When we were in Seattle, we saw an intersting Craigslist scam. People in Nigeria (probably) would identify a local home that was vacant, via for sale ads, etc. And then offer it for rent (or even for sale). Often the tenant would continue paying them rent, only to find out when the owner returned that they had no contract. Typically the rent was pretty cheap, too.
We found out about this when we found a place that was way too cheap. I discovered the practice when I googled the ad. It happens a lot where I live now (KY) regarding used cars.
The scam you mentioned was once a feature story on ABC’s “20/20.”
Apparently it happens all over the U.S.