Room for Rent and other rental scams
by Arnold Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:47 am
The property is real, but the prospective tenant is the scammer.
---Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
To: *************
Sent: Mon, Mar 15, 2010 2:26 pm
Subject: Am ok

Hello,
Thanks very much for e-mailing me back,i really appreciate it.. I would have been kind of happy if we can meet,before making any plans,but am very busy and i have a lot of things to do right now.. I will really appreciate it if you can tell me more about the place and tell me little about you,because my uncle is presently very sick,and i have to travel to Finland to see him,but i want to secure the place down before going..
Right now,am in South Dakota,am staying in the address below:::
2900 E FIRESIDE CIRCLE,
SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103
My rent is going to due in 2 weeks time....
More about me,am a neat type of person,honest,humble and responsible. I like honest,responsible,and hardworking people while i hate the lazy,messy and uncaring people....well,am a quiet and gentle going person to live with....I am 5.7 in height,i like tourising,and i don't keep late at nights,neither i will have overnight guest around,but am ok if you do..
I was born and brought up in Finland,i studied there,i had my university education right there while staying with my uncle.. I lived all my life in Finland before coming down to South Dakota(SD),have been living with my uncle since have been 13 years old of age...Then i was member of the Red Cross Association,it really sounds interesting for me...
Why am moving and my work:
Am moving over to your state because i understand that i'll be doing good over there,as have been told by my uncle's friend who have once live over there. And i will be working with any hospital around you as i am also making necessary enquiries on that now....
Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends....
Right now.I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn't be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent ..
I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furnitures,please let me know if there will be room for them..
With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me and more picture of mine will be attach in the next email,Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit
Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in by the availability of the place,but want to secured it now
Thanks..

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by gemini Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:21 am
The same person just sent me this e-mail. Not sure if it is a scam or not, but I will let you know when I hrea from her again.

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/roo/1686177014.html
Hello,

My name is Kristi Vien,am responding to your craigslist posting about the room available for rent,i will like to know if the place is still available for rent... I am 26 years old of age,i give people respect,both adult and young ones,am humble,am very easy to get along with...

I don't have pet but am okay with pet,i don't drink and i don't smoke,i don't keep late at night,and am a straight female with no drama... I also pay my bill on time,please kindly get back to me with the rent fee per month including all utilities,how much security deposit do i have to make,and how soon do you want to rent the place,because am really in need of space as soon as possible....

Hope to read from you soon


Thanks
by Dotti Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:36 am
Welcome Gemini,

This person is definitely a scammer. She (actually it is most likely a male pretending to be a female) is an African fake check scammer--which means that "she" will send you a fake check or money order for over the amount, and ask you to forward some of the money by Western Union to another party (mover, shipping company). In reality, that other party will be the scammer himself. If the check is a good fake, the bank will issue the cash in the required 5 days, but weeks or months later, they will finally discover it--and they will take the money out of your account, plus fees for the bad check and any overdraft fees caused by the withdrawal. Cashing the check could also get you into trouble with the law, leaving you facing charges for fraud.

Need to post photos? http://scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=3219
Are you a victim of a romance scam? Read here for advice and FAQ's.
by Matthewlersch Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:28 am
I got one too. She says she's in Guam. What exactly is she trying to accomplish?

Hi,
How are you? I hope all is going on fine over there. Am very happy for receiving your e-mail,i so much appreciate it..
Now,am in Guam,this is my present address....110 Pale San Vitores Rd, Tumon, Guam,my rent fee us about to due in 2 weeks time,so am relocating...
I would have suggest we should meet before making any plans,but am very busy right now,and i have alot of things to do. But i will like you to tell me more about the place and the area,i will like you to also tell me more about you,my uncle is sick presently,so i want to go to Finland(My home country) to take care of him very well,though i won't take long over there,but i really want to secure the place down before going,so do let me know amount of security deposit i have to send..
More about me,am a neat type of person,honest,humble and responsible. I like honest,responsible,and hardworking people while i hate the lazy,messy and uncaring people....well,am a quiet and gentle going person to live with....I am 5.7 in height,i like tourising,and i don't keep late at nights,neither i will have overnight guest around,but am ok if you do..
I am 26 years old of age,i give people respect,both adult and young ones,am humble,am very easy to get along with...
I don't have pet but am okay with pet,i don't drink and i don't smoke,i don't keep late at night,and am a straight female with no drama..
I was born and brought up in Finland,i studied there,i had my university education right there while staying with my uncle.. I lived all my life in Finland before coming down to Guam(US)have been living with my uncle since have been 13 years old of age...Then i was member of the Red Cross Association,it really sounds interesting for me...
Why am moving and my work:
Am moving over to your state because i understand that i'll be doing good over there,as have been told by my uncle's friend who have once live over there. And i will be working with any hospital around you as i am also making necessary enquiries on that now....
Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends....
Right now.I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn't be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent ..
I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furnitures,please let me know if there will be room for them..
With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me and more picture of mine will be attach in the next email,Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit
Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in by the availability of the place,but want to secured it now.
Thanks..
by Ralph Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:13 am
Hi Mathew, welcome to Scamwarners.

