In the Portland area renting sight unseen is entirely normal. Units go so fast, and the waiting lists are so long that rental companies/Landlord’s have little incentive to show units beforehand. When you want to see it but there’s 5 other people in line desperate for a place, willing to take the risk and sign a lease immediately, you’re shit out of luck.

With that said, Craiglist is scam central. Unless you go through many steps to verify the person is who they say they are and owns the property, you’re setting yourself up to be scammed.