t hopeful she’ll get her money back.

Davila said scammers are preying on desperate people during the pandemic. “I was taken advantage of,” Davila said. She said she wants to warn others and hopes people learn from her story. “I don’t want to see anyone else in the situation,” Davila said. “It’s hard enough as it is with this pandemic going on.”

The Better Business Bureau said scammers are capitalizing on COVID-19. The coronavirus has changed how people look at a new home to rent or buy, with virtual tours becoming more common.

The BBB said here are some red flags a rental is fake:

• The supposed landlord won’t show the house or apartment in person.
• They want you to wire money or pay with gift cards.
• The rent advertised is below-market price.

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