I just wanted to note a new scam that is starting to come up on Craigslist.
I am a property manager. We advertise all our properties on Craigslist. As a professional with a real estate license we are required to disclose our company name, website, etc in our advertisements.
These scammers are going to our company website and getting my information. They then copy our Craigslist advertisement and create a free yahoo or hotmail mail account that replicas my account. They pose as my company and post the Craigslist ad with a lower rental price than what we are advertising. Of course they make the price low enough to make it really appealing.
Then when you respond to them, you get the "I'm out of town and had to move to West Africa in a hurry. I just want someone to take care of my place more than I'm worried about making money off the rent. That's why I have the rent marked so low. I am out of the states, so send your check for first month rent and deposit and fill out the lease below and I will then mail back the keys." Usually there is a "lease" in the e-mail, which is only an attempt to get your information.
I'm not sure if anyone else has seen this scam yet, but it is an attempt to get your personal information and money. If interested, next time this happens I can send you or post on your site actual e-mails from these people. I just want to inform the general public about these scammers. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks
Thursday, September 10, 2009
New Property Scam Occurring on Craigslist
Here's a note from a reader advising of a new type of Craigslist scam. I've removed the sender's identifying information:
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16 comments:
We have seen this scam going on for years. We have an entire section devoted to it on our message board for Roommate and Rental Scams.
Thanks for helping to get the word out!
Shawn Mosch
Co-Founder of ScamVictimsUnited.com
Maria Gommeren is a Scammer, her/his emails is juust_maria1989@yahoo.com
I have just been victim of Maria, please I dont know what I have to do.
cordobes_87_@hotmail.com
I have been victim to Prof Lawson Bryant. We was going to rent my condo for a year. He sent me a check for 9200 dollars and wants me to wire 2600 to a furnituer store in Fla. I'm so mad at myself!
tiabwebb,
Don't be so hard on yourself . . . thousands of people just like you have become victims of these scams and they did not see it coming either.
I feel that the biggest reason that these scams work so well is because when you bring the check to the bank they will tell you that it is clear or that it will be verified . . . this gives people the false feeling that the check is good and that they can use the money. You can read more on that topic here http://scamvictimsunited.blogspot.com/2009/08/banking-terms-not-as-clear-as-they.html
Shawn Mosch
Co-Founder of www.ScamVictimsUnited.com
I'm Andi from www.SafeList.com - we have also discussed this scam on our blog, with the hope that people will do the research before they hand over any cash, and keep in mind the old adage that "if it seems too good to be true it probably is!"
We got a call tonight from a woman who had responded to an ad for a rental house on CL, and figured out that the individual didn't own that rental property, and that we did. The email posted was mattheww.stahl@yahoo.com. We aren't sure whom to notify, but it's unreal that they are doing this bc it is costing us interested parties.
Will here is a new name for ya all. Prof Robert Klose, from galleria santus lucia, Podova Itlay.
trl =39 3424 017 688 or =2348023424193. Fossil Hunter (Paleontologist). Want to rent and send a cahiers check plus extra money for his furnature delivey. Don't fall for it. I want to Thank who every put the scam notice up. I stopped in time before it was way too late.
I had to deal with this exact scam today. I reported it to both Craigslist and Yahoo already and Craiglist took the ad down right away.
the offender involved is using email:
justhome60@yahoo.com
the details: I have a rental advertised and some scammer went and copied most of my ad (including my digital pix! grr) but changed the rental rate to be $250. less than what I was asking which makes it a HUGE bargain for that area. they also included that cats & dogs are ok so now of course that ad will attract renters who need to find a place that will accommodate their pets. no phone number given just that scam email addy. I just hope no one sent a deposit to the asshole :(
Today I was spammed by Rodwell Daryl 05.darylrodwell@gmail.com
I checked his name in a google search and found this website.
I just sent craigslist a complaint about this person since there are a lot of other complaints from this person and now I have found from others on this site.
Just to let the average emailer understand just sending a complaint to craigslist in most cases gives them little information to tag and remove a person.
