Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine says his office has received more than a dozen reports since January. Ohioans have reported losing an average of about $1,000 to the scams. DeWine says con artists hijack legitimate ads showing houses for sale and re-post them as houses for rent. They then persuade people to send money for the deposit or first month's rent. Scammers may say they have to leave the country quickly and tell potential renters to send money through wire transfers. DeWine says landlords should also watch for overpayment scams where con artists pose as potential tenants. They send counterfeit checks for more than the asking price of the deposit or rent, asking landlords to return the difference.
Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.