Rent scam Amsterdam craigslist

Hello everyone!

I'm traveling to Washington DC shortly and I was looking for a nice place near Dupont Circle for one night. By chance I peeked into Craigslist (scammers heaven) and came across this advertisement for a very nice DC apartment:

http://www.holidaysuitableapartment.com/index.html

When I researched apartment locations versus pricing, it indeed seemed "too good to be true." Upon googling the site, I came across yours here. After looking at all the other apartment rental scams you list here, this site has the exact same website look and interface,

I guess I'm going to assume this is also a scam?

After reading a good amount of the posts in this thread, I haven't read any on anyone actually going through the process and getting scammed. Are there any anecdotal situations? Can someone share?

No doubt, I got scammed once --also in Craigslist-- by a woman who took $500 from me as a deposit for an apartment in NYC, years ago. I swore I would never let that happen again, and I am committed to warning others of anything like this.

So, here I am listing that site. Can anyone check it out? Though, if it looks like all the others that have gone down, I can almost be certain it is.

Your assistance with this confirmation will be greatly appreciated.

Hi Maria, welcome to Scamwarners.

I am confident enough to say that its a scam after a quick look.

On the site, the first thing I noticed was this;

Home Vacation Reservation Made Easy!

203 Long Lane, London, SE1 4NP London Bridge

Tel:+44 (0)704 571 4104...
+4470457 28221 , 020-7060-0049 , 08715031699

[email protected]

Notive 2 things in particular, the email address being a gmail address, certainly not a good sign for a reputable company.

The second is the use of the 4470 phone numbers, 4470 numbers are a UK redirect service that can be set up by anybody from anywhere in the world, calls to these numbers redirect to any phone number in the world which mean somebody sitting in Africa can receive a call on one of these numbers, no person who was in the UK would need one.

and this

WHOIS on website

Registrant:

Domain Discreet

ATTN: holidaysuitableapartment.com

Rua Dr. Brito Camara, n 20, 1

Funchal, Madeira 9000-039

PT

Phone: 1-902-7495331

Email: [email protected]




Registrar Name....: Register.com

Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com

Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com



Domain Name: holidaysuitableapartment.com

Created on..............: 2010-06-11

Expires on..............: 2011-06-11

Administrative Contact:

Domain Discreet

ATTN: holidaysuitableapartment.com

Rua Dr. Brito Camara, n 20, 1

Funchal, Madeira 9000-039

PT

Phone: 1-902-7495331

Email: [email protected]

Technical Contact:

Domain Discreet

ATTN: holidaysuitableapartment.com

Rua Dr. Brito Camara, n 20, 1

Funchal, Madeira 9000-039

PT

Phone: 1-902-7495331

Email: [email protected]

DNS Servers:

dns249.d.register.com
dns206.c.register.com
dns177.b.register.com
dns053.a.register.com

The website purports to be operated by a UK company called Worldview Ltd and all UK Ltd companies are required by law to register at UK Companies House - no exceptions.

These are the details of the REAL company

Name & Registered Office:
WORLDVIEW LIMITED
259 MARINE ROAD CENTRAL
MORECAMBE
LANCS
LA4 4BJ
Company No. 04588973

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 13/11/2002

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
6330 - Travel agencies etc; tourist
Accounting Reference Date: 30/11
Last Accounts Made Up To: 30/11/2009 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/08/2011
Last Return Made Up To: 13/11/2009
Next Return Due: 11/12/2010

I have no doubt that the real company have nothing to do with this website that is a complete scam.

It has only existed for less than two weeks and with the facts that Ralph has mentioned, makes this an undoubted scam site.

Not to worry, I'm still here and looking into fakers. I do like to take a day off sometime though

peopleshomeservice.com
holidaysuitableapartment.com
reservationpalacecity.com
- fake, added to the list.

Thanks to Michael and others for adding the fake sites. The more we bust em, the more they make new ones.

Here is another 100% fake:

http://www.centrallondonflats.com listed under http://amsterdam.en.craigslist.org/sub/1805758523.html[


And, this one is popping up and could be a possible scam (note the gmai - mods please check):

http://sites.google.com/site/bedandbreakfastinamsterdam/home22

Note to scammers: we're watching you!

This just in from someone asking about a rental site.

Will someone check it out for me?

