Rental Scam - [email protected]

Hello,

I've recently been on the hunt for a new apartment and inquired about a property listed on Craigslist ad. I received the following email back:

"Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my apartment. Yes the apartment is still available for rent and we need a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the apartment since we are not going to be around for a while. we traveled to Carson City NV, for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM),you can view the link for more info: (https://www.sim.org/ ). i will be away for 3 to 4 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my apartment for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. I believe you have seen how it is from only the pictures you saw on the site, compared to the 100% comfort to be derived from it as an occupant.
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat,Car park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service,Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator,Washer / Dryer.
Rental Price: $625 per month and security Deposit is $400 (Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent.

Here is the address to the Home: 2135 Tremont Pl # B,Denver, CO.
Bedroom:1
Bathroom:1
I may not be returning to the apartment because we plan buying another House upon arrival. For more inquiries.

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

RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home,cell and office line ) # :__________?
E-mail :__________?
Best time to call :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
City/State :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
Preferred move in date :__________?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
Earliest possible date of deposit payment:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?


Looking forward to hearing back from you with all this details so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services and You may drive by to view the building and its living environment. May God bless you and your family."

I should have realized that this was too good to be true and realized this was a scam earlier, but I filled the application form providing this scammer personal information like my full name, phone number, email, current address before i came to my senses and realized this was a scam. I have yet to receive a response back, but I assuming he will be asking for money next.

How worried should I be? What am I at risk for? Any advice on what I can do to mitigate this would be greatly appreciated!

Please post the email address this scammer is using.

There is not much that he can do with your name and contact information which is probably already available from a public source.

Just ignore all future communications from him and do not tell him that you know it is a scam.

Welcome to Scamwarners,

What was the email address used? This will help other potential victims.

The scammer only wanted your information to make like it was real.

If you sent a passport/ID Photo let us know. Further advice will be given.

Here is the email address he was using: [email protected]

Future advice.


Make sure you can physically go inside any rental and meet the landlord face to face prior to renting.

Ask any questions you may have on Scamwarners if in doubt.

[email protected]
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my apartment. Yes the apartment is still available for rent and we need a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the apartment since we are not going to be around for a while. we traveled to Carson City NV, for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM),you can view the link for more info: (https://www.sim.org/ ). i will be away for 3 to 4 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my apartment for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. I believe you have seen how it is from only the pictures you saw on the site, compared to the 100% comfort to be derived from it as an occupant.
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat,Car park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service,Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator,Washer / Dryer.
Rental Price: $625 per month and security Deposit is $400 (Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent.

Here is the address to the Home: 2135 Tremont Pl # B,Denver, CO.
Bedroom:1
Bathroom:1
I may not be returning to the apartment because we plan buying another House upon arrival. For more inquiries.

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

RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home,cell and office line ) # :__________?
E-mail :__________?
Best time to call :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
City/State :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
Preferred move in date :__________?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
Earliest possible date of deposit payment:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?


Looking forward to hearing back from you with all this details so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services and You may drive by to view the building and its living environment. May God bless you and your family.

This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union, MoneyGram, pre-paid credit card or bank transfer with a promise that you can have the keys to a property that does not belong to him.

Sounds safe. It's not!

At other times, he will ask for proof that you are able to pay the deposit and rent due to a string of time wasters.
This proof is in the form of a Western Union or MoneyGram payment to a lawyer,a friend or family member.

In either case, if payment is made and you give this person the details, they will collect the money.
You will not hear from them again.

All the details such as names, addresses, pictures etc. that the scammer uses in order to back up his story, are stolen from elsewhere.

If you are reading this because you are looking for property to rent, and you are in contact with this thief you are probably searching Craigslist, Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment before viewing, then it will also be a scam. Please forward the mail to me at the address in my signature line and I will investigate and list them if necessary.