BRISTOL—Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned purse snatching?

Bristol resident Jane Mesagno, of 9 Lugent Lane, alerted police to an Internet scam last month involving a bait-and-switch scheme after she discovered the home she was living in was placed up for rent on a classifieds website. She said someone posing as the owner was trying to rent the house for $800 and had directed contact information to a location in West Africa. Out of concern for others and the safety of her children from unwanted visitors, Ms. Mesagno informed the police.

“This is one of those issues where people just have to be careful what they’re looking at,” said Bristol Police Lt. Steven Contente.

The home had originally been listed for sale on Century 21/Rondeau Associates’ website and was later discovered by their staff on Craigslist. The listing was identical to the real estate agency’s, except that the e-mail had been changed and the home was advertised as a rental.

“It was eerie,” said Mary Jo Tavares, the agency’s sales manager. “They went on [our site], stole the photos, the description — everything. They even set up a rental application form to fill out. They were slick.”

Her staff decided to respond to the ad, pretending to be an interested customer. They received a reply from a man in Nigeria who said he had just been transferred there temporarily because of work and wanted to rent his vacant home in Bristol. Ms. Tavares was suspicious and wondered if there were other such listings.

“We looked around Craigslist some more and discovered other Bristol listings — three total,” she said. “We responded to them all and got similar responses.”

Ms. Tavares said the agency alerted the homeowners to the scam and Lt. Contente said the matter is not an open investigation. But he did extend advice for people who might be susceptible to the scheme.

“Let this be a general warning, and visit the property and verify that the person leasing is the owner.”

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Read e-mail correspondence

Below is the email Century 21 realtors sent pretending to be an interested renter for the 9 Lugent Lane property. The Nigerian scammer, posing as the property owner, quickly responded to their inquiries:

Sent from suspicious Century 21 realtors:

“Hi,

I saw your listing on Craigslist for a house on Lugent Lane. Can you give me more info? When is it available?

Thank you”

Reply from scammer, sent same day

"Hi, I got your mail in regards to my house for rent, but I have been very busy with work, it is still available for rent. What really happened is this, am not giving my house out for rent just because of my transfer to West Africa. Am an x-ray welder under ship building, I have been working with Nassco ship building here in united state, you can view site at www.nasscco.com, but have just been transferred to Niger dock Nigeria plc, you can also view site at www.nigerdock.com.

I left united state with hope that I will be coming back in a month’s time, but right now the company have ask me to stay for 3 yrs under contract with them, that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whom ever that will take could care of it.

Please if really interested you can contact me on +234-802-220-1721, or email me. also how long do you intend to stay?

Please respond ASAP.

The address is 9 Lugent Lane, Bristol, RI 02809

You can go check out the house from the outside now and get back to me for more information and Rental application Form.

Thanks"