Don't be fooled by this rental scam.

I was looking on craigslist for a place for my family and I, this was one of the posts that I found:

"Fantastic room for rent with hardwood floors and ceramic tile throughout. good size bedroom, Updated tile bathroom and lighting fixtures, Kitchen equipped with stainless steel appliances, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. Laundry room with washer and dryer and also parking is available with all utilities included."

I bookmarked it and emailed the person at this email address [email protected], this is what I got back:

Richard Hamilton
2:24 AM (22 hours ago)
Thanks for your interest in my room. My name is Richard Hamilton, I'm easy going and friendly and also God fearing. I like music and have deep interests in traveling. I respect every religion and love to hang around with people and i am definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I am currently living in Manilla, Philippines because of my transfer to head as a branch manager of the newly opened branch of the construction company i work with and i will be here for long that is why am renting out the room. The apartment is located at: 1145 Murray St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
This is a spacious apartment and is located in a very cool and lovely environment with five (5) appliances including dishwasher with in-suite laundry and plenty of storage space and parking space, professional and mature neighbors ensure peaceful living arrangements. Freshly painted and immaculately clean. The rent per month is $450 monthly including utilities and $450 damages deposit. I would like you to tell me your renting experience and how you can take very good care of the apartment. I was wondering maybe i can send you the application form for you to fill out so that we can discuss how to ship out the keys and the document to you.
Awaiting Your Prompt Response.
Regards

I emailed them back and got this is return
Richard Hamilton
4:00 PM (9 hours ago)
Hello Sammie,
Thanks so much for getting back to me once again and attached are interior pictures of the apartment to show you how spacious and beautiful the inside is. I will urge you to kindly fill out the below rental application form so that we can proceed further to the next step.
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
(Private And Confidential)

(1) FIRST NAME: __________________
(2) MIDDLE NAME: __________________
(3) LAST NAME: __________________
(4) PROFESSION: ________________
(5) PHONE (____) __________ (CELL)
(6) PHONE (____) __________ (WORK)
(7) PHONE (____) __________ (HOME)
(8) MARITAL STATUS: _________
(9) KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY: ________
(10) PRESENT ADDRESS: ___________________________
(11) CITY: _______________
(12) STATE: ______________
(13) ZIP CODE: ____________
(14) PREVIOUS RENT: _______
(15) HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING: ____________
(16) HOW MANY MONTH RENT PLUS SECURITY DEPOSIT CAN YOU UPFRONT PAY BEFORE MOVING IN: __________
(17) WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN: ______________
(18) DO YOU HAVE PET: ________
(19) DO YOU SMOKE: ________
(20) DO YOU DRINK ALCOHOLIC: _______
(21) DO YOU HAVE A CAR: _______
(22) WHY ARE YOU MOVING OUT YOUR PRESENT HOUSE: ________________________________________________________________________________
(23)DO YOU WORK OVERNIGHT:_______
(24) PICTURES OF THE OCCUPANT? IF AVAILABLE ___________________________
With the email above I also received these images(right off the bat I noticed that the appliances are not stainless steal as he said they where ):







So I filled out the information and got this back:
Richard Hamilton
5:51 PM (7 hours ago)
Hello Samantha,
Congratulations!!! Your application form has been approved. I really appreciate your willingness in renting my place and i promise you that you will never regret taking my place. I have taken time to go over your application form and i am so impressed and can't stop having the feeling that my place will be well kept by you as promised. The keys and document will be ship to the delivery details below:
1)Package Receiver's Name:
2)Package Receiver's Address:
The total cost for you to move into the apartment is $900. First month rent $450 and $450 for the damage deposit which is refundable at the end of the lease if nothing is damaged in the apartment. I would be sending the apartment key's and documents to you via Ups Courier Service to the address you filled in the application form and the shipment tracking number will be emailed to you so that you can track it to know the exact time the package will be delivered to you the next day. Below are the document i will be shipping to you once i have received the payment from you.
Here Are The Contents Of The Package.
1)Entrance And The Rooms Keys
2)The Apartment Documentary File.
3)Payment Receipt.
I have the keys and the documents ready for shipment. I will like you to go ahead and send the payment to the below information via Western Union.
Receiver's Name: Richard Hamilton
Address: 2626 Taal Street
City: Manila
State: Philippines
Zipcode: 1004
Amount Send: $900
Kindly get back to me with the below information as soon as you send the payment via Western Union.
Sender's Name:
Sender's Address:
MTCN # (10 Digit):
Amount Sent: $
Once I receive the payment confirmation from you, I will get the keys shipped to you through Ups Courier Service {Overnight Delivery} and the shipment tracking number will be emailed to you so that you can know the exact time the package will be delivered to you so that you can move in at your own convenience time.
Awaiting Your Prompt Response.
Regards
With this email I received these images:



