About Rental Scams

In 2017 and 2018 Berkeley Parents Network received posts about Berkeley rentals from a person who had subscribed to BPN claiming to be a local parent (rentals are only accepted from parents who subscribe to BPN.)  After the first ad was posted, we googled his name and found similar ads posted by that name on various websites in college towns all over the U.S.

The scammer's goal is to get you to pay a deposit on an apartment that either doesn't exist, or doesn't belong to the scammer.  As a public service, we are publishing this information on our website. 

• The first ad was published on our site briefly in March 2017 before a subscriber alerted us to it and we took it down. She said "The following message in market place advertising an apartment in Berkeley for $1800 by Paulinkhart60 [at] gmail.com is a scam. He wants payment before viewing the apartment."
• The second ad, posted in March 2018, did not make it past the moderator, so was never published on our site.  

Here are the ads he posted:

Posted on Feb 27, 2017

"SPACIOUS 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT NEAR UC BERKELEY"

$1,800.00

It's a pleasure offering this unique modern one bedroom Apartment, which is offered fully furnished to a high standard throughout. The lounge is of good size with a spacious and fully equipped  kitchen. The bathroom is unique and fully fitted to a high standard. There is ample storage space throughout the whole apartment. The Apartment is situated near the UC Berkeley.. The property comes with it’s own secured off street Parking.  Contact me for more details and also the photos of the apartment are available upon request.

City: Berkeley
Neighborhood(s): South Berkeley

Submitted by paulhartcares on Feb 27, 2017 3:29pm.

Posted on March 9, 2018

"MODERN 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT IN NORTH BERKELEY"

$1,900.00

Few blocks to UC Berkeley, this apartment is nicely situated in a desirable Northside neighborhood. Step outside and you're a short walk from UCB, several blocks from the Gourmet Ghetto and Downtown Berkeley BART. It's a pleasant walking neighborhood with eye-catching architecture, a rolling landscape, and well-kept gardens. These apartments have a well-laid out with a living room that can be converted into a second bedroom, a big kitchen, multiple large closets, and corner windows in the living room. The kitchen have a large sink, full size stove and oven, and room to fit a breakfast table. Great Southern exposure for natural light.
Available: Now
payment to move in : 1 month rent x security deposit
One Year Lease Policy or month to month lease policy
washer and dryer in the unit
Photos of the Apartment are available upon request.
City: Berkeley
Neighborhood(s): Northern Berkeley

Submitted by rentalhousing60 on Mar 9, 2018 8:02pm.