Don't get scammed! 7 Tips for avoiding a summer rental rip off

Heaven in a beach rental--that was the treat Tyler Cox and a group of friends invested in last Memorial Day weekend.

"It was going to be nice weather the perfect spot it was my birthday," said Cox.

For years the group stayed in hotels on Long Beach Island, but when someone spotted this Beach Haven condo for rent on Craigslist, they quickly pooled their resources to snag it--signing a rental agreement and sending off a bank check after emailing back and forth with who they THOUGHT was the owner.

"Thought it was a steal for the price he was giving us and what we saw."

It was a steal, LITERALLY. What they saw were stolen photos, hijacked from a legitimate listing, not one that was for rent or owned by the person they had mailed a 900 dollar deposit.

Cox and his friends were shocked.

"We walk up to the house some guy tells us this is a private residence he doesn't know what we're talking about."

LBI realtor Heather Supcheck explained the scam.

"They said we're here for the rental..and the homeowner said I'm sorry I don't rent the house. And they said no, you do here are the pictures we paid."

Supcheck is selling the house for the real owner, it was her agency's photos of the 3 bedroom 2 bath blocks from the beach that were lifted off the internet and used by the scammer to swindle Tyler and his friends.

"You're kind of mad and you wonder what kind of people do this!" said Cox.

Tyler sent the payment for the rental to an address in Florida - which we found was a soup kitchen - called "Our Daily Bread." A rep for the non-profit told us he never knew a scammer was using his address as a mail drop-of course, neither did Cox:

"A charity...and you go set up to steal other people's money so you don't get caught that's just a little ridiculous!!

Realtors' advice to renters: Use a licensed broker, says Supcheck.

"Number 1 they are experts, they know what is for rent what's not for rent,they know what you should be paying."

2) The second big takeaway:

See for yourself - visit the property - before paying anything.

3) If you can't make the drive "check address" with local police or do a quick search of the address on the internet.

4) Next "research ownership"

5) Number 5: "never wire money"

6) And "be suspicious" especially if they're renting for a weekend not a whole week.

7) Finally, remember "the golden rule" -if it sounds too good to be true IT IS!