As Dotti suggested it's almost certainly a fake cheque scamer.

The basic concept is that the victim will be paid by "her" (Dotti was also correct, it's almost certainly an African male but for teh purpose of this thread we will refer to him as a female) using a fake cheque, the victim will be encouraged to cash the cheque as soon as possible, the cheque may be made out for an amount over and above the amount of money that the victim is owed, and the victim will be asked to either refund the difference or perhaps send a portion of that money to another person.

What many people dont understand about cheques is that they go through a banking cycle that includes "provisional clearance" this stage has to do with regulations that mean teh bank has to make funds available within 5 days so on teh 5th day you will be able to access the money so long as the bank has not found any obvious problems in that time.

Unfortunately, as the cheque goes through the banking cycle it may take much longer than 5 days and even in some cases months for a bank to realise that a fake cheque is fake, when they do, any money drawn on that cheque is immediately reversed from the bank account it was deposited into, if funds are not available to reverse the transaction than the police may be asked to get involved.

Any money that is drawn on a fake cheque is the responsibility of the person who deposits it so the victim in this case will be out of pocket by any money that has been spent or passed on and may also find themselves in trouble with police as well
by jwisard Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:47 pm
Yep, got my own scam:

FIRST RESPONSE
---------------------------
Hello my name is GEINA and I am looking to rent a place to live. I am a young professional and will be needing to move ASAP. I am willing to pay first and last months rent .I am very responsible and open to any kind of lease. I am an Humanitarian worker and was posted on a new job to your area . I will be happy if i could know the condition for the room and a little about you too. I will be glad if i could hear back from you sooner.
Thank You
---------------------------

SECOND RESPONSE:
---------------------------
Hello,
Thanks very much for e-mailing me back ,i really appreciate it, am also sorry for getting back to you late.. I am GEINA CURTIZ by name and live in Seattle, WA. I would have been kind of happy if we can meet before making any plans, but am very busy and i have a lot of things to do right now.. I will really appreciate it if you can tell me more about the place and tell me little about you because my uncle is presently very sick, and i have to travel to Finland to see him but i want to secure the place down before going. He was involved in a car crash with his new car some weeks back and now ill seriously, I need to check on him and take good care of him.
I am staying in CHRMC Children's Hospital Seattle staff Quarters now The address is below:
4800 Sandpoint Way NE Seattle, WA 98105
I am moving cause of my job, am a medical Humanitarian nurse for united Nations. I work for CHRMC Children's Hospital in Seattle but will be working in a local clinic over there, More about me, am a neat type of person, honest, humble and responsible. I like honest, responsible and hardworking people while i hate the lazy, messy and uncaring people....well am a quiet and gentle going person to live with....I am 28 yrs old female, 5.4 in height ,i like tourism and i don't keep late at nights neither i will have overnight guest around but am ok if you do..
I was born and brought up in Finland, i studied there i had my university education right there while staying with my uncle.. I lived all my life in Finland before coming down to Seattle, WA have been living with my uncle from age 13 ...Then i was member of the Red Cross Association it really sounds interesting for me...
Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like I work when i am to and relax when i am to, I also like sharing my thoughts also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends....
I do not have any pet, i really like dog and cat but have none of it now, so there is no problem about that.
I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with little of my furniture.
please let me know if there will be room for them. With all that I’ve said above I have told you more about me and more picture of mine will be attach in the next email Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit
Feel free to ask me any question and as I’ve said i am looking to move in by the availability of the place but want to secured it now
Thanks..
---------------------------

THIRD RESPONSE:
---------------------------
Hi again ,
Thanks once again for the quick reply,I would have loved to call You but am leaving now to see my sick uncle in Finland ,i can only communicate through email but I

will, whenever i get there but before that i will want to secure the place,I am very happy meeting a person like you,It 's nice reading from you again and i will never

ever want to loose the room even without seeing the place ,I will want You to know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again.....
I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters most,i believe that you'll be a nice person,I just have my dressers,computer table,kitchen

utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggage's and my car to be shipped....
I got a message that my uncle is sick in Finland,i hope have already mention that before and i have to go see him but i am making plans to secure place so that when i

come back i'll just move in into the place we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated,I am okay with you and i want you to know that i don't want to

make any travel plans without securing a place down now,I will be signing a year lease for the start if you are okay with that,so i ve let my uncle understand more

about you and the place,He is really comfortable and he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before and he said that i should not afford to loose

your place also he said that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i thought of it and i will be making payment to hold down the place and the mode

of payment will be by United State Certified Money Order or cashier check so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.
And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the payment to you.Your full name as it will appear on the payment,your work place address to ensure

delivery in your hands through regular mails or a courier service,your phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your

work address because you will always be available at work from morning till evening but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be at home to

receive the package.And if you don't receive package at your office address then I guess your home address will be good for the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay

of you receiving at home then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to receive it.I will be moving to your place on weeks in February ,Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information so that we can proceed asap bye for now..
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay
Thanks...
---------------------------

