There really is no better advice than "buyer beware" - or in this case, "renter beware"!

While recently hunting for the cheapest but best possible place to stay in Costa Rica for a vacation and exploration of the land as a future retirement home, I came across a great looking picture and ad in Craigslist for Costa Rica.  Now there is no insurance against fraud or scams on that web site, but few think of it as a real mine field when going to it!

I saw a great place for $300 for either two weeks or a full month on a long term basis.  It asked to check availability on a very well done, but clearly not intense data based program that allowed me to go to my choices. 

The narrative of the advertizing indicated a small group of owners had combined to try and rent property in a cooperative manner.  Great idea!  It pointed out they were eliminating all the middlemen brokers, realtors and so on.

So far so good.  Finally after reviewing the choices, I sent the information requested regarding what time frame and apartment I was interested in renting.  I went for the cheapest, apartment A4.

Still good when I received Arturo's reply saying "YES! the property is available for $300, and flexible on dates 15 days prior and you can stay longer if circumstances permit extension of your time here." 

All I needed to do was send $100 of $300 to his PayPal account or to wire it via his Moneygram account number.

I wrote back that I'd like the  URL for the web site to show my wife before going any further!

He sent it and I went back.  Still looks great!  I a few nights later finally showed my wife.

Excuse me, I TRIED to show my wife the site.  It simply would not come up!  I clicked on Google's cache link and it took me to cached site, but no pictures.  I clicked on a link and was taken to Craigslist and found the ad had been deleted (It informed me in Spanish).

Conclusion:  Read scam warnings on Craig's List and take it seriously.  No sending money or wiring it to unknown sources.  Fortunately, no harm to me.  Just an episode that proved to me that I had to be much more guarded when searching for housing in that lovely country of Costa Rica!