RE: Room For Rent

I posted an add on craigslist less then 2 weeks ago and have gotten about 11 scam emails so far. At first I didn't realize what I was dealing with and was responding to these emails with...call me and we can talk about it. They just keep responding with to busy because of something traggic going on, one even included a picture in their response back that made it a little more believable! THAT WAS MY SECOND RED FLAG~ The first was that they lived in another country and would be coming to the states by the end of the month. The third was...finally one included a home address in the US but was out of state so I google the address and came accross others that had adds and were given this address. The next morning, somehow, someone I do not know sent me an email stating that I was being scammed and that these people have gone as far as killing!!! She said this was accually a man and working out of an Internet Cafe in Nigeria. Go to YouTube and search Nigerian 419 scam and see the live videos for yourself. How this person knew of this information and my email I have no idea but I'm so greatful for the undercover work of locating me and tracking my emails that they won't reveil. I still can't get the info on how this person knew of me and what was going on. I googled the email address that she gave me that was scamming me and was connected to all kinds of videos on YouTube.com about what was happening and the people that have been caught. It is scary!!!!! And dangerous!!! DO NOT REPOND TO THESE EMAILS, KEEP COMMUNICATION CLOSE TO HOME!! I want to give all of you the email addresses that have tried to scam me so it doesn't happen to you and I'm including one of the emails. The others are very much the same, oh...and that was another FLAG!

Emails and names list of scammers:
Alicia James [email protected]
Jones Tammy [email protected]
Sandy ferguson [email protected] (**this is the one I was warned about within 8 hours of receiving)
Jenny Shedrack [email protected]
natasha pollock [email protected]
Anna Mangubat [email protected]
David Bent [email protected]
Jennice Peker [email protected]
Pamela Richards [email protected]
[email protected] phone number +447035957231
Connie Abbott [email protected]
Kara Adam [email protected]

copy of email (the names of countries and professions very):
Hi
I'm ,female, and i am from Netherland , specifically Purmerend .
I speak both English and Ducth fluently, and i am 28years
of age. I am currently working with the Federal Agency of Works and
Enviromental in Netherland.I am currently on a research programme,and
i am desperately looking for a place to stay.I am the neat type, honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking person while I love music a lot and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I'm 5"7' straight. I always love to go on date but seldom party. I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis ,i also like watching football,basketball , i don't keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around and i know that you will like the kind of person that am.I read your profile about the room and i would really want to secure the room before my arrival,and more so to know if it would be possible for me to pay for the room before my arrival,So i will like to know the total amount of the room per month and the utility included.All these information are very important so that i can su bmit my proposal to my Organization.My Organization will be responsible for all the fees and the payment will be by United State money order. I will need the following information to get the payment to you.
(1) Full name as it will appear on the payment.
(2) Address
(3) phone number
I would be glad to see your quick response.
Thanks.
Kara...

Response I received when I asked them to call:
Hi
Thanks so much for replying my email,I really do appreciate it,I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have a lot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but really want to hold a place down... More about me again i am a nurse..I am the neat type,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I'm 5'6' straight. i like tourising and,i don't keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around,but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in france as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there!! I lived all my life way in paris before coming down to NM,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died....I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children betweeen the ages of 4-9yrs of age. Ambition and Work: I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that i'll be doing good overthere as i ve been told by my uncle's friend who ones live overthere..: And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now...
Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends.... Right now.I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn't be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furnitures,please let me know if there will be room for them..With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me...Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit...
Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in by the first week in next month,but want to secured it now,
Thanks..
Connie.

