Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: "Britney Johnson" <[email protected]>
Date: November 21, 2012 11:11
To: Con Warner
Subject: Re: $800 / 3br - 1420ft² - Town House with Private, Fenced Patio and Storage (Raleigh)
Reply-To: [email protected]

Hi,

I'm sorry for the delay! I was very busy last few days. The good news is that the unit is still available . There was a potential leaser who had great interest in the property, but he had bad marks on his credit report, so we need to start showing it again, as we want to get it leased immediately. Considering you had emailed us first, regarding the property, we are giving you first right of refusal.

The unit is in great condition. We know a lot of prospective renters want to take a quick look at the property, regardless, our policy is not to divulge the address, as the current tenants are still there. We don't want to disturb them as they are moving out currently. I’ll confirm what you probably already know this property is gorgeous! A leasing like this would typically go for much more, but again, I need to lease it asap, which is why the lease rate is a tremendous value.

The utilities are intact and can be switched over to you once the lease is signed. You will be responsible for cable, internet, and phone - if you decide to have these services. Pets are allowed but just need to know the size and breed for our records. The leasing term is 12-month lease, but can be switched to a 6-month lease, if that is more favorable. The only requirement is that you send us 30 days notice, when you want to move out of the unit.

If you would like to set up an appointment, go to the link below and request the free copy of your rental / credit report. We use the credit report to determine the % you pay for the security deposit and possibly pay no security deposit if your credit is above 700! Here is the link: http://smalurl.info/08475769f2a2d2c10fa5950853322083

The only pages we require are regarding your rental history. You just need to bring that to your appointment to see the property.

My availability over the next few days is going to be constrained, but I will try to be available between 10am and 8pm. After you have completed the online process, let me know that you have a hard copy and I can schedule an appointment at the rental.

See you soon!

Alice Jones

The link that you are asked to click is possibly a phishing site in which your personal details are harvested for identity theft.
Sometimes these links go to an actual credit report company that pays the scammer a small amount for your custom.
After visiting the site and replying to this person, the scam begins.

This person then asks 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 either to him, your friend or a family member.

Sounds safe. It's not!

At other times, this person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union or Moneygram with the promise that they will send the keys through a courier company.

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.

THIS WAS THE EMAIL I GOT FROM A CRAIGSLIST LISTING I ANSWERED TO:


Re: $1200 / 2br - 963ft&sup2; - Dual Master! Open Layout! 2 Walk In Closets! Save $300 Today!

Hello,

I'm sorry for the delay! I was very busy last few days with Thanksgiving. The great news is that the property is still available . There was a person who had serious interest in the rental, but he got evicted from previous apartment, so we need to start showing it again, as we want to get it leased immediately. Considering you had emailed us initially, regarding the rental, we are giving you first right of refusal.

The unit is in excellent condition. We know a lot of prospective renters want to take a quick look at the property, regardless, our policy is not to divulge the address, as the current tenants are still there. We don't want to disturb them as they are moving out currently. I’ll confirm what you probably already know this property is gorgeous! A property like this would typically go for much more, but again, we need to lease it right now, which is why the lease rate is a tremendous value.

The utilities are intact and can be switched over to you once the lease is signed. You will be responsible for cable, internet, and phone - if you decide to have these services. Pets are allowed but just need to know the size and breed for our records. The leasing term is 12-month lease, but can be switched to a 6-month lease, if that is more favorable. The only requirement is that you send us 30 days notice, when you want to move out of the unit.

If you would like to set up an appointment, go to the link below and order your credit report for a few bucks. We use the credit report to determine the % you pay for the security deposit and possibly pay no security deposit if your credit is above 700! Here is the link: http://smalurl.info/9076c647a92615863233ffffc5fb86fb

The only pages we require are regarding your rental history. You just need to bring that to your appointment to see the property.

My availability over the next few days is going to be constrained, but I will try to be available between 10am and 8pm. After you have completed the online process, let me know that you have a hard copy and I can schedule an appointment at the rental.

