Scammer tries to rent home of deceased

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Picture this: you see a charming farmhouse with lots of land for rent, and it's only $600 a month. Sounds like a great deal. Several people in Chautauqua County thought so, but then came the stunning truth.

Debra Foster thought she had a great deal on her hands when she saw a farmhouse for rent on Craigslist.com.

"I sent an e-mail responding to it," said Foster.

She got an e-mail back from someone claiming to be the owner, who stated that he was in West Africa volunteering, and that he originally planned to sell it. The e-mail tells her to ignore any sales listings she may spot on the internet.

The house belongs to Tim Parker's father, William Parker who recently died, and the house was never for rent. The person behind the ad, whoever it is, was out to scam someone, plain and simple.  Tim wondered, "Who would do something like this after you just had a death in the family?"

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"He's a real low-life piece of crap. We'll put it that way," Tim added.

What's more, Foster wasn't the only one who saw the ad and responded. People started showing up at the house.

Edward Hellman said, "There's somebody in the house."

Edward "Spike" Hellman lives next door. On the day of William Parker's funeral, he actually saw people walking in the house.

"I had to call when the funeral service was going on. I had to call because they were in the house already," stated Hellman.

William Parker's other son Dennis thinks whoever came up with the scheme probably saw the house listed for sale on a website, and then used the pictures and information for the Craigslist ad. He still has the note Debra Foster left when she came to see the property.

Dennis read, "I don't know if it's a joke or what, but I've seen the listing on CraigsList that this house is for rent."

Foster was quoted a price of $600 a month rent. She was instructed to fill out a rental application before the keys would be sent.

"He wanted them to wire him $1,100. And as soon as he received that, he wanted another $600 security deposit, and then they'd get the keys," said Tim.

Foster explained, "Of course, right then that threw up a flag for me because I was like, 'Ah, I don't know...'"

Dennis and Tim decided to post their own note at the house letting people know the rental ad was bogus. Foster was smart enough to smell something rotten, but she wonders what would've happened had she given up her personal information.

"Even though I didn't send any money, even that much information can get somebody into trouble because they ask for Social Security numbers and this and that," said Foster.

The Parker family filed a complaint with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's office. Authorities say these types of cases are difficult to solve because it could be anyone, anywhere with internet access behind it. The case does serve as a reminder that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably it is.