Rental scam - craigslist

What do they really gain? Has anyone ever bought into the scam??

I posted an add for a roommate and received a reply from [email protected] asking - "Room still available? Jessica Kerby"
When I replied, it went to [email protected] and within seconds (not enough time for the message to have been typed) I got -
Thanks for getting back to me ... My name is Jessica Kerby (Female),I am 24yrs
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 France, 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 am coming for my Masters
degree. i am from USA,specifically Hawaii, I was born in Honolulu in
Hawaii,my dad is from there too but my mum is from Spain...I went to
Chaminade University of Honolulu in Hawaii.I speak both English and
Spanish fluently ,am presently on research work at Hawaii, and almost
done with that bcos its part of my prerequisite 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 or to be your
roomie 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
1.....Full Name to write on the check
2.....Full Physical address to post the check(P.O box never accepted)
3.....City, State and Zip Code
4.....Home Phone to contact you
5.....Cell Phone to contact you

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.

They will send you a fraudulent check for more than the cost of the rent.

They will instruct you to cash the check, and send the extra money via Western Union or Moneygram to some other party (the story changes--could be a "mover," "decorator," any of a whole bunch of choices)--in reality, the cash will ultimately get to their hands.

If the bank doesn't detect the fraud immediately, they will give you the cash as required by law--but later, when they realize the check is fraudulent, they will come back to you for the entire amount, plus fines/fees, and they might even report you to the authorities for check fraud. The scammer, who has used fake details with you and is untraceable, has simply walked away with the cash.

Sometimes they will send a fraudulent check for the actual amount, then have to cancel due to an emergency--once again, you'll be instructed to wire a "refund."

This same scammer contacted me recently. Thanks for reporting their email address!

The reply goes to : nicolebane <[email protected]>
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
To:
Room still available???
Victoria Dietz