Just one more sample (this one came with a picture of her or whoever it is)
She finally quit when I super insisted that she call me no matter how busy or what tragity:
Hi again,
Thanks once again for the quick reply,I would have loved to call You but am leaving now to see my sick uncle ,i can only communicate through email but I will, whenever i get there but before that i will want to secure the place,I am very happy meeting a person like you,It 's nice reading from you again and i will never ever want to loose the room even without seeing the place ,i smell the kind of person whom you are and i like you,I will want You to know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again......I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters most,i believe that you'll be a nice person,I just have my dressers,computer table,kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggages and my car to be shipped....
I got a message that my uncle is sick in france and i have to go see him but i am making plans to secure place so that when i come back i'll just move in into the place we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated,I am okay with you and i want you to know that i don't want to make any travel plans without securing a place down now,I will be signing a year lease for the start if you are okay with that,so i ve let my uncle understand more about you and the place,He is really comfortable and he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before and he said that i should not afford to loose your place also he said that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i thought of it and i will be making payment to hold the place and the mode of payment will be the Most acceptable,easier,safer and reliable means of payment which is United State Certified money order so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the payment to you.Your full name as it will appear on the payment,your work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular mails or a courier service,your phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit.I will prefer to send to your work address because you will always be available at work from morning till evening but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be at home to receive the package.And if you don't receive package at your office address then I guess your home address will be good for the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to receive it.Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information so that we can proceed asap bye for now...
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay,
Thanks...Connie.


Hope this helps everyone!!

Hi Denise, Thanks for posting all the names and the script. It will come in handy for anyone else that googles or visits here.

I hope you managed to rent the place after all of that.

Who was it that warned you? Any of the people in here?, they would have directed you to Scamwarners though.

Hi Denise and welcome to Scamwarners,

How this warner came to find your details will always be a mystery but please dont dwell on it, that is not what is important, the important thing is that you found out it is a scam before losing any money.

Warners from this site also get information about people who are being scammed and the only thing I can say with certainty is that our warners will never be "tracking your emails"

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask

What ever was going on or whoever was doing whatever and gave me the warning, I'm very greatful for!! I don't know how I would have ever recovered if I would have lost out on money I didn't have. God sent an angel before I made another mistake in life. REALLY BIG HUG TO YOU PEOPLE WHO CARE AND MY ANGEL!!

I just spotted Denise's post after about a month. I don't expect Denise is is reading this thread any more. But if you are, thanks for taking up my suggestion to post about the scammers details that you have been receiving.

I have no doubt that you may have saved others in a similar situation to yourself a lot of wasted time, and most importantly of all, their hard earned money.


.... yes ,,, It was me that got in contact with you .

Thanks for the information. I posted an ad on craigslist and was so excited that several people were contacting me about the room. What they all had in common was the fact that they all were from abroad and needed to book the room immediately with an offer to pay by postal money order. none of them could provide a phone number. After corresponding with these positive prospects, something inside told me to google Kara's email address and that's how I came across your post that I was being scammed.

Here are the addresses I've received that are fraudulent:
==========
from: [email protected]

Hi,

I am a 24 years old, working professional girl from Germany and moving to LA for my long term management internship in the hotel business.
I saw your post on craiglist and I thought that there are some good matches.

Due to the work in the hotel business I have a hard working schedule, but when I'm off I love enjoying the life. I love to be outside, especailly on the beach ( I lived and worked in Thailand before, so it was perfect).
I also do some sports, love travelling, photography and meeting people!!

I'd love to see your room, but my moving date to LA will be 30 September only. Then I can stay in the hotel for the next 2 weeks.
=============================

from Debby Sharon <[email protected]>
Hi,
Thanks so much for replying my email,I really do appreciate it,. I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have alot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you, as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him, but really want to hold a place down..More about me again i am a nurse..I am the neat type,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I'm 5"4' tall, straight.,28 years i like tourising and, i don't keep late at nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in France as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there!! I lived all my life way in paris before coming down to SD,,I grew up with my uncle till 20 years old...I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-10yrs .and Work:I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that i'll be doing good over there as i ve been told by my uncle's friend who ones live over there...And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now...Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts.... also paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends.... Right now.I have the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn't be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them.. With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me and a picture of mine will be attach in the next email,Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in As soon as possible so pls get back me.
Thanks..
Debby.
=========================