See you soon and hoped you had a happy Thanksgiving!

_____

I WAS STUPID TOO AND I CLICKED ON THE LINK AND INPUTTED MY INFORMATION. I CALLED EQUIFAX AND THEY DID GET MY APPLICATION SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I'M WORRIED!!!

Make sure you have called Equifax at their legitimate published number, not one you found through a link sent to you.

Often, these particular scammers are only after a referral fee. They may route you to a real credit report site who pays them for getting you to sign up and enroll in their monthly credit report monitoring programs. I would (a) check the fine print of any offer for a free or cheap report you accepted--usually you are signed up for a monthly report service by default. If that is the case, you need to follow the instructions for cancelling immediately, and be prepared to dispute any credit card charges, or even to cancel/change your credit card.

However, there have been a few cases of this going further into identity theft. For that reason, I would recommend you seriously consider having a flag for possible identity theft put on your reports.

Hi Im really worried because my husband and i been looking for aplace to rent and i emailed them and they replied back knowing it was real not a scam i clicked the link she gave me and i was directed to the site she gave me which is Equifax ... but its been 2 days and she wasnt replying so i got worried and checked the link again and it wasnt working anymore but when i go to Equifax site the legit one i still have access to my account what im worried about is that is my identity gonna be stolen im really confused now i know shes a scam but what about the link she gave me which is Equifax i paid $4.95 for it then after 30 days its gonna be $16.95 is it a scam too?? im really worried what should i do to prevent it from stealing my identity please help! this is the email i got from her ...

Britney Johnson [email protected]

Nov 24 (5 days ago)

to me
Hello,

I'm sorry for the delay! I was very busy last few days with Thanksgiving.. The good news is that the property is still available . There was a potential renter who had significant interest in the rental, but he got evicted from previous apartment, so we need to start showing it again, as we want to get it rented immediately. Considering you had emailed us initially, regarding the property, we are giving you first right of refusal.

The unit is in great condition. We know a lot of prospective renters want to take a quick look at the property, regardless, our policy is not to divulge the address, as the current tenants are still there. We don't want to disturb them as they are moving out currently. I’ll confirm what you probably already know this property is gorgeous! A unit like this would typically go for much more, but again, we need to lease it right now, which is why the lease rate is a tremendous value.

The utilities are intact and can be switched over to you once the lease is signed. You will be responsible for cable, internet, and phone - if you decide to have these services. Pets are allowed but just need to know the size and breed for our records. The rental term is 12-month lease, but can be switched to a 6-month lease, if that is more favorable. The only requirement is that you send us 30 days notice, when you want to move out of the unit.

If you would like to set up an appointment, go to the link below and order your credit report for a few bucks. We use the credit report to determine the % you pay for the security deposit and possibly pay no security deposit if your credit is above 700! Here is the link: http://smalurl.info/1a664d1f16b8833533d2a0b78ae1b47a

The only pages we require are regarding your rental history. You just need to bring that to your appointment to see the property.

My availability over the next few days is going to be constrained, but I will try to be available between 10am and 8pm. After you have completed the online process, let me know that you have a hard copy and I can schedule an appointment at the rental.

See you soon and hoped you had a happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to ScamWarners edlen, it is IMPORTANT you are dealing with the real company. I don't know their fee, but your should be able to call Equifax and talk to someone. I encourage you to call Equifax.

Don't use the link that you were given. Clicking on links is dangerous at best. The scammer most likely spoofed Equifax to get your (and many other people's) information. I would talk to my bank about the issue and watch to make sure your identity has not been stolen.

One of the best way to check a link to see if it's a scam is to hover your mouse over that link, then look at the bottom left of your computer screen. It will show you the ACTUAL address of that link.

So if something says it's a link to login to validate your Yahoo email acct because it's been compromised, when you hover over the link they give you, it should be to http://www.Yahoo.com/email, but if it says anything else it's a scam!