Sheriff's deputies are looking for a man posing as a landlord who took thousands of dollars in cash from people who thought they were paying rent for a house.

The victims answered an advertisement on Craigslist for a rental home and met the man, who said his name was John McCormick, deputies said.

The victims filled out an application and a lease agreement. They then gave the man $5,700 in rent and deposit money, deputies said.

The man is white, about 42 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 195 pounds with a thin build and brown hair.

He was wearing a gray or blue lightweight windbreaker, a light Polo shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. He has a deep voice, a narrow face a long nose and a large Adam's apple, victims told deputies. He was wearing a gold watch on his right wrist.

He was driving a gold or tan four-door Mercury Cougar with a laptop computer on the front seat.

Anyone with information on the man is asked to call the King County Sheriff's Office at 206-296-4155.