You can at least fight back by sending, along with you complaint, a complete profile of any message that is received.
Assuming you are using Outlook Express, double click on the message in question. Click on "File" at the top of the window, and select "Properties". This opens up a utility box. Click on the "details" tab. The click on the "message source" button.
Another window opens giving all of the information contained in the background of this message. This is the information your Internet providers addministrator needs to track the source of where the email originated from.
Right click your mouse and "select all" then copy and past this on the complaint form.
This information is what I sent today to craigslist and I would encourage everyone to do so. This level of information is contained in any email sent to anyone. It is how things are tracked through the internet and is the only way to give websites and email administrators the information they need.
First email:
Good Day,
I would like to know if the property you listed is still
available,with regards to the property I am inquiring about, I will
like to get some more details about it, I am currently in the Uk and I
am Relocating down to the US to do a survey for my employer ( MMH
Insurance Group (UK), as we are about to open an office in the state,
so due to my non presence to inspect the Property, I will like you to
give me the below details,
# I need full details including address of the property and pictures
if available for the place.
# Monthly rentals/security deposits.
# If utilities is added to monthly rent.
# When the property would be available.
# Mail me the total move in cost.
I await your response soon.
Regards.
Second email:
Good Day ,
Thanks for the details on the Property, I am satisfied and will
like to go ahead with the renting process, I will like you to go ahead
and reserve the property for me.
So I will be needing the following information's so that the check for
payment of the deposit $2100.00 can be processed and posted to you
soon.
Name:............
Address:.............
Phone number(cell and land):............
I want the 12 month lease to start on the 1st DEC 2009, I will also
want to notify you that I have in the mean time arrange with an
interior decorator who will be handling the purchase of furniture's,
entertainment system and other appliances that I will need in the
property, they will as well be in charge of moving down my luggage's
down to the states. So the check of $4,700 will be sent over to you
which is a relocation grant by my employer, and all you need to do is
deduct the deposit $2100.00 and you will forward the rest to the
Decorators so I can have the place all prepared for my arrival. All
applications and lease will be signed as soon as I arrive.
Also for familiarization I Am David Sharfner, married to a lovely
lady, with a daughter (Family staying over in the UK), I work with MMH
Insurance Group (UK), as a loss adjuster agent, I am a
Christian,reserved in Nature, Non smoker also i don't keep pets.
I look forward to meeting you and hope to have a good relationship as
a tenant with you.
I await the details.you can reach my at this number +447045729267
Below is my present landlords information for reference :
Dr.Joseph Williams.
34,TIVOLI GARDEN SE185PD
UNITED KINGDOM
EMAIL:MAUREENJADE01@yahoo.com
Regards.
David....
If people are that stupid, they deserve to be taken. Maybe they will wise up next time. All the best. Great blog.
what would happen if i provided my name and address and phone num??
Hi. "Prof. Lawson Bryant" Paleontologist is still at work! I received a very similiar proposition (full year's rent paid in advance and request for help with furniture) in regards to a rental home I have. BEWARE.
Thanks for sharing information and warning me with this site! I googled "Lawson Bryant" and was not too surprised that this is a scam.
I just got an inquiry from this Lawson fellow about a place that I have to rent. Bless you all for a heads up with this butt hole. I am armed and dangerous now...
Professor Bryant is a busy man--he's tried the exact same with us. He's the 3rd person who has tried this type of scam--good thing we hasve internet to research them--thanks for your post--it STOPPED ME FROM ANY FURTHER EMAILS WITH PROFESSOR BRYANT
I found this page while investigating the same situation. Pretty much the same story line, they had to leave town and was planning on selling the house but decided to rent it out to someone they can trust and will take care of the home as thier own.
I talked to the guy earlier and he has a heavy african accent.
using this cl add
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/apa/2710472623.html
and this email address
Pamella D Lemieux pamelladlemieux@yahoo.com
then wants me to send money via western union of course to this person:
ANGELA . K . PRICE
dateline where are you? lets get this guy. i still have him on the hook!
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