Don't Rent to These People!

by Peanut Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:24 pm

Scammer: Laura Davie
E-mail: [email protected]

Scammer: Deborah "Debby" Smith
E-mail: [email protected]

Craigslist can be a great place to buy and sell what you need. But it's also a favorite hang-out for scammers. Craigslist goes through great measures to help inform the public about what's going on, but they just can be everywhere at once.

Laura Davie and Deborah Smith are scammers that wants to rent your house/apartment/flat - and will send you a giant check to prove it.

DO NOT CASH THIS CHECK, however - the check is fraudulent and will get you high fines or possibly arrested. Report it to your local law enforcement officials immediately.

Here are some of the kind of letters you can expect to see:

Letter One:

Hello ,
I am Laura Davies ,28 years old.I am interested in your house for rent.I am a very tolerant person .I dont interfare into matters that hasn't got anything to do with me .I like to respect the rules guiding the house.I don't keep any kind of pets but love pets and i also don't do drugs.I am a model(professional) . i wish to rent a room between (6-9months).Please you could email me back,i look forward to hearing back from you.ASAP.
Laura

Letter Two:

Hello,
Thanks for the mail and i appreciate your efforts towards this .I am interested in renting your room .I will need more info from you regards to the room and also i need to know the deposit/rent fee that i will be paying before i arrive,i am from ENGLAND,but currently based in west africa now with my mom because she works for a missionary school and she is posted down here,i want to move over to the Mexico,Kindly get back to me ASAP with the deposit/rent fee, i need to pay because i will like to pay for the deposit before my arrival and i will like to know the total amount i will be paying for a whole year but i will like to pay the deposit first of all,I do part time modelling and also i have finished with my masters programme.I do model and i have job offers already in the Mexico,I have my masters degree in accounting.My job will be based on contracts so i do not have to go to work all the time,I will only need to go to work 3 times in a week.

Well, i think we will get along well because am a easy going person,like i said i dont do drugs or smoke but i drink only occasionally.

.Please kindly get back to me ASAP.Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards
Laura

This is a very common script - and the internet is full of examples of this same type of scam:
http://www.inshaw.com/blog/2008/06/psa-roommate-scam.html
http://www.scamvictimsunited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1049
http://www.choosespain.com/rental_scams.php

Letter Three: Here you can see the scam (I highlighted in red) start to appear!!!

Hello ,
Thanks for the mail ,I do really appreciate your efforts towards this.well i will give you a call ASAP,but will not want to call you while you are busy.You sound very nice i am also an easy going person as well.Please kindly get back with Thanks for the mail and i appreciate your urgent response towards this and the explanation you have made.

I model and i have jobs at stake for me once i come over there these jobs are based on modelling contracts,I am ready to pay $250 down as deposit to reserve the house,I appreciate the efforts you have made and also the explanation you have given.I will be arriving in the next two weeks,but i will let you know my exact move in date as soon as you recieve the deposit.I will like to pay the deposit because that really shows that i am serious about this and its secures the room.Please lets meet online so we can discuss better.I do model and my job is based strictly on contracts so i do not have to go to work everyday,I will only be going to like 3 times a week.I am perfectly okay with all what you have said so far,i do not have any questions for now,but i will let you know if i have any as time goes on.I am perfectly okay with all what you have said and have no questions for now.

As regards payment my mom has a client in the Germany that owes her some money,so he will be making out a money order/check out in your name and as soon as the money order/check gets to you take it to your bank or as soon as you cash the money order/check , then i will move over and then hand over the remaining balance of the lease to you once i come over to meet you in person,i am always online which you can as well set up a yahoo messenger its free , you can add me to your messanger list if ,well i need the name as you want it to appear on the money order/check and also the address to send the money order/check to and also your contact phone number.I will expect your immediate reply.

Regards
Laura

Letter Four:

Hello,
Many thanks for the email you sent.I appreciate your kind gesture towards this.I promise you that you would not regret having me to rent the room,and i hope and pray that i have the right person.You sound very easy going.I think this sounds great .No problem. Meanwhile,my Mom's client that who owes her some money would be sending you a money order/check of 3500USD.As soon as you get the money order/check,you have it cashed,deduct the deposit rent,and then send me the balance of the funds to me via western union money transfer.I intend using this to arrange my ticket fee,and to pay up my travel agent.As soon as i have this done,i would leave for the mexico the same day.I hope this is clear.I wait to read from you ASAP.I would so much appreciate it if you could be of help.
Do have a nice day.
Laura

The reason "Laura" is going to pay you by her "Mom's client" is likely because the scammer that makes the checks has stolen corporate bill information. Big company's have a hard time following each and every check that they issue, and it could take a few days for a fraudulent check to come to their attention. By urging you to cash then SEND the money immediately so she can book her ticket and travel agent, she is ensuring that you will send the money before the banks notice the fraud.

This is where the scammer will go off-script and start writing on their own. It is likely "she" is going to attempt to play an angle of a love-scam as well. Beware if you are single! This "model" likes to flatter, and will send you some lovely photos...