Same here. It’s apparently a very popular scam. They post exterior pictures of the property on craigslist and advertise it as immediately available for some ridiculously low monthly rent.
I responded to one once, because it sounded too good to be true. I asked if I could meet them to view the interior of the house, but lo-and-behold, they were out of the state for the next few months and couldn’t meet with me. Sent me pictures of the interior - but none of the pictures matched up with what the outside of the house and low showed.
Offered to send me a lease agreement and keys if I wired them the money.
I ‘respectfully’ declined...lol
Yeah, I did some research and found out it was a common CL scam. The protection, however, is in why I used CL in the first place: Only face to face transactions.
But even then, it is important to make sure the house is not actually for sale when you do the deal. If it is, “renter beware”.
If I were still in such a situation (for us it was a temporary place until we moved to our home in KY), I’d get ID at the very least, not to mention notary.