Local authorities are warning local property owners, real estate agents and prospective renters to be wary of real estate Internet listings. Websites such Craigslist are filled with advertisements for seasonal and long-term rental properties. While the vast majority of Internet advertisements are legitimate, some are bogus.

John Jenkins is a Maine politician, martial arts instructor and motivational speaker who is looking to move Boothbay Harbor. Jenkins has spent the last five decades in Lewiston and Auburn. He is staying with friends in Boothbay Harbor while looking for an affordable year-round rental property.

Jenkins recently avoided getting scammed in a fraudulent rental property deal by knowing the right questions to ask. Jenkins contacted the Boothbay Harbor Police Department after his prospective renters wouldn’t let him see a rental property without first paying a security deposit.

“I was amazed at finding such a good deal, but the more questions I asked, I found out it was a scam,” said Jenkins.

He searched the Internet for local rental properties and seemingly found the ideal location on West Street in Boothbay Harbor. The Internet advertisement listed the rental for $600 per month with a $500 security deposit. His host’s home is also located on West Street. Jenkins checked out the nearby property’s exterior then contacted the advertisers and asked to see the home’s interior.

Jenkins confirmed the advertiser used an actual photograph of the Boothbay Harbor home. Jenkins submitted some personal information via email in hopes of renting the property. A few days later, the advertiser contacted Jenkins to inform him his application was accepted and he now needed to send $1,100 to receive the house keys.

All correspondence between Jenkins and the advertiser was through email. The advertiser identified herself as someone from Midland, Michigan, so she couldn’t meet Jenkins in Maine. The advertiser asked for one month’s rent, security deposit and didn’t require a lease.

“I told them before I commit, I got to see the inside,” Jenkins said. “The next day I checked and the advertisement was gone. I didn’t know if they rented to someone else or if it was a scam.”

Jenkins contacted the Boothbay Harbor Police Department’s Officer Larry Brown, who informed him a similar bogus real estate deal occurred last year. An unsuspecting Massachusetts renter thought they were in the midst of renting a Spruce Point property for two weeks. The couple traveled to Boothbay Harbor and knocked on the Spruce Point home’s door. The couple discovered the property wasn’t for rent and they were part of a scam.

The allure of renting a modestly priced seasonal home in Boothbay Harbor is enticing for the potential out-of-state tourists. They search the Internet for a rental property and are enticed into falling for the scam due to fear of losing out on a bargain.

“John was lucky. He was already here and could do some checking,” Brown said. “Most people who are looking for a two-week rental live out-of-state. So they are susceptible to this kind of thing.”

The police advised Jenkins to contact a local real estate agent who handled the West Street property for out-of-state owners. Jenkins told the agent that the advertiser was located in Michigan. The agent checked into the property’s availability and discovered it wasn’t for rent.

“The more I spoke to the advertiser the more I started to feel this wasn’t copacetic,” Jenkins said. “I was fortunate I have the wherewithal to ask those questions. If I not, I could’ve been scammed.”

Brown investigated the complaint, but was unable to find the perpetrator. He believes the advertiser used a fake name and address.

“Scam artists have come to Boothbay Harbor for years taking photographs of properties and advertising them on the Internet,” Brown said. “It’s hard to investigate because it’s all done online. The only thing we can do is get word out to be on the look out for this.”

Jenkins is a consultant to the Kennebec Valley Board of Realtors and Maine Real Estate Commission. He teaches Safe Plan, which is a seminar educating real estate agents in how to identify and prevent fraudulent real estate deals.

Jenkins said fraudulent advertisements victimizes both renters and property owners. The unsuspecting renter sends money to someone posing as a property owner or an agent, while the fraudulent ad victimizes the legitimate property owners by showing Internet pictures of their actual home or rentals properties without their knowledge.

“Often times these situations go unreported because the victim is too ashamed to come forward,” Jenkins said.

Safe Plan is certified by the Maine State Real Estate Commission. It provides effective risk deescalation skills for real estate professionals, affiliates and general public. Safe Plan instructs property owners and renters how to protect themselves. These techniques include asking a lot of questions, make sure the property is listed under the owner’s name, making sure all the information is accurate, and never send money upfront.

Related: Craigslist scam advertises Boothbay Harbor home