Here's a classic internet scam on Craigslist that someone sent me today.
Scammers will post an ad on Craigslist for a rental available. They will typically leave an email contact or phone number (but then say only "text messages"). The ads will often have matching photos of real addresses and lots of details about that place. It looks real. The places they list for rent are not owned by the scammer nor do they have any legitimate ability to rent the home or apartment. The scammer is most likely not even local. They like to hide and do their scamming activities in foreign countries where the authorities can't go after them.
Once a person replies to the ad, the scammer will then go into some convoluted story about some kind of hardship and why the place has to be rented immediately (how the scammer moves the scam into urgency so the victim will act without thinking much about what they are doing). In this urgent state, the scammer will then try and collect the rent deposit and first month's rent via wire transfer (such as Western Union or MoneyGram). Some even try and get the victim to send the scammer a prepaid credit card through a service like green dot. In return for sending the money, the scammer tells the victim they will receive a package giving them access to the home or apartment and all they need to do to complete the agreement and receive the package is to send an ADDITIONAL month of rent (how greedy scammers are).
To avoid this scam, only deal with local people and only rent places that you can physically inspect BEFORE giving anyone any money. And never use wire transfer or send anyone a prepaid credit card for payment.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
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Here are more fake rental ads on Craigslist being reported:
ReplyDeleteHello,
>> Thank you so much for your interest in my house which I posted on Craiglist. My name is (deceased owner’s name inserted here). This is a very beautiful home which we would have loved to to be around in other to make it availabe for viewing to our potential tenants but for the generous work we are embarking on we had to leave the States for the program which is 'called WORLD EDUCATION' on HIV/AIDS. This is to educate the Rural communities about what HIV/AIDS means and the possible ways to prevent it occurence. It is taking place in Asia, Europe and Africa. Here is a link you can use in knowing more about our work (www.worlded.org). Our initial plan was to sell the house but we could not do that before leaving the States so never mind if you see the for sale sign in front of the house, it has already been taken off market and also the Realtor that was to handle the rental issue influnced the price so we had to take it away from him and handle the property ourself. We are looking for a tenant that will take very good care of our home until we are back in States in the next couple of years. Please get back to me so that I can forward you the rental questionnaire.
Subsequent e-mails include references like the following:
>> It is good to hear from you again. We will not be returning to the house because we plan buying another house upon arrival so if you are interested we can discuss rent to own when we arrive in the next couple of years.
>> My family and I have gone through your application form that you filled and everything is okay by us. You can rent our house because we are coming back to state in the next 8-10 years, but I will be visiting you once in 4 months, to see how you are taking care of the home and if anything need to be repair, but if anything comes up before then,just inform me then I will ask you to fix it back and you will deduct it from the next month rent! Also you can move out any time,just inform me a month before your leave. We are very excited and willing to let you move in our house as soon as possible and I have conclude with my family on accepting payment for the first month which is $800 and a security deposit of $600, making it the total of $1,400 to move in as soon as you are ready. The package containing the keys and documentations will be delivered to you within 48 hours through Courier Service to the address that you have provided when filling the rental application
>> Below is the information which you will use in making the payment, all you need to do is write the below information and take it to any grocery store close to you, to make the payment.
This imposter is one of a horde of scam artists who post bogus rental ads – often promising below-market rents – to coax tenants into paying deposits up front before showing them the home.
And, of course, that upfront payment is asked for via wire transfer (Western Union or MoneyGram) and that's always the big tipoff that a scammer is involved. Don't pay any upfront rental fees without seeing the place and the representative in person.
Of course, there is also the reverse on Craigslist - scammers pretending to be looking for a rental and trying to scam landlords using the classic check cashing scam. They will try to pay the deposit, first and last - send a check for even more than that and ask for the difference to be wired back to them. Of course, their money is counterfeit and the money the landlord wires back is their good money.
ReplyDeleteHere is actual first email a scammer sent to a landlord who posted a rental ad on Craigslist (and then the landlord sent it to me):
I just got an e-mail from Lovety Jones in response to a craiglist ad.
My name is lovety and I am looking to rent a place to live. I am a young professional and will be needing to move ASAP. I am willing to pay first and last months rent .I am very responsible and open to any kind of lease. I am an Humanitarian worker and was posted on a new job to your area.I will be glad if i could hear back from you sooner.
Thank You
I got the same one from Ochoa Sandra / Sandra Ochoa, seemed to switch up the name between the emails. I had a room for rent on Craigslist. Lives with sick Uncle at 85 Fairfield St, St Albans, VT. The email addresses use were: sandypartygirl@yahoo.com and sandyloveg096@googlemail.com.
ReplyDelete"Carol Marcellino"
ReplyDeleteHi,
Thanks for your response to my previous email, i will like to tell you a lil about me. I was born and brought up in UK, mom from India and dad from Spain. I am quiet and easy going person to live with, I'm 32 years old of age and I am extremely clean, quiet and respectful, am a sensitive, intelligent, patient and caring person,have a good sense of humor and am easy to get along with.I don't drink nor smoke, no pets,I'm a very busy woman also. I admit I am not perfect but I try to leave things in a condition so that others are not inconvenienced..
I need to secure this room for myself before i arrive to the state as I'll be moving in with my luggage, I must confess to you that you will enjoy my stay in your home. Well my name is Carol white, I am a chemist by profession and i am currently working with Southern General Hospital 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4TF, I am married with a kid, Although they will not be coming with me to the state. I will travelto Glasgow Scotland to visit them once in a while.
I will be in the states by the middle of Nov for the next one year and during my stay i will be working with the United State Environmental Protection Agency on a private research work...It will be a great pleasure seeing you soon.
Concerning the payment, I have a financier that will be handling the rent deposit payment on my behalf, i will instruct him to make the payment for this as soon as you give me the go ahead to make payment to you. Kindly get back to me with your full name, contact address your phone number so that the check can be sent to you and you can get it on time. This will give me strong prove that the room will be hold for me...cant wait to read from you.
You can reach me on +447045799939 anytime. I would have called you earlier but my phone cannot make international calls.
Thanks.
Carol Marcellino, or Carol white? Or... Jessica Desmond, Jessica Manney, Adalina Madrigal, Kelsey Doak, Lisa Martins, Grace Meraz, Megan Clover, Estefania A. Raymond, Jennifer Justin, Beth Hargreaves, Leanne Meier, Jeanette Sedor, Linda Scott, Rosa Smith, Sandra Ochoe, Lovety Jones, Lisa Chase, Karolyn Rodgers, Serena Smith, Jessica Kerby, Rachel Valdez, Eveliina Patrick?