I'm looking for a house to rent I found a nice house in Greenville SC on the ad it says the guy's name is Johnson Harris but he would only email me and kept asking me to send him money first I kept asking him his name and asking him to call me and he wouldn't. Finally I got a phone call today but the man barely could speak English, I asked if he was Johnson and he said yea but when I hung up and called the number back it went to voice mail saying this is Abel, so I believe this guy is scamming people to put a down payment on this house and not sending them the keys.

They usually don't even own the house, and sometimes the house isn't even there.  If the owner won't meet with you in persona dn show the house, walk away-no run away.  Also report it to the local police dept.  He might have scammed other people as well.

Never rent sight unseen.  Always deal with a local real estate broker.  It will cost you a little more, but it will save money and misery later.  Real estate brokers are usually licensed by the state.  ALways demand a walk-through and make sure you are accompanied by someone.  Never send money to someone  to rent a property sight unseen.

Also, if you're going to pay a deposit, never pay by cash and never pay by untraceable financial instruments.  Use a bank check or US postal money order.

Always demand a written lease.  The lease should include a legal description of the property that can be traced to whoever is on the tax rolls.

Which is another reason to use a local licensed real estate broker. He can do a preliminary title search for you.

I was a real estate broker in California at one time.  And I can tell you, these cash or moneygram  upfront communications are almost always scams.