Charletta Randle, Lisa Brown and Keith Adkins, all of Los Angeles, were arrested in connection with the scam, which involved apartment complexes in the Baldwin Village and Hollywood areas.
Detectives said the suspects didn't own or manage the properties they advertised. But somehow, they figured out the code to the lockboxes, which they would pass along to their victims to check out the supposed rental properties.
Tanzi Harris is one of 20 people who have filed police reports so far. There are at least 15 other possible victims.
Harris said she found an ad on Craigslist for a Hollywood apartment with affordable rent that included utilities. She paid more than $1,300 for a deposit to one of the three suspects.
Harris said that the scam left her and her three daughters homeless, and they are now living with a friend.
Police said the real property owners and Craigslist are cooperating with the investigation. Both parties are not suspected of any wrongdoing.
