• Home
• About
• Contact
• Photos
• Portfolio
• Products

142 Responses

1. 

   Posted by Amber on Sep 09, 2008 at 05:43pm

   This happened to my friend regarding a very nice address in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. She was so excited that she went to visit the house – and found out it was OCCUPIED by the OWNERS.

2. 

   Posted by Ren on Sep 12, 2008 at 09:05am

   They should try different kinds of tricks for each email. :/
   BTW, did you go check the house??

3. 

   Posted by nate on Sep 12, 2008 at 10:22am

   Amber, sheesh, that sucks. I guess that’s why they do it though, it earns money from someone.

   Ren, no, I didn’t go check the house. I don’t have time to do that. But yea, you’d think they’d get smarter about what they say and how they do it. I did watch a Dateline special recently that they are not saying “Nigeria” anymore. Many of them are doing their work from Benin, which is the tiny underfunded country to the west of Nigeria. So, be careful with anything coming from Benin too.

4. 

   Posted by Simon on Sep 12, 2008 at 01:34pm

   We’re in the middle of dealing with this from the other end- as homeowners we placed an ad on craigslist which was up for a couple days before we found legitimate renters, and then we started hearing strange things about the house being advertised for way under market- upon investigation we found that these scammers had taken our address, text from our ad, and other information and used it to put together phony ads.

   We alerted and got them pulled as quickly as possible; and craigslist has been good about preventing repeats- but apparently the 12 or 24 hours the ad or ads in question were up was long enough to engender a HUGE stream of people coming around the neighborhood, bothering the neighbors, bothering the real tenants, etc.

   I guess people are desperate for a deal, but I would think if someone tells you to go check out a house but they don’t have the keys, can’t show you the inside, and only have their broken English word over the internet that they are legitimate, red flags should go up, particularly since at the top of the page on craigslist there is a big highlighted scam warning about how you should NOT DEAL WITH ANYONE CLAIMING TO BE THE OWNERS WHO ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY, etc.

   It’s extremely frustrating, particularly because the real tenants now have to deal with this stuff as they’re moving in. MY advice on this is DON’T go “check the house”, anyone making these claims is a scammer who is scammming not just you but the real owners and occupants of these places; if you can’t legitimately verify (i.e. over the phone, with an area code that is in the proper state, as well as country, where you can arrange an in person meeting to look at the place) that you are communicating with the actual owner, you are dealing with a scammer and by showing up at this place you are probably making someone else’s life more difficult. We’ve had two small kids very sick with the flu this week, and in the process of trying to take care of them we’ve also had to constantly put out fires pertaining to this ugly scam.

   It sucks.

5. 

   Posted by nate on Sep 12, 2008 at 02:10pm

   Simon,

   Wow, that is one crazy story. I figured it would get bothersome, but you sound outright ticked off (for good reason).

   Great suggestions on how to effectively deal with landlords (and who not to deal with).

   I’m sorry to hear your end of this story as well. These guys affect everyone and until people are educated on the kinds of scams they pull (which will be difficult short of public service announcements denouncing Nigerian and similar business), they will continue to be a problem.

   I highly suggest spreading the word about this kind of thing. Feel free to digg/reddit/stumble or do whatever you can to promote this stuff so people understand what’s going on.

   Thanks for your comment Simon. Good to hear it from your side too.

6. 

   Posted by Jax on Sep 13, 2008 at 04:38pm

   My response for a too-good-to-be-true house rental listing in Ottawa, Ontario. Does this sound like the same scam to you?

   Dear ,
   I Appreciate your interest in my Beautiful 3 bd 2 bath located in the City of Ottawa in Canada .Built in 2007 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath. Includes all appliances. Water, lawn care, and HOA are paid for by me. Huge Master bedroom with dual sinks, and large walk in closet. Laundry room upstairs with extra storage. Custom tile and cabinents downstairs. Ceiling fans have been installed in all rooms. Large attached 2 car garage. Professionally landscaped yard

   Actually I resided in the house with my family, my Beautiful wife and my only Daughter before and presently i had to move based on my current contract with the Guaranty Trust Bank,and on the course,i picked up a social activity to work withe the Red Cross Society,which had made it very difficult for me to come home often,the duration of the contract will be for about 5years or more and now situated in the WESTERN COASTAL REGION OF AFRICA,NIGER AREA(NIGERIA).Presently my house is still available for rent $900 per month including the utilities ,and the agreement and security fee of $200 will also be included,which makes it a total of $1100 for move in.
   Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest human being and also i spent a lot on the property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own, i want you to keep it tidy and clean all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up. Here is the 68 Lebreton Street N, Ottawa, ON, K1R7H4
   Await Your Urgent Reply.
   You can call me on this +234 708 268 6752
   Thanks.
   Linda Peterson.

