CAMPBELL — A man who police described as a “prolific Craigslist rental scammer” allegedly stole thousands of dollars from people hoping to rent apartments in Campbell and San Jose before he was arrested earlier this month.
Campbell police say they have identified six people scammed by 23-year-old Robert Milo over the past four months, and believe more victims are out there.
The operation police described in a Facebook post Friday announcing Milo’s arrest was a twist on a common Craigslist scam targeting people who are apartment hunting in the Bay Area’s tight housing market.
Milo would post ads on Craigslist for rooms and apartments with rents below the market rate to attract attention, according to police, using addresses on Nido Drive and Union Avenue in Campbell, and on Payne Avenue in San Jose.
Unlike other scams that are done remotely, authorities said Milo would meet with the prospective renters in person to have them sign rental documents and hand over a check for their security deposit.
After cashing those checks, police said Milo would tell the renters the apartment they wanted was no longer available, then write them a “refund” check that would bounce.
Campbell police said the scam victims lost more than $18,000 combined.
“At this time, the Campbell Police Department believes there are additional victims of Milo’s rental scams (who) have not reported their incidents to law enforcement,” the department said.
Milo, who lives in Campbell, was initially arrested in September as part of a San Jose police investigation into the rental scam. But authorities said he continued to target people after being put on supervised release.
On Nov. 5, Campbell detectives found another ad from Milo advertising an apartment for rent, and posed as prospective renters to set up a meeting with him in the parking lot of the complex on Union Avenue. Police said Milo told them to have a check or money order of $2,400 for a security deposit.
When Milo saw the detectives, police said, he tried to run away and was arrested after a brief chase.
Campbell police said Milo was held on tentative charges of fraud, attempted fraud, writing fraudulent checks, committing a felony while on supervised release and resisting arrest.
The department encouraged renters to read up on tips from the Federal Trade Commission for spotting and avoiding common rental scams.
And authorities asked anyone else who may have been a victim of the scam to call Campbell police dispatch at (408) 866-2101 or the department’s investigations unit at (408) 871-5190.