There is even a Geina Curtiz on Facebook. FYI.
by eaton Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:23 pm
Thanks guys above...!!!! Got saved by a scam..and definitely a lot of money...!!!
I wanted to do my bit..Have posted the mail...and the person used a new id this time...
[email protected]

-----------------
This was her second response and the first thing I did was google her..!!
----
Hello,
Thanks very much for e-mailing me back ,i really appreciate it, am also sorry for getting back to you late.. I am GEINA CURTIZ by name and live in Seattle, WA. I would have been kind of happy if we can meet before making any plans, but am very busy and i have a lot of things to do right now.. I will really appreciate it if you can tell me more about the place and tell me little about you because my uncle is presently very sick, and i have to travel to Finland to see him but i want to secure the place down before going. He was involved in a car crash with his new car some weeks back and now ill seriously, I need to check on him and take good care of him.
I am staying in CHRMC Children's Hospital Seattle staff Quarters now The address is below:
4800 Sandpoint Way NE Seattle, WA 98105
I am moving cause of my job, am a medical Humanitarian nurse for united Nations. I work for CHRMC Children's Hospital in Seattle but will be working in a local clinic over there, More about me, am a neat type of person, honest, humble and responsible. I like honest, responsible and hardworking people while i hate the lazy, messy and uncaring people....well am a quiet and gentle going person to live with....I am 27 yrs old female, 5.4 in height ,i like tourism and i don't keep late at nights neither i will have overnight guest around but am ok if you do..
I was born and brought up in Finland, i studied there i had my university education right there while staying with my uncle.. I lived all my life in Finland before coming down to Seattle, WA have been living with my uncle from age 13 ...Then i was member of the Red Cross Association it really sounds interesting for me...
Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like I work when i am to and relax when i am to, I also like sharing my thoughts also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends....
I do not have any pet, i really like dog and cat but have none of it now, so there is no problem about that.
I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with little of my furniture.
please let me know if there will be room for them. With all that I’ve said above I have told you more about me and more picture of mine will be attach in the next email Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit
Feel free to ask me any question and as I’ve said i am looking to move in by the availability of the place but want to secured it now
Thanks..
by Bubbles Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:56 pm
Welcome to ScamWarners eaton. Doing a search of anyone you attempt to do business with is a great idea.

We are pleased that you were able to find information here to help you. Also thank you for posting this new information for others to find.

Bubbles, former Scamwarners moderator.

Rest in Peace 24 June 2015.

Gone, but never forgotten.
by dogsrulebaby Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:21 pm
I had the same person respond to my ad on craigslist. I don't know what they are hoping to achieve by doing this but it is a pain in the behind. I posted "no scam artists please" and that has slowed down the activity on my ad quite a bit. I googled GEINA CURTIZ and was very glad when I found this site.
I have had actual legitimate people from other countries inquire about my ad and I look up whatever I can, I never use the phone numbers they provide I always use the white pages or google the business and location and find a valid phone number. This has helped me a lot in differentiating legitimate inquires with the scammers.
by Bubbles Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:21 am
Welcome to ScamWarners dogsrulebaby. It is great to hear that you are careful with the people you deal with online and on Craigslist. You have given some solid information about being safe.

Scammers don't care what your ad says about scamming. They hope that you will still fall for their story line. Plenty of people do, which is very sad and unfortunate. Scammers have been known to assume the name of people they find online or from other sources.

Being cautious is important and the best approach to take. Never send money to anyone you don't know using a money transfer system.

Bubbles, former Scamwarners moderator.

Rest in Peace 24 June 2015.

Gone, but never forgotten.
by jmathias Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:54 pm
THIS IS A SCAM!!