7. 

   Posted by nate on Sep 13, 2008 at 09:38pm

   Simon, what do you think?

8. 

   Posted by MJW on Sep 15, 2008 at 06:39am

   A similar thing happened to me as well, below is the text of the response to my inquiry and then the e-mail notifying me that they wanted to give me the apartment. I paid for and obtained a property report which did not list a Jeremy Hansen as ever residing at that address. Once I told him I knew he wasn’t the owner, I haven’t heard anything since.

   First e-mail:

   Greetings!
   Thanks for your email. The apartment is still available.
   I decided to rent the apartment because we are going to spend more time here in West Africa, about 3 years.. Let me start by introducing myself.

   I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business.. However, My name is Jeremy Hansen. I own the apartment located at 50 King Street – Apt: 5E, New York NY 10012. Due to my job as a missionary I spent less time in the States so I could not get a hold on any Realtor to handle this rent issue, although it was when I knew how long we are going to stay in Africa that I decided to rent out the apartment.. However, the initial plan was to sale out the apt. which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person (With good credit) that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money , but want it to be clean and for you to take it as if it were yours.

   As you know that the the rent is reasonable, One Mr. Benjamin sent an email about the apartment and I told him that I cant give him the apartment because he is married with 4 kids ,I do not want his children to get my property damaged because of our future plans on the apartment.

   The rent is $1,300 No extra fees.
   Below is my phone numbers
   0112348034294041 or +2348034294041

   1)Your Full Name:
   2)Your Full Address & Phone Number :
   3)Occupation?
   4)marital status?
   5)Rental Payment plan ( Every 1 month,3 month or 6 months?) most convenient
   6)How long do you intend to rent?

   I know you would want to see the apartment before making any kind of rental payment , which is understandable.
   We can make arrangement for the keys and documentation including an Authorization letter to be shipped to you, this will give you the opportunity to view apartment.

   Regards
   Jeremy Hansen.

   Second e-mail:

   Dear Morgan,
   We are very happy to hear from you and how clear you have made it to us that you are going to take good care of the apt. I will not ask any further questions because of my wifes interest to give you the apartment…when I told my wife about you she was very excited that you are going to have somebody like you as our tenant.
   We highly appreciate the high level of serious on the apartment.
   However, utilities are included, dogs and cats are ok..The rent is a long term rent.. We removed the ad from craigslist because we have accepted you as our new tenant!!!

   To Inspect the apartment you will have to go there with the keys and the authorization letter.

   To have the keys and document shipped will cost $200 with insurance From Africa to the STATES via FED EX ( express package, which will take less than 3days to get to you).
   Because we can just keep shipping the keys and documents back and forth, we have decided to ship keys and documentation to you once you agree to pay the shipment cost which is refundable.

   Kindly email back with the reconfirmation of the address where key and documentation will be shipped to.
   As soon as your address is received I will go ahead and send you the payment information to have the shipment cost sent and have the keys and document shipped to you immediately.

   I and my family are in Nigeria right now for our missionary work.

   Regards and God bless
   Jeremy Hansen.

9. 

   Posted by rob on Sep 17, 2008 at 04:28pm

   its happening to me right now! i went with my gut and thought way too good to be true, but followed up just to see what would happen…….very very sneaky! BEWARE!!! i was so eager to get a place, that i hoped it could be true, but come on, who in nyc rents their apartment to a total stranger and doesn’t leave a spare set of keys with anyone! watch out!!!

10. 

    Posted by Simon on Sep 21, 2008 at 12:47am

    “We removed the ad from craigslist because we have accepted you as our new tenant!!!” -ha, that’s funny. I’m sure the ad came down from craigslist b/c craigslist is actively trying to shut this stuff down. I have to hand it to them, they’ve done a bang-up job of keeping repeats off the site, at least in our local market. All the fallout we’ve experienced came from the first day or two before anyone figured out what was going on.

    Yeah, it’s all the same style scam, for sure. I feel terrible for anyone who gets duped by one of those. I’m in that age bracket where my folks are getting older, and for sure they are of the generation where, for whatever reason, sometimes they have the tendency to take anything they read on the internet as gospel truth. It’s horrible, especially in these economic times- it’s the most vulnerable people- the elderly, people with bad credit, folks just scraping by- who get victimized the most by this sort of thing.

    I also think that most people who haven’t been living under a rock now understand that, for instance, the Nigerian 419 emails about the relative with the 30 Million fortune are bogus, but this is something new, they make it sound reasonably legit, and lots of people are still just getting a feel for this whole find-rentals-over-the-internet thing… And, as an added bonus, these guys get people to send their personal and credit information, etc… it’s horrible.

