INDIANAPOLIS -- A man was charged with multiple counts of forgery and theft in a real estate scam that investigators said ensnared several victims in Marion and Hamilton counties.

Indianapolis police Sgt. Matt Mount said Richard Swoveland, 38, used online postings of homes for sale on the Department of Housing and Urban Development Web site and listed them on Craigslist.com as homes for rent.

Using the e-mail alias of aldrichrentals@gmail.com and the name David Aldrich, authorities said Swoveland met and "leased" homes to several people who responded to postings.

"During the meeting at the homes, the suspect would use a HUD master key to open the front door and allow the victims to view and tour the homes," Mount said.

Victims signed month-to-month leases with the suspect and paid him a deposit and the first month's rent, police said.

"The victims later discovered the homes they agreed to lease were HUD owned and were for sale, not rent," Mount said.

Swoveland was being held in the Hamilton County Jail in connection with similar charges there.

Police think there are likely more victims in the Indianapolis area and, perhaps, in other Indiana counties.

Anyone who may have been involved in a similar scam was asked to call Indianapolis police at 317-327-3648.