Washington County Sheriffās deputies have arrested a man for placing false ads on Craigslist to rent his motherās home. Deputies started investigating 40-year-old Bradley Samuel Philan, of Beaverton, after family members called the Sheriffās Office to report his crimes.
Philanās family had already reimbursed two separate victims more than $7,000 from the rental scams.
Philan told investigators he would place ads on Craigslist for his motherās house on SW 172nd Ave in the Aloha area of unincorporated Washington County. He would then offer his victims walkthroughs of the property and collect a deposit and first monthās rent, often totaling a few thousand dollars. Philan would sometimes refund his victimās money back, but more often, he would gamble the money away.
Most of Philanās victims paid him electronically using the āSquareā or āVenmoā apps.
Philan has been lodged in the Washington County Jail on a charge of Aggravated Theft in the first degree and six counts of first degree Theft by Deception.
Investigators believe Philan scammed his victims out of more than $13,000 since the beginning of May. They also believe there are more victims who have not contacted the Washington County Sheriffās Office to report the fraud. If you have any information about Philan or believe you may be one of his victims, please contact the Washington County Sheriffās Officeās non-emergency dispatch number: 503-629-0111.
Photo below: Ad that was used in the scam