[email protected]

Hi
I'm ,female, and i am from Netherland , specifically Purmerend .
I speak both English and Ducth fluently, and i am 28years
of age. I am currently working with the Federal Agency of Works and
Enviromental in Netherland.I am currently on a research programme,and
i am desperately looking for a place to stay.I am the neat type, honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking person while I love music a lot and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I'm 5"7' straight. I always love to go on date but seldom party. I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis ,i also like watching football,basketball , i don't keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around and i know that you will like the kind of person that am..I read your profile about the room and i would really want to secure the room before my arrival,and more so to know if it would be possible for me to pay for the room before my arrival,So i will like to know the total amount of the room per month and the utility included.All these information are very important so that i can su bmit my proposal to my Organization.My Organization will be responsible for all the fees and the payment will be by United State money order. I will
need the following information to get the payment to you.
(1) Full name as it will appear on the payment..
(2) Address
(3) phone number
I would be glad to see your quick response.
Thanks.
kara....

Hi time2danz

Welcome to Scamwarners

I am glad to know that our site has helped you to avoid being scammed and thankful for the extra information that you have provided.

Please feel tell your family and friends about what has happened as public awareness is our best form of defence against scammers.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask

Here is another email to add to the list
[email protected]
Tina Elliot
The version I got was the nurse from Paris with a sick uncle.

Welcome lcvdw

Would you please copy and paste the full e-mail that you have received from this person. Ensure that you remove your own details with "xxxxx"

AS you can see the scam is the same only the name and area from is different.

Sorry Ebby I found the scam by backtracking the address you sent your email from.

Hi
Thanks for getting back to me ... My name is Ebby Martins,I am 27yrs
old,I am fun-loving, personal, friendly,clean, caring,and respectful
of others. a non-smoker, don't do drugs, i drink occasionally,and
drama
free.I've been searching and searching for two weeks for a place and
been having no luck,Males/females doesn't matter as well as homes with a
lot of roommates. I graduated last year , I am single and have no
children.

Am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Virginia Beach in
Virginia.My dad is from there too but my mum is from Canada.Am on
research work at Guam (USA), am almost done.with that bcos its part of
my prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology . I would have loved to
call you but I am not mobile .Am really interested in renting from you
and will really want to know everything about the place .I do really
love pets but i don't have any at the moment. I would have loved to
see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad.
I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage
or parking space cos I will have my own car come over,
pls let me know the total payment of the place and more over I
will send your email to my dad for him to email you later bcos he is
the one that will be paying the bills you can contact him via
email ([email protected]) but nevertheless,I will like you to send
me your full Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,
so that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as
possible,with that you can hold on the place for me
till I come . I will be looking forward to your email
soonest. Thanks and have a nice day

Ebby.

2nd response from ebby thank goodness I only sent name address and cell # that I have since changed.

Thanks xxxxx
I have gotten your information and i've forwarded it to my dad to send the check to you so i will like you to have little patient for the check to arrive there ... i will also send you a conformation tracking number as soon as the check is mailed out so that you will know the exact time it will arrived .... i am moving by ending of this month ok .

Once again you will get the check very soon and i want you to delete the advert from the CL.

Thanks.

thank you to all that posted to this site that I was able to find. I was going to say sorry room rented now I know why I felt nervous.

Quotes added for clarity - Michelle

Welcome to Scamwarners.
Scammers use and share scripts, so it may or not be the same scammer. Well done for spotting it.

Welcome to scamwarners fran99999

This scammer was mentioned sometime back in February:-

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5972&p=23069&hilit=jeffben41%40yahoo.com#p23069

The 'senders' e-address may be different but the 'reply to' address remains the same. This is a common tactic of scammers in case the sending address is reported to the e-mail service provider and closed down.

It may surprise you to learn that this scammer is writing to you from an Internet Cafe in Lagos Nigeria.