    Really, it’s too bad there’s no international body that can hold these folks to account. Maybe Nigeria should get a “time out” on their internet access until they clean up the situation. (To be fair, it’s not ALL from Nigeria, although it’s generally accepted that lots of this activity originates there)

    Bottom line, again, I guess, is that ANYONE who tries to rent you a place they or their agent can’t personally show you around outside and inside– is probably full of it.

11. 

    Posted by screwed by nigerians on Sep 21, 2008 at 07:46pm

    they cloned my ads and potential renters called me from the sign and yelled at me for being a scammer when I told them the real rent. There are enough dumb people who actually send thousands of dollars to these scammers

12. 

    Posted by nate on Sep 22, 2008 at 09:05am

    All these stories amaze me. Thanks for letting people know how bad this is getting.

13. 

    Posted by Penny on Sep 23, 2008 at 10:07am

    This has happened to me. I just hope the info I provided wasnt enough to open up any credit cards. His email: From: This sender is DomainKeys verified “Joel Roddick” joelroddick@yahoo.com and craigslist posting: hous-847056665@craigslist.org

    Hello Dear ,

    Thanks for your response,I am Joel Roddick the owner of the house you are making inquiry of.My Mother and i used to stay in the house not until i left for west Africa for a construction job with Total/elf,(I’m a construction engineer) and my mum now too old to stay on her own is presently in a nursing home.i will be in west Africa for five years so presently my house is available for rent for $1200 per month including the utilities,it is furnished and i don’t mind “PETS”.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property,so i will solicit for your absolute maintainance of this house, i’ll have a friend come in every now and then to check things up.hope you understand that it is not the rent that is my problem but i want you to keep it tidy at all times,hope we have an understanding You would have to fill the Rent Application Form below if You Are Ready To Rent The House . FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM

    Also,Pls let me get this answer 1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6)Do you have a pet?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)How Long Are You Willing To Rent My House? Note: The House Can Be Rented To You Furnished Or Unfurnished Price If You Are Renting Furnished: $1200 Per Month Including Utilities Price If You Are Renting Unfurnished: $1000 Per Month Including Utilities
    I am giving out my House for 5 years and also Pets are allowed in my house.you would be making a deposit for the first month which is $1200/$1000 via Western Union Money Transfer.As soon as you the fill the Rent Application Form i will send u details of payment deposit for one month which is $1200 via Western Union Money Transfer and as soon as your payment is confirmed the house keys and Following documents would be sent to you via DHL so I want you to get back to me OK.
    Here are the contents of the document. 1)Entrance and the rooms Keys
    2)Paper/Permanent house form(Containing your reference details)
    3)The house documentary file.
    4)Payment Receipt.

14. 

    Posted by Santiago S on Sep 30, 2008 at 10:02am

    Be carefull!!!
    I was looking for a flat in Bcn and found something really special and for a perfect price…too perfect for be real.

    1st e-mail:

    Hi

    Thanks for the email. Am the owner the house and I also want you to
    know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my family to
    leave the house. I want to give it out for rent and I and my wife is
    Looking for a responsible,dedicated,committed and trustworthy person
    that can take very good care of the as we are not after the money for
    the rent but we want it to be clean at the time it is rented out and
    the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for
    now,we have moved to Miami in USA into our new house and also with the
    keys and documents of the apartment is with us, we try to look for an
    agent that we can give this documents and keys before we left but we
    were unable to to get one. That is why we took along with us the
    documents and keys of the apartment. I want you to know that am
    currently on a trip to West Africa now on a business trip. So I hope
    you will promise us that you will surely take good care of take very
    good care of the apartment once you rent it. So get back to me on how
    you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in
    renting an apartment. And the apartment is going to be available for
    rent for the next 5 years.

    The price of the apartment is 500 euros per month and the apartment
    has the following features embedded inside. A well presented apartment
    with three bedrooms(two double rooms, one with suite and double
    bed,the other with two beds,and a single room), ample embedded closets
    and two complete bathrooms. An area of study, with WI-FI Internet
    service,telephone service, a hall-dining room and a kitchen totally
    equipped with electrical oven, microwave, washing machine,
    refrigerator, washing machine and dryer.

    The hall-dining room is totally outer and has ample large windows with
    to the terrace where you can enjoy the wonderful views of the
    apartment taking advantage of the light in the apartment. Also it has
    a system of refrigeration and heating in all the apartment being able
    to enjoy the temperature you wish at any moment. It has a private
    parking in the same property.

