Worcester and Boston Craigslist.org Real Estate Scam Alert

September 27, 2010

I noticed this morning that was an amazing number of properties in the Worcester area from the weekend listed for sale by the “owner”.  Attractive pictures of the insides of homes with “no money down”…”why rent when you can own”…”buy this home cheap”…”hundreds in your area” but no address or purchase price and only a monthly rate.  The ads also did not have a company name or a reply to address (not even a Craig’s List reply to email) so the only way you could get in contact with them was to call their phone number.

The phone number varied but was always a 508 number and the ads claimed they were open 9am to 8m Pacific time.  I’m not sure why someone in the 508 area code would be working Pacific time hours.  So I called and received their recording which directed me to their website.  It’s www.homestarsearch.com.  I did a quick google search and without even clicking on their web address did see numerous scam alerts such as these…

Scamraiders.com

Ripoffreport.com

And the Better Business Bureau had a few things to say about them as well.  Including that they do not actually a possess a real estate license to sell properties and have had many complaints, such as this one…

“Most complainants allege difficulties canceling after agreeing to a trial offer granting access to the company’s database of property listings. Other customers complain that property listings on the site are not as advertised, alleging listings are not available in their area; are not offered at the listed price; do not exist; or meet the specific criteria needed by the customer. Others report they reach angry homeowners who have not listed their properties, or that numbers are disconnected or no longer in service. Some complainants seeking rental listing information report that rental properties are limited, contain foreclosure listings, are not offered at the listed price, or have already been rented.”

Beware!  Their ads have just about taken over the “real estate for sale” portions of craigslist.org!