I emailed him back basically saying that I wasn't going to send him the money without having the keys. I got this in return:

Richard Hamilton
10:19 PM (2 hours ago)
Hello Samantha,
Glad to read from you once again and i quite understand your plight.I want you to know that I am a christian "BORN AGAIN" to be precise and to ripped someone off his/her money is a sin for me and i cannot do such a thing.I know it is very hard to believe or trust someone over the internet because of the scams around now and had it been i am in your shoes i will do anything within my reach to protect myself not to fall a victim and i know how hard for someone to earn a $ nowadays because the money doesn't come easily like that and that is why i make it fair in putting the room rent for $450 for someone to be able to afford every month.
I would have shipped out the package containing the keys and the documents prior to payment but due to what happened to me last year in which i sent the keys to a burglar and loose properties worth of $6450 in putting the apartment back to its place that is why i don't deal with a third party and even intend sending the keys to anyone and i hope you understand my situation.
I have discussed further with my wife and we had a conclusion that since you are not comfortable with the process and i can't proceed with the shipment of the package without any deposit assuring the safety of the keys and documents to my property,we have come to a conclusion that if you can make the payment of the security deposit today as compromise in the western union and once it is confirmed,i will inform the shipment agent to get the package on transit and once it get delivered to you and you get to move in,then you can send over the payment for the first month rent and am very sure this is a better plan to make both of us comfortable in this process and i will really like you to trust me over this.
Awaiting Your Prompt Response.
Regards
With this email I received one last image:


I've been fooled by a scam once and wasn't going to fall for another one so I looked up the address that he claimed to be his address on Google and the first link to pop up brought me to this page with an almost identical story. I also looked up the address of the place I would be renting on google earth and its the address of an apartment complex and he never gave me the apartment number. I also know for certain that they don't allow dogs which in is original post he said that they did. Here is the link that I found when I typed in his supposed home address (finding this link is what led me to posting this on here):
viewtopic.php?f=39&p=75877

I hope that the time and effort I have put into this will end up helping someone in the future.


Mod edit: Watermarked pics as per forum rules. We don't want other scammers to use them. - CW

Welcome to ScamWarners, SammieLove.
Please post the email address that the scammer used. This will help others who may do a search based on the email address.

I've marked your pictures so that they can't be recycled by another thief.

This same person, or at least I presume it is the same person, is also advertising an apartment in Manhattan on Craigslist for $480 a month. I emailed an inquiry, and after a brief exchange he emailed me those exact same pictures along with that same application form. I actually found this site by Googling the application form. I knew it was too good to be true, but I was really hoping I had found a one bedroom apartment in downtown Manhattan for that price. In this case, the email address is different, however: [email protected].

Welcome to Scamwarners JohnHunter44,

We really need someone to post the email address he is using. Most people will search the internet using his email address. Most of these scammers will list multiple properties in cities across the country.

Please post the email address. This will help others avoid his scams.

ETA: Thank you.

[email protected] is a rental scammer

- $560 / 800ft² - Beautiful Room For Rent (lower pac hts)
Amazing room available for rent in nicely located building with all new renovations, hardwood floors,large kitchen, dishwasher, microwave, fantastic views, everything shiny and new and also with unit laundry,parking available.

[email protected]
- $480 / 800ft² - Spacious Room With Luxurious Amenities (Chinatown / Lit Italy)
Bright room features large living, dining and bedroom area. Full bathroom and kitchen with 6 appliances. Plenty of closet space with hardwood and ceramic flooring.Walking distance to stores and bus routes. Utilities included in rent (heat, water and electric),parking,laundry facilities on site.

[email protected]
- $400 / 650ft² - Clean & Spacious Room For Rent (Waikiki)
All utilities included. No additional expenses. Available immediately. Renovated, spacious room for rent. Walking distance to shopping, grocery stores, and restaurants. Secure building. Laundry in unit, good storage.