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Search Menu Login Reset Password Home Weather Archive Sign Up for Alerts Full Site Close Menu Leslie Lovett's two Ashland rental homes, shown in the background, are caught up in a Craig's List scam that originates in Nigeria. FRAUD EXPOSED Scam targets Ashlanders By Dawn Hatchard Tidings correspondent June 08, 2009 - 12:40 PM A new twist on Nigerian scams is using Ashland homeowners' names in "for rent" ads. The false ads are netting the international culprit personal information and possibly cash from his victims. Leslie Lovett, 64, and her husband, Richard Lovett, 69, own two properties in Ashland's Railroad District. The scammer has posted ads for both properties at unreasonably low rents, about 60 percent of what they actually rent for, to entice hopeful families with a good deal. The technique is new. The police aren't sure exactly how he's managing this complex scheme, but it's happening in other jurisdictions too, said Ashland Police Lt. Corey Falls. Consumers have become leery of doing business online and started doing their homework before sending personal information. To counteract this, the crafty con-artist discovered the names of the houses' owners, created at least three e-mail addresses in Richard Lovett's name and signed the e-mails as Richard and represented himself in phone conversations as the home owner. This made internet-savvy renters' attempts to confirm the owner of the property through the Jackson County Web site useless because victims initially believed they were communicating with Richard Lovett himself. The Lovetts thought the issue ended back in April, when their son contacted the man through a fake e-mail address letting him know he'd been revealed. In May, the Lovetts' homes on Fourth Street surfaced on Craigslist again, though they'd already rented out the houses. The false Richard Lovett claims to be on a Christian religious mission with his wife in Nigeria and has the keys with him there because he could not trust anyone else to show and rent out the homes. He tells potential renters that after they send him a deposit, which varies from $700 to $1,000, he will FedEx them the key and rental agreement. He's doing all of this on good faith that the new renters will take care of the house in his absence, he said The religious mission caught the attention of Emile Garcia, 28, whose company donates old software to Africa. "He called my work number, but I never gave it to him," said Garcia, who went on to explain the man he talked to on the phone avoided all the questions landlords typically ask and got right to the point about sending the money. Leslie Lovett has heard from at least eight people who have gone through his application process after she started posting warnings about the scam on Craigslist. Several had already sent the perpetrator personal information including full name, date of birth, current and past residences and employer. "Someone must have sent money if they're still doing it," Leslie Lovett concluded. For victims of this scam and others like it there's nothing local police can do about it. If he were in the United States he could be charged with fraudulent use of identity, because he's using the real Richard Lovett's name to deceive or defraud another person, according to Falls. As it stands now any investigation would be in the hands of federal authorities. A video interview with Leslie Lovett can be seen on the Ashland Daily Tidings Web site, dailytidings.com. Popular Today Former Daily Tidings building transformed Overnight lightning sparks fires in Jackson County Waterkeeper President RFK Jr. visits southern Oregon Three new principals for 2015-16 Record heat Guanajuato delegation ready for departure Family, friends celebrate life of Alex Shepherd Latest Photo Galleries home search Full Site video weather daily archive txt alerts about mobile website limelight deals jobs real estate © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Full Site