The Westfield Police Department has received new reports of fake rental properties being listed on line. In this scam fake landlords will try to get a deposit from you prior to showing you an apartment.
This particular scam involves a person taking an existing, legitimate rental listing from another online source like Craigslist. The scammer then lists the property, complete with pictures, as their own with their contact information. Once the scammer is contacted they will show you all kinds of paperwork via text or email "proving" that the property is legitimate, but they will try to get you to send a deposit without meeting the landlord and without seeing the property. They will be VERY convincing when trying to get you to send that deposit. Please, never send a deposit for housing without meeting the landlord and personally viewing the property.
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.