    LOCATION & AREA

    Close to Plaza Espanya and Montjuic Magic Founts with spectacular show
    of water, light and music. Times in Metro to different sites :
    Las Ramblas : 8 min.
    Passeig de Gracia : 10 min.
    Gothic town : 10 min.
    Sagrada Familia of Gaudi : 15 min.
    Barceloneta beach : 15 min.
    Address: 36 Badal, Barcelona 08014, Spain
    Nearest Metro / Subway: Plaza Espanya – 100 Meters
    Nearest Bus / Tramway: Plaza Espanya – 100 Meters
    Nearest Airport: El Prat – 12 Kilometers

    Await your swift response as soon as possible. And if you are really
    sure that you want the apartment for rent then fill out the rent
    application form that is attached to this email and get back to me
    with the filled rent form via email as soon as possible.Then we can
    arrange on how the keys and documents of the apartment will be sent
    over to you via express courier service.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    Last Name: First Name:
    Middle Initial:
    Date of Birth:
    Telephone Number:
    Current Address:
    EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
    Job Title: Company Name:
    Length of Employment: Supervisor/Mgr. Name:
    Employer Address & Contact Information
    1) Your Full Name
    2) Phone Number
    3) How old are you?
    4) Are you married?
    5) How many people will be living in the house?
    6) Do you have a pet?
    7) Do you have a car?
    8) Occupation?

    Reference
    Name:
    Address:
    Telephone Number:
    Relationship:

    I hereby represent that all of the above information is true, accurate
    and complete, and hereby of the authorize verification over items,
    including but not limited to the obtaining of a credit report/and or
    recovery of monetary claims, and agree to furnish additional credit
    references on request.

    DATE………… APPLICANT SIGNATURE/NAME……………..

    You can also give me a call on this phone number +2348036453699. I
    hope to read from you as soon as possible.

    -then I make a fake answer and this came back,

    2nd e-mail,

    Hi Santiago Arturo

    Thanks for the response so far and I have finally decided to give you my apartment for rent but you must promise me once again that you will surely take good care of the apartment as soon as you move in.

    I just came back from the Shipping Company. I want you to know that the keys and documents to the apartment has been sent over to you today and it was sent to your present contact address and you will receive the package on the the 3rd day of october 2008. I want to give you the apartment for rent as soon as possible and you can then move
    into the apartment since you will then have the keys and all the documents of the apartment in a few days time.

    The tracking number of the package EC932373096US and you can track it
    online before it gets to you via the shipping company’s website
    http://www.iship.com

    The package is presently on transit and it will be delivered to you on the 3rd day of October 2008 because I had to pay for an express delivery service. But you have to go ahead now and make a payment of one month and the payment should be made as soon as possible before the package arrived.

    The package will be delivered over to you on that day and you have to possess a valid form of identification such as your driver’s License,International Passport,Identity Card just to identify you that you are the rightful owner of the package and also the shipping agent
    will ask you to sign before collecting the package.

    I hope to read from you as soon as possible and I will also be expecting the payment information as soon as possible and you just go ahead now to the nearest western union office or to the Local Post office Around You and make a payment of two months rent fee. So go ahead now to the nearest western union office around you or the local
    post office and make the payment of one month. I hope to read from you as soon as possible via email.

    I want you to promise me once again that you will surely take good care of the apartment because am only doing this based on the trust I have for you,so do no let me down.

    I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible with the payment details and go ahead now and make the payment. Am waiting and just send me an email after making the payment and also send me the payment details.I will be waiting to receive the payment details as soon as possible.

    Here is the instructions that will be required by you in order for you to make the payment via western union money transfer

    FIRST NAME: DANNY

    LAST NAME: BLUES

    ADDRESS: HILTON HOTEL
    46 EDE ROAD

    CITY : ILE IFE

    STATE: OSUN STATE

    COUNTRY: NIGERIA

    TEST QUESTION: IN GOD

    TEST ANSWER : WE TRUST

    Get back to me with the payment details such as the Sender’s Full Name, Amount sent, the MTCN Number which is a 10 digit number. I hope to read from you as soon as possible. Take good care of yourself and GOD bless you. Have a nice day.

    Cheers!

    Danny

    - I don´t kwon what I´ve to think about this, but I´ll be thankfull if someone have an idea what i have to do.

15. 

    Posted by nate on Sep 30, 2008 at 10:40am

    Santiago, I recommend simply ignoring them. There’s nothing that can be done legally, and short of tracking them down yourself and flying to Nigeria, there’s nothing to be done. Simply spread the word about the scam and eventually it won’t be a profitable enough venture for them to do