Rental Verified/Craigslist -home/apartment rentals Very appealing/fake apartment listing, background check fraud, identity theft internet nationwide

 I replied to a Craigslist ad for an apartment in July 2013. The listing and photos seemed legit and worded so well that it sounded like the area I was looking in.  I replied to ad and someone wrote me a very detailed response of what the apartment consisted of, the requirements to apply and also when "she" would be available to meet. 

She required me to do a background check with Rental Verified (which I googled and it was a legit site) and provided me a link to go directly to the site.  I typically knew better but I was so excited for this "too good to be true" apartment and proceded to the link given and filled out the information.  I never gave my SSN but I did list my current and prior address as well as my place of employment and gave them my debit card # for the $39.95 fee. 

After I did that, I emailed the person back and let her know I completed my background check and I never heard from her again.  I then googled "rental verified scam" after 24 hrs of no response and to my dismay - I had been scammed.

I called my bank immediately and had the charge disputed and filed a fraud report with the bank.  All seemed well until today.

I recieved an email from commbank/netbank based out of Austrailia stating my account had been locked out and I needed to reset the information.  It came to my main email which was what I used to do the Rental Verified application and I am awaiting a response from their customer service reps. 

I do not know if what I did in response to the ad has begun a domino effect of fraudulent accounts being opened in my name but I have worked so hard to repair my credit and the last thing I want or need is for that to haunt me.

Bethany
Toledo, Ohio