If he writes again simply and politely reply telling him that you no longer wish to go along with the deal. You can tell the scammer that you have changed your mind or are dealing locally, etc. and then just completely ignore any and all emails from him. You don't owe him any explanation and confronting him won't have any benefit.

He has no interest in whatever was being advertised, and nobody will be calling. He wanted to send you a (counterfeit) cheque or money order for far more than you were expecting and hoped that you would cash it, and send his non-existent shipping company a large portion of the money before your own bank or cashing agent realised that the cheque or money order was bad and pursued YOU for the return of the FULL AMOUNT, possibly pressing charges against YOU for attempted fraud and money laundering.

One more rental scam email address

[email protected] Marilyn Blackston

First email inquiry seemed seemed legit. Second email attached below.

Hi
Glad to read back from you and am pleased to know that the room is still available for rent, I have checked the advert on craigslist again and I want you to know that the total move in cost is very much okay by me and I will like to view the pictures if you can have them sent to my mail? Please understand that I'll not be able to check out the place not until my arrival and why I will like to have the pictures.
I'm currently in Hawaii and am planing to relocate down to your state with my business. I'm a Registered Occupational Therapist / Accessibility Consultant for all ages and I also sell plates, screws, bone graft substitutes etc for facial fractures and other cases. I also deal with ENT, Plastics, Neuron, and even Cardiothoracic surgeons on a daily basis that need my products for surgeries, and I've also worked with nurses in the OR/UN on a project that includes heart related diseases in children, So I love what I do and I make lot of profit from my sales too. I'm very happy that I got to view the advert, and I will appreciate only if I'm able to secure a comfortable room, since am relocating with my job to the area.

I will like to tell you few about me.
Am a busy Lady that love to work and earn steadily, Am 29 and I'm still single and searching, I'm with no kids, I don't smoke but if my roommate is a smoker it wouldn't matter, I will just take it as my fate. I drink occasionally, I like hardworking, honest, clean and responsible people and I dislike lazy, messy and uncaring people. I love pets but I do not have one. I like the outdoors and I'm a good swimmer and sometimes play tennis. I'm financially secured, I do keep to time and I see myself as a miss independent and I pay my rent and other bills on time. I'm quiet and easy with myself and I believe we will get along well. I'm willing to share the house chores as a prospective renter. With all this I believe I have supplied you with what you need to know about me?

Moreover, I will like to know more about YOU and the neighborhood, If street parking is allowed? or paid for? because I will be coming over with my Car? Will there be enough room for my furniture? I will also like to know if you have vacuum cleaner, laundry machine, dryer and refrigerator? If not can I come with mine? because they makes my life easier for me and if there wont be enough room for them, I will have to put them on sale. I will like to know; if you will allow me secure the place down by sending you a deposit to hold down the place prior to my arrival? If yes? I will be sending you a Money Order OR Cashiers check from my Bank. I don't know if the mode of payment will be accepted by you because that's the only way I can transact. If it's, I will advise you to kindly include in your next mail with the below information and all other requested details about the room:

1. Payee name (Your Full name to be written on the Money Order)
2. Payee Home contact Address (Physical address with the Zip Code)
3. Your phone number.

How long/short do you want me to sign the lease? I would love to rent the place for 3 months or more depending on how you want it maybe 5,6-12 months? just let me know ahead of time. I'll busy with work preparing for a journey to Guam for a seminar but I will like you to get back to me as soon as you can so that I can make preparations for the deposit fee to be sent out to you. I will be resuming the rent as soon as the seminar is over by the 29th of Jan.
hope to hear or read from you soon...


Respectfully,
Ms. Marilyn Blackston..
You can reach me via email or leave a message on my line (699-9860)

Welcome here georgetown.

This is definatly a scam. It's a fake check scam with an overpayment. The secure deposit is what you can keep, but the scammer will ask you to sent the extra money to a shipper who will ship her stuff to your room. Of course there is no shipper, and the money should be send via western union or money gram straight to the scammer. Don't fall for this scam!