Craigslist rental scam - [email protected]

I received the following today,

Stephen Ryberg


2:50 AM (5 hours ago)


Hello,

Thanks for your email and your interest in my Home, We personally own the house and we want our property to be well taken good care of, and they are some rules and regulation in which i do give out to tenant willing to rent my house, So please don't disrespect my order, But if you are still capable of renting my house the rules and regulation goes this way.

Tenant must keep our house clean including the surrounding, tenant must know the way to use the stove as to avoid fire outbreak, tenant must not disturb the Neighbor. We decided to rent out the property due to our transfer to Idaho USA on a Missionary Work, in a church called World Mission, So we are renting it out since we need someone to take good care of the property on our absent.. this transfer is a temporary but will last for at least (4years+).. All kind of Pets are Allowed with no extra Deposit.

We are sincere, honest people and serious to rent the home while we are away, the keys and documents are with us here in Idaho USA... So we need to ship the keys before tenant can occupy the house... NB: Note that am no more dealing with any realtor, because the too much money they are collecting from me trying to reap me off, OK?

RENTAL FEATURES:
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Rent: $800
Security Deposit : $700
Total Move in Cost : $1500



House Address...( 296 Commercial St Braintree, MA 02184 )

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:>

Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home,cell and office line ) # :__________?
What is the best time and best number to reach you #:_________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
When do you plan to move in, please write exact date?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
If you are ask to make a down payment to secure the house today and take it off market, How much will you be able to pay:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Are you a section 8 applicant
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you, please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that, we have not seen each other yet, so i am only putting everything into Gods hand, so please do not let me down in any way, this our property and God bless you more as you do this. Please note than you are free to go by the house and see the exterior and surroundings of it at this time, but you will have access to look at the interior once i have sent the keys & essential documents of the house to you. I will like you to know that the requirement for getting the keys and documents of the house to you is a full refundable fee of $700 USD, which serve as the Security Deposit. Please note that the deposit made is fully refundable should in case you finally gain entrance into the house after receiving the keys and documents and feel unsatisfied or uncomfortable with the interior, but i am giving you a benefit of doubt that you will love everything about this lovely home...

I Await your response so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you...

Thanks and you are welcome!!!

Regards,
Stephen Ryberg.

Welcome to Scamwarners jbh2564,

Please post the email address the scammer used with you. This will help others avoid him if they search the internet using his email address.

Hi I received a similar email. They had asked for my direct email to "send details of the apartment":
Thanks for getting back to me and your understanding. Here is little about myself .....My name is Peter Patrice Kelly,I was born in and raised in Canada.My father is a Canadian why my mother is from Amsterdam.i was born in 31 August 1963,Am married with 2 kids,Am a quiet,faithful, loyal, honest, caring and open minded person,I work in Construction company here in United Kingdom and have a branch in France.i don't smoke but i drink socially.i love pet,I love warm weather, tropical drinks and sandy beaches. I like to party and have fun.
Two years ago, I Inherit the apartment from my late mother who is from Amsterdam.It's because am the only child and also here working for my company in United Kingdom and will be in France from Friday there is no way i could come to take good care of the apartment myself that's why i am looking for a reliable tenant who is going to take good care of this apartment for me in my absence
Whenever i traveled like that, I make use of house agent or a friend of mine over there but they cheated a lot on my tenants and my tenants complains a lot about that. That is the reason why i took the keys along with me because i don't want my apartment to be used anyhow in my absence.
Also,I would like to put my trust in you and will be sending the keys to you from France after the contract and payment has been concluded
So I hope you can promise me that you are going to take very good care of my apartment in my absence.
But before any reservation,Can you tell me little about yourself,Anything you think you want me to know about you.
where are you from and also where are you presently?
what is your experience in renting an apartment?
Have you ever rent an apartment before?
Did you smoke?
Did you have pet?
did you take drugs?
did you have car?
Are you going to stay alone?
Are you paying the rent yourself?
What are you doing for living?
How old are you?
What is your gender?
Phone number?
Mobile Number?
What is the best time to call you?
Kindly get back to me so that i can tell you on how to get my Apartment reserved.Here is my UK mobile number +447045728479 an also work in France.If i didn't response to your call that means am busy at work and you can reply me back by email.
Best Regards
Peter.

