Rental scams reported

The Sheriff’s Office received two reports of rental scams on Monday.

Both fake rental properties — one in Key West and another in Key Colony Beach — were advertised as legitimate rental properties on the website Craigslist.

The Key West ad didn’t contain an address, but it appeared to be a home in the Midtown area. The fake Key Colony Beach rental ad stated the residence was supposedly on 11^th Street.

In the Key West case, the victim lost $3,000 after he wired the online thief the money. He then went to the property and saw that it had a for sale sign posted out front. The thief promised to mail the keys, but never did.

The other instance in Key Colony Beach was very similar.

Anyone with information about these rental scams should contact the Sheriff's Office at 305-292-7000. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-471-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous and if a tip leads to an arrest in the case, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips may also be submitted online at www.floridakeyscrimestoppers.com or via a text message using the smartphone app called P3 Phone. Tips can also be submitted via social media such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the @CrimeStoppers305 hashtag.