rentalsweets.com Lotus Interworks, Inc. Consumer Fraud - Fake Real Estate Listings Santa Monica, California
I found a house on Craigslist and called to see if it was still available. The phone number listed was answered by a telemarketer stating that they were a private listing service, and that if I wanted to rent the house I would have to pay a $60 sign-up fee. Needing a place to live immediately, I paid the $60. After I signed up, I was informed the property was no longer available.
Instead, I was provided with alternative listings that were completely different than the property originally listed. After extensive research on this company I learned it is owned by Lotus Interworks, which has operated fraudulent real estate rent to own scams under several names, i.e, VIP Options, Zingow, My Realty Deal, and most recently, Home or Apartment.com.
This company apparently combs the internet for free listings from sites such as rent.com, trulia.com, homes.com., and places them on Craigslist representing them as their own "private listings." I requested a refund from Rental Sweets and was informed I was legally entitled to only be provided with 3 similar listings as the one advertised. A complete SCAM. Watch out for this company and if you have already been scammed, file a complaint with the California Department of Real Estate so that their DRE license is eventually revoked.