Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Ofyuf Lkdj [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 12:56 PM
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: Re: $800 / 3br - 1522ft² - home for rent (Sacramento, CA)

Dear Friend,

Yes my house is still available for rent at $800 monthly, we request first month deposit and security fee of $600 before move in, you can go check it out at address below, and if you like it you can write us back or call me for more details on +2347044001460 or 0112347044001460 We just move down toLagos, Am a Medical Doctor, I work for American Red Cross Lutheran Hospital Donor Center. I just want you to get notice that the keys are here with me in Lagos, you can only view the house from the outside for now! In other to proceed on sending the keys and document to you, I'll like to know few things about you and your family such as below:-

3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom
Address: 3101 Brunnet Ln
City: Sacramento
State: CA
Zip code: 95833
Sq footage: 1522
Pet Allowed
Included in the Rent: Dishwasher, Garbage pickup, Gas, Water, Electric, Washer and Dryer.

1. Your Name and Names of people moving in with you?
2. Age and sex of each person?
3. Your current house address / Cell number / home number?
4. Why relocating?
5. Occupation of each person?
6. Do you have pets and cars, how many?
7. When do you plan to move in, please write exact date?
8. How often do you do your current house cleaning?
9. Can we trust you and our house safe keeping in your hand?
10.You smoke and drink? (We just wanna know don't get it twisted) no hard feelings.

Please have this in mind that you are talking to a very nice and God fearing family, if you find any of our question inconvenience please don't be offended but answer it because we want and like to know the kind of family that will be living in our house from day one so nothing from them will be strange to us again.

Thank you and Stay Blessed.

Phillip Jung

The thief will tell you that you can rent his accommodation only if you can prove that you have genuine interest. He will ask you send money by wire transfer (normally Western Union) to yourself or a member of the family to show that you have sufficient finances and that you are not a "time waster".

Another variation of this scam is that you need to send (by Western Union) money in order that the keys and other documents can be couriered to you

He will ask you to send him the transfer details.

Make no mistake ! Western Union Transfers can be picked up virtually anywhere in the world and with the minimum of identification. They are almost impossible to trace once the money has been collected. You will never get to see the accommodation or your money again.

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 Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment by Western Union 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.
.

I received the same email. I responded to an ad on Craigslist, it seemed too good to be true. I checked to see if the person sending the email owns the house (on the tax records) and they do!!! What next? Of course I won't send any money...but it seems legitamate because the guy owns the house. (Its in Maryland) here's the email:

Dear Friend,

Yes my house is still available for rent at $850 monthly, we request first month deposit and security fee of $600 before move in, you can go check it out at address below, and if you like it you can write us back or call me for more details on +23418285435 We just move down to Lagos, Am a Medical Doctor, I work for American Red Cross Lutheran Hospital Donor Center. I just want you to get notice that the keys are here with me in Lagos, you can only view the house from the outside for now! If you drive by the house you may see a sign there, you have nothing to worry about it belongs to our previous agent so you have absolutely nothing to worry about and you don't have to call them because they do not have access to the house anymore! In other to proceed on sending the keys and document to you, I'll like to know few things about you and your family such as below

3 Bedroom 1 Bathroom
Address: 1328 Farrara Drive
City: Odenton
State: MD
Zip code: 21113
Close to: Fort Meade, Crofton, Gambrills, Severn, Annapolis
Pet Allowed
Included in the Rent: Dishwasher, Garbage pickup, Gas, Water, Electric, Washer and Dryer.

If you are intresred in renting my home then answer the question below

1. Your Name and Names of people moving in with you?
2. Age and sex of each person?
3. Your current house address / Cell number / home number?
4. Why relocating?
5. Occupation of each person?
6. Do you have pets and cars, how many?
7. When do you plan to move in, please write exact date?
8. How often do you do your current house cleaning?
9. Can we trust you and our house safe keeping in your hand?
10.You smoke and drink? (We just wanna know don't get it twisted) no hard feelings.

Please have this in mind that you are talking to a very nice and God fearing family, if you find any of our question inconvenience please don't be offended but answer it because we want and like to know the kind of family that will be living in our house from day one so nothing from them will be strange to us again.

Thank you and Stay Blessed.
Richard S. Hetzler

The thief will tell you that you can rent his accommodation only if you can prove that you have genuine interest. He will ask you send money by wire transfer (normally Western Union) to yourself or a member of the family to show that you have sufficient finances and that you are not a "time waster".

Another variation of this scam is that you need to send (by Western Union) money in order that the keys and other documents can be couriered to you

He will ask you to send him the transfer details.

Make no mistake ! Western Union Transfers can be picked up virtually anywhere in the world and with the minimum of identification. They are almost impossible to trace once the money has been collected. You will never get to see the accommodation or your money again.

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 Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment by Western Union 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.

Hello Michelle,

Sounds like they have a real " scamming racket" going on. Here is the email I received yesterday after inquiring about a house rental ad on craigslist. Do these people really get away with this?

Cat

From: [email protected]
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:12 AM
To: Me
Subject: Re: House for rent on craigslist.

Dear Friend,

Yes my house is still available for rent at $400 monthly, we request first month deposit and security fee of $350 before move in, you can go check it out at address below, and if you like it you can write us back or call me for more details on +23418285435 We just move down toLagos, Am a Medical Doctor, I work for American Red Cross Lutheran Hospital Donor Center. I just want you to get notice that the keys are here with me in Lagos, you can only view the house from the outside for now! If you drive by the house you may see a sign there, you have nothing to worry about it belongs to our previous agent so you have absolutely nothing to worry about and you don't have to call them because they do not have access to the house anymore! In other to proceed on sending the keys and document to you, I'll like to know few things about you and your family such as below

2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom
Address: 1320 West 29th Terrace S
City: Independence
State: MO
Zip code: 64052
Sq. footage: 774
1-car garage
Pet Allowed
Included in the Rent: Dishwasher, Garbage pickup, Gas, Water, Electric, Washer and Dryer.

If you are intresred in renting my home then answer the question below

1. Your Name and Names of people moving in with you?
2. Age and sex of each person?
3. Your current house address / Cell number / home number?
4. Why relocating?
5. Occupation of each person?
6. Do you have pets and cars, how many?
7. When do you plan to move in, please write exact date?
8. How often do you do your current house cleaning?
9. Can we trust you and our house safe keeping in your hand?
10.You smoke and drink? (We just wanna know don't get it twisted) no hard feelings.

Please have this in mind that you are talking to a very nice and God fearing family, if you find any of our question inconvenience please don't be offended but answer it because we want and like to know the kind of family that will be living in our house from day one so nothing from them will be strange to us again.

Thank you and Stay Blessed.
Christopher F. Salauw

I am just wondering if a site call www.oxl.com.sg is relable? Thank you so much

It looks like a Craigslist type site in Singapore. The issue with those sites is not the site, but the scammers who use sites like that to trick victims.

Be aware that scammers do use such sites. They do not ask to preview the item and ask you to send it someplace for them. The scammers don't want the item, they want to victim to deposit a check for them.

Be careful and feel free to ask if you are concerned about a "buyer".