San Francisco renter loses $18,600 after Craigslist-Zillow rental fraud

While searching for a shared apartment, Alvin Tran identified a desirable two-bedroom unit in San Francisco’s Duboce Triangle on Zillow, then encountered an identical listing on Craigslist. Believing the same landlord was behind both ads, he arranged a showing with a man who introduced himself as Jim, later confirming the lease with landlords named James Basuino Dunlap and Leyder Junco Barranco. Tran transferred $12,400 for the first and last month’s rent and $6,200 for a security deposit via wire to accounts held at Bluevine Bank.

On the scheduled move-in date, the apartment was empty and all contact stopped. After contacting the real James Basuino, who had posted only on Zillow, Tran learned he had been scammed. His bank, Bank of America, said any recovery depends on Bluevine Bank’s response.