> > From: [email protected]
> To:
> Subject: 1 Bedroom Flat Vacation Flat in Kensington, London
>
> Sir/Ma,
>
> Our Oasis Apartment,Kensington London - £250 Per Week, is available for the 1 week you requested.
>
> The rate is £250.
>
> We requested for 35% deposit from the rent rate which is £88 plus the £200 refundable security deposit.
>
> Total deposit required is £288 to secure the booking.
>
> Should you arrive in London by aeroplane or train, we strongly advise that you book with us a London taxi.
> They will have the keys to the property, meet you at the airport and take you straight to the property in comfort.
>
> We accept bank transfer only.
>
> You can view Our Oasis Apartment,Kensington London - 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathrooms Apartment on this link below.
>
> http://www.kensington-flats.co.uk/#/1-b ... 4538145226
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Sandra Lewis
>
> http://www.kensington-flats.co.uk

Domain name:
kensington-flats.co.uk

Registrant:
BEN LUCAS

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
The registrant is a non-trading individual who has opted to have their
address omitted from the WHOIS service.

Registrar:
Gandi t/a Gandi [Tag = GANDI]
URL: http://www.gandi.net

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 19-Jun-2010
Renewal date: 19-Jun-2012
Last updated: 19-Jun-2010

Registration status:
Registration request being processed.

Name servers:
a.dns.gandi.net
b.dns.gandi.net
c.dns.gandi.net

It's a definite fake.

-Typical African English where it is not copied.

-Site copyright claims 2002, there are "testimonials" from 2007 in spite of the 2 week old registration.

-A search of testimonials reveals remarkable similarities to this site which actually HAS been around since 1997, in other words, the scammers copied testimonials and other pieces of the site from here: http://www.homefromhome.co.uk/site/testimonials

-Site contains icons for twitter, facebook, etc. copied as a single photo--doesn't actually lead anywhere.

-Googling the familiar-looking taxi statement connects this site to additional fake sites, I know at least one of them has already been reported.
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22If+you+take+one+of+our+licensed+taxi+cabs+the+driver+will+have+the+keys+to+the+property+and+will+take+you+there.+%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=oQS&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&filter=0

-Requires 35% deposit, bank transfer only

-And another google tying this site to other fakes:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22We+do ... l&filter=0

-Searching the text on the 1 bedroom apartment yields 8 pages of results:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22providing+a+peaceful+and+harmonious+retreat+just+a+stone%27s+throw+away%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Yq7&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&filter=0

Thanks to Michael and others who gun these sites down.

The fake sites are developing from a nuisance into a plague, and apart from victims, it's harming genuine companies and honest people offering apartments for rent.

I just wanted to say thanks... I was almost a victim until I came across this.

Hi,

I am considering renting an apartment in paris I found on guesthousenetwork. Have read this whole forum topic with interest. What is your feeling about renting through vendors on this site?

I contacted the owner of the apartment who is requesting half payment through paypal, the rest due on arrival at the apartment.

this is what the owner sent from his gmail account:

Yes, it is with pleasure that I confirm that my property "Beautiful apartment in Montmartre!" is available for tenants to these dates for a total price of 200 €.
I hope it suits you! You can book directly through Paypal by giving a deposit of 100 €. The remaining will be paid on the day of arrival at the apartment.

does this sound legit?

Thanks for your help.
Laura

This should serve as proof of what/who's behind at least one "Amsterdam" rental on GuesthouseNetwork:

http://www.guesthousenetwork.com/Apartm ... 53&ir=1614

note the map location ...not exactly _in_ Amsterdam actually ...

oops!

Welcome to Scamwarners Cee.
That is brilliant!

Hi All
I am the owner of Guesthouse Network,
We let our owners upload their apartment information, clearly this guy uploaded the wrong location ?
Anyway, we check our owner before we let them advertise with us, and we make sure that they are all for real!!
I can only apologize that this owner didn’t upload the right location, for now I took him out of the network.
Just as a tip for the future, when you book a vacation rental only pay with CC, never with a check or money transfer. This is the only scam proof way to pay!
Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have on vacation rental and on Guesthouse Network
Hope I helped
Assaf

http://www.nexthomelettings.net

Seems to be part of this scheme.

Similar "whois" info. Same E-mail sent.

Watch out if you're looking.

Welcome helloiam and thanks for posting that information. The site will be investigated and if fraudulent, reported.