I also got a reply about a home in Crown Point from this same man. Email "[email protected]"

Hello,

How are you doing? thanks for the pleasant response. i am really pleased with all what you have said so far, and i believe i may have found the right tenant to take care of our property. Below is the rent application form,get it filled and sent back to me so that we can proceed further.

********RENT APPLICATION FORM**********

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
FIRST NAME:__________?
MIDDLE NAME:__________?
LAST NAME:__________?
SEX:__________?
DATE OF BIRTH:_________?
PROFESSION:__________?
PHONE:
(CELL)PHONE__________?
(WORK)PHONE__________?
(HOME)PHONE__________?
WHICH
NUMBER IS THE BEST TO CALL YOU ON__________?
MARITAL STATUS:__________?
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING__________?
IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________?
DO YOU AGREE TO PAY THE DEPOSIT BEFORE YOU MOVE IN? _____________?
IF YOU ARE ASK TO SEND DOWN A PAYMENT TODAY SECURING THE PROPERTY, HOW MUCH WILL YOU BE ABLE TO AFFORD RIGHT NOW TO SEND IN SECURING THE
HOUSE IN ORDER TAKING IT OFF MARKET?? _____________?
HOW MANY MONTHS RENT CAN YOU PAY UPFRONT? MINIMUM ( 1 MONTH + SECURITY DEPOSIT), ( 2 MONTHS + SECURITY DEPOSIT) OR ( 3 MONTHS + SECURITY
DEPOSIT) SO WHICH OPTION DO YOU PREFER? _____________?
IF YOU HAVE A PET,
KIND OF PETS: _____________?
THE PETS HABITS: _____________?
ARE YOU SECTION 8 APPLICANTS: _____________?
DO YOU SMOKE ______________ ?
DO YOU DRINK ______________?
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____?

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you, please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that, we do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand, so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this.

Looking forward to read from you.

Have a wonderful day and God bless you,
Yours Landlord Stephen Ryberg.

From: Stephen Ryberg < [email protected] >
Subject: Re: Nicely spacious single family home (Braintree, MA)
To:


Thanks for your interest and inquiries about our property. Yes the Apartment house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are not around. My wife and i just moved to IDAHO USA for a program called FAMILY LIFE AND HIV EDUCATION AND THE HIV PREVENTION FOR RURAL YOUTH PROGRAM, the program is taking place in three major countries in Europe, Africa, UK . We will be away for 2 to 3 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it.

Also how long do you intend to stay? How soon do you intend to move in?
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Master Bedroom, Playground, Car Park.AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Firepit, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.

DETAILS ABOUT THE HOUSE..
Number of bedrooms:2
Number of bathrooms:1

Rental price: $1000 per month and security Deposit is $800 (Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent... Pets Welcome. The total move in cost is $1800 and you will be dealing directly with us.

Below is the Address to the Apartment House:
146 Beechwood Rd Braintree, MA 02184

Get back to me in order to forward you the rent Questionnaire form that you will fill out in order to proceed with the rental ASAP.

Best Regards,
Stephen Ryberg.

He actually called me tonight am wanting me to send the money and he barely spoke English I had a hard time understanding him and he was fighting with me on the phone I actually have his phone number and he called me from Maryland and I said you're supposed be in Idaho and he started saying that my caller ID was wrong he said that I could drive by the house but I can't go near the house he will give me the keys once I send them the money and I told him that I would call the police because he's trying to scam me for my money so I have his phone number 1-204-681-9208 it was for a house in 179 pierce st in malden mass, the house was sold last month and he tried to say that he bought the house

So i forgot to put the email of this stephen ryberg he told me to send the money via western union to Coeur D'Alene , ID 83815 the email he used was [email protected] the number he called from was from maryland 1-240-681-9208

Stephen Ryberg is back at it posting a house in Braintree, MA that is currently on the market. From email - "Thanks for your interest and inquiries about our property. Yes the house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are not around. My wife and i just moved to IDAHO USA for a program called FAMILY LIFE AND HIV EDUCATION AND THE HIV PREVENTION FOR RURAL YOUTH PROGRAM, the program is taking place in three major countries in Europe, Africa, UK . We will be away for 2 to 3 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it."

BEWARE.