"Hi again ,
Thanks once again for the quick reply I would have loved to call You
but am leaving now to see my sick uncle in Finland ,i can only
communicate through email but I will, whenever i get there but before
that i will want to secure the place, I am very happy meeting a person
like you It 's nice reading from you again and i will never ever want
to loose the room even without seeing the place ,I will want You to
know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again.....
I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters
most i believe that you'll be a nice person I just have my dressers,
computer table, kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggage's
and my car to be shipped....
I got a message that my uncle is sick in Finland, i hope have already
mention that before and i have to go see him but i am making plans to
secure place so that when i come back i'll just move in into the place
we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated, I am okay
with you and i want you to know that i don't want to make any travel
plans without securing a place down now, I will be signing a year
lease for the start if you are okay with that so I’ve let my uncle
understand more about you and the place, He is really comfortable and
he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before
and he said that i should not afford to loose your place also he said
that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i
thought of it and i will be making payment to hold down the place and
the mode of payment will be by United State Certified Money Order or
cashier check so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.
And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the
payment to you. Your full name as it will appear on the payment, your
work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service your phone number on the package to avoid
package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address
because you will always be available at work from morning till evening
but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be
at home to receive the package And if you don't receive package at
your office address then I guess your home address will be good for
the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home
then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to
receive it. I will be moving to your place by first week on May
,Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information
so that we can proceed asap i would also want to know if the ad has
been taking off the site?am attaching some couple of pictures of my
self along with this mail for you to have an idea of why i look like.
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay
Thanks..."
by jmathias Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:56 pm
KATHY JOHNSON [email protected] AKA GEINA CURTIZ. THIS IS A SCAM!!

"Hi again ,
Thanks once again for the quick reply I would have loved to call You
but am leaving now to see my sick uncle in Finland ,i can only
communicate through email but I will, whenever i get there but before
that i will want to secure the place, I am very happy meeting a person
like you It 's nice reading from you again and i will never ever want
to loose the room even without seeing the place ,I will want You to
know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again.....
I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters
most i believe that you'll be a nice person I just have my dressers,
computer table, kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggage's
and my car to be shipped....
I got a message that my uncle is sick in Finland, i hope have already
mention that before and i have to go see him but i am making plans to
secure place so that when i come back i'll just move in into the place
we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated, I am okay
with you and i want you to know that i don't want to make any travel
plans without securing a place down now, I will be signing a year
lease for the start if you are okay with that so I’ve let my uncle
understand more about you and the place, He is really comfortable and
he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before
and he said that i should not afford to loose your place also he said
that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i
thought of it and i will be making payment to hold down the place and
the mode of payment will be by United State Certified Money Order or
cashier check so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.
And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the
payment to you. Your full name as it will appear on the payment, your
work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service your phone number on the package to avoid
package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address
because you will always be available at work from morning till evening
but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be
at home to receive the package And if you don't receive package at
your office address then I guess your home address will be good for
the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home
then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to
receive it. I will be moving to your place by first week on May
,Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information
so that we can proceed asap i would also want to know if the ad has
been taking off the site?am attaching some couple of pictures of my
self along with this mail for you to have an idea of why i look like.
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay
Thanks..."
by jmathias Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:04 pm
KATHY JOHNSON GEINA CURTIZ [email protected]


"On Apr 13, 2011, at 8:46 PM, Kathy Johnson wrote:

Hi again ,
Thanks once again for the quick reply I would have loved to call You
but am leaving now to see my sick uncle in Finland ,i can only
communicate through email but I will, whenever i get there but before
that i will want to secure the place, I am very happy meeting a person
like you It 's nice reading from you again and i will never ever want
to loose the room even without seeing the place ,I will want You to
know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again.....
I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters
most i believe that you'll be a nice person I just have my dressers,
computer table, kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggage's
and my car to be shipped....
I got a message that my uncle is sick in Finland, i hope have already
mention that before and i have to go see him but i am making plans to
secure place so that when i come back i'll just move in into the place
we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated, I am okay
with you and i want you to know that i don't want to make any travel
plans without securing a place down now, I will be signing a year
lease for the start if you are okay with that so I’ve let my uncle
understand more about you and the place, He is really comfortable and
he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before
and he said that i should not afford to loose your place also he said
that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i
thought of it and i will be making payment to hold down the place and
the mode of payment will be by United State Certified Money Order or
cashier check so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.
And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the
payment to you. Your full name as it will appear on the payment, your
work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service your phone number on the package to avoid
package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address
because you will always be available at work from morning till evening
but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be
at home to receive the package And if you don't receive package at
your office address then I guess your home address will be good for
the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home
then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to
receive it. I will be moving to your place by first week on May
,Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information
so that we can proceed asap i would also want to know if the ad has
been taking off the site?am attaching some couple of pictures of my
self along with this mail for you to have an idea of why i look like.
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay
Thanks..."
by iloveu Mon May 09, 2011 11:08 pm
I glad I found this website. I was looking for a roomate and I got a similar email from a girl named Geina Cutiz, or whoever she is. My friend actually got one about a year ago. Exact same story. She lost her $$$ because of the fake check.

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