Apt/ Room for Rent scam

The following is a scam email I was sent after posting an ad for a roommate. I thought it was odd that they asked for information that was already given and used a weird email. So I started double checking so of the information and landed on this site. Hopefully this helps someone else out. It is a very similar letter to others I have read in the forum.

Hello,


Thanks for getting back to me. My name is Michelle Harry (F), I am 26yrs 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 graduated last year in UK, I am single and have no children. I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday. I need to secure this room for myself before i arrive to the state as I'll be moving in with my luggage.You seem to be a very interesting person to be with and I must confess to you that you will enjoy staying with me in the house because i make people smile always.I will be in the state before the ending of this Month for the next one year and during my stay.I will be in the state before the ending of this Month for the next one year and during my stay I am coming for my masters degree. I was born in England (UK), my dad is from USA but my mum is from England.


I went to Greenwich university in London i speak both French and English ,am presently on research work at Guam (USA), am almost done.with that bcos its part of my prequisite for my masters in Microbiology. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don't want to waste much time. Am really interested in renting from you and 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 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.


Regards
Michelle Harry
6, Hamilton Road
Wimbledon, London SW19 1JF
United Kingdom.

I have been communicating with a "Michelle Harry" for 3 weeks now via Craigslist and the pieces were just not coming together for me. The original email was worded exactly the same as you posted here today, September 5, 2011. I even took my room for rent ad off as requested by this person. I did it reluctantly. I even got a check for $3,500 from which was odd as supposedly the funds were originally coming from her dad in the UKs but had gotten lost in transit. The check came FedEx Saturday about 10:30 am PAC. Northwest Standards time. It showed it had been rerouted from Akron, Ohio with no proof it came from UK originally. The check had a New York address on it from some Sports & Arts School Foundation (?) and dated barely the day before ( which was September 2). Now may I ask, how could that be possible (NY check rerouted from Akron, OH sent on the same date as the check and sent overnight)? Too many strange things. So I Googled the address of the supposed car dealer clear in Oklahoma City, OK where "she" wanted me now to send funds to ($2,500 of the check--I was to keep the rest for "rent" funds for my rental) from Western Union Transfers. The address "she" gave me landed at a Sam's Club and the name given was nonexistence. Tomorrow (after Labor Day) I am going straight to the bank and report this as a scam to see what I can do about these fake funds sitting in my account. I copied the check and can show them All of the email exchanges from this fake "Michelle Harry." The photo they sent me of "her" surely resembles a Michelle Harry whose obituary from Oklahoma showed up by
Googling who died May 10, 2010. Look up her name adding the word obituary.


I will NOW recognize these type of scams immediately, and have my empty room for rent on Craigslist yet again. Unfortunately, my wonderful renters have now moved out and I will be struggling to round up enough funds to pay my September house payment. Helen

Welcome to ScamWarners Helen. It is very good that you found this information before the scam went any further.

If you have deposited the check into your bank, you need to show up at your bank tomorrow as soon as you can. Yes, take all of the emails you have and even the envelope the check was delivered in. The check id fraudulent and the consequences would come down on you.

Please do report back and let us know how it goes for you. Best of luck to you!