I did not know that there was a time limit on when you had to pay more money, when you put a deposit down on a place. This is a sad and tragic thing, when people who have so little, lose what they do have to crooks.  It has been an ongoing problem in our area for some time.  A person will read an ad in the paper about renting a home or apartment.  They call and make an appointment to see the place, and afterward leave a deposit.  When they get ready to sign the lease and move in, and go to the destination, either no one is there, or the place is inhabited, and never was for lease.  Many people have lost thousands of dollars because they believed an ad in the paper meant that the person was legitimate.  People preying on other people, is a thriving business in my town. Getting the word out, as you have done with your post, is one positive step toward giving people that we care about, a wake up call about crime.