Renting Scam

While trying to find a house to rent, I found a posting for a townhouse that sounded great for my family. I emailed the owner and this is the email I got in Return:

Hello,

I am very happy to read an email from you,showing interest in my home.Thanks for your email and I am very glad having receive an email from you regarding my Home, I am James W Farrell,the chief surgeon for the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and my wife and I we are the owner of the Georgeos Home For Rent..Available to move in today In...(Littleton, CO)4Br/3.5Bath Single Family Home you are making inquiry of.

Previously, we reside in this particular house with the rest of our family, which are our two wonderful children (Michael and Loveth) ,we lived there before and presently we packed due to an emergency transfer to Head the Surgery department of a General Hospital,here in west african and this transfer is temporary but will last for at least 51months (4years+),this house is available for an amount of $1000 per month (All Utilities also Included)and a security deposit of $1000. I want you to know that the House is furnished, so you can move into the house with your own Personal furniture but the Utilities are intact such as Dishwasher,Dryer, Electric Stove, Fridge, Washer,Air Condition,Sewage,Trash,all included in the monthly rent,as i am in a governmental programmer that sponsors my utilities on monthly basis etc.

Please note that, we are a kind and honest family,that spent a lot on property that is available for rent, so in one accord,we are soliciting for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own.

We want you to keep it tidy all the time so that we shall be glad to see it whenever we are around on a visit.

House Address: 1619 W Canal Ct, Littleton, CO 80120

You can give me a call on +234-7041-322-490 or +2348096230581

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE
RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW

RENT APPLICATION FORM.

FIRST NAME:__________?
MIDDLE NAME:__________?
LAST NAME:__________?
SEX:__________?
DATE OF BIRTH:_________?
PROFESSION:__________?
PHONE:
(CELL)PHONE__________?
(WORK)PHONE__________?
(HOME)PHONE__________?
WHICH NUMBER IS THE BEST TO CALL YOU ON__________?
MARITAL STATUS:__________?
KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY________
PRESENT ADDRESS:_____________________
CITY:_______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE:____________
HOW LONG?___________IF RENTING
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING__________?
IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING?____________?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________?
DO YOU AGREE TO PAY THE FIRST MONTH RENT & DEPOSIT BEFORE RECEIVING THE KEYS_____________?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND SENDING THE PAYMENT_____________?
MONTHLY INCOME_____________?
IF YOU HAVE A PET
KIND OF PETS:_____________?
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE______________ ?
DO YOU DRINK______________?
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT?____?
REFERENCE?
============================== =======
Application Comment
============================== =======

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that we can have it our file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you..
Await your prompt reply so that we can discuss on the rental terms and agreement, please we are renting the house to you base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words.
So please do not let us down in maintaining this our property and God bless you more as you do this.

Thanks and you are welcome.

Regards.
James W Farrell


This sounded fishy so my husband looked it up on here and found out it was a scam. Luckily I did not fall for it, but don't want anybody else to either.

Welcome to Scamwarners gwensmi,

I am happy to hear you avoided the scam attempt.

Please post the email address the scammer used. This will be helpful if others search the internet using the email address.