Last week my husband put in a real estate sales listing. He is not affiliated with Trulia, but listings submitted to our local MLS get on the site.

He was surprised yesterday when he got a call from someone wanting to rent the house. According to the caller his listing was on Trulia as a rental. It was also listed at an enticing rental amount—$700 a month for an area that would typically go for $2000 a month.

He looked on Trulia, and sure enough his listing was there, under someone else’s name and a phone number out of Bullhead City (according to our Internet search).

Don got on the phone and raised hell with Trulia. I created a fake email account to see what would happen if I inquired about the rental.

Today the ad is off Trulia, yet that didn’t stop me and others from receiving a reply from the scammers, in spite of the fact Trulia was informed of the scam BEFORE they forwarded my email to the crook, and his email back to me.

In my opinion Trulia needs to contact everyone they forwarded emails to, before someone sends the crooks money. To hell with Trulia’s lame “buyer beware” warning under the ad. They need to step up to the plate and do the right thing.

Lesson for the public: do NOT search rentals on Trulia.

This is a copy of the letter I received.

Phillips Lola
To me Today at 10:03 AM
Hello,

Thanks for mailing us in regard to the property. We’re looking for a responsible tenant that will take proper care of the property. We are couples that recently moved to (West Africa) owing to our job. We both work in an organization at the Christian care health system (christianacare.org) we wanted to sell the house but my wife advised against it since we will be in Africa for at list 8-9 years before we come back to the states, we will be needing the house in the future so we can have somewhere to stay when we get back. The property available for rent is in a convenient neighborhood that is peaceful and safe, It’s a 3 Bedroom and a 2 Bath house located at (xxx, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406) You can easily take a drive down there to take a look at the exterior of the Property. The rent is $700 per month while the Deposit is $700 and the rent includes utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash disposal, air-condition, Internet, Cable, washer and dryer, pets are also acceptable. I will appreciate it if you can get back to me on how you can keep the place clean. I look forward to hearing from you if interested.

Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide us with the rental application information below for record purpose.

Full Name:
Email Address:
Home Phone:
Other Phone:
Date of Birth:
Current Address:
City:
State:
Zipcode:
Reasons for Leaving:
Rent $:
Are you married:
How soon are you willing to pay the deposit:
How many people will be living in the house:
Do you have a pet:
Do you have a car:
Occupation:
Move In Date:

The rental fee is inclusive with utilities and my home available as at this moment. Remain Blessed.

You can reach me at +234-704-445-0883 or 011-234-704-445-0883

Phillips