PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — It appears someone is posing as the daughter of the owner of a house listed for rent in the Dumfries area, police said.
A Maryland woman responded to an ad on Craigslist on Saturday. She met with a woman who said she was the daughter of the owner of the house, and then the victim gave the stranger more than $1,700 — enough for the security deposit and first month’s rent, police said.
The next day, the woman failed to show up for their next scheduled meeting.
She’s described as black, 5 feet tall, weighing 125 pounds, and went by “Ashley,” police said.
Authorities also add:
Citizens are reminded to be alert to possible fraud and scams by being weary of online transactions from non-reliable sources. Do not share your social security number, date of birth, or other personal information. Do not give cash payments unless you are confident of the identity of the person you are dealing with. For more information on fraud prevention, contact the PWC Crime Prevention Unit at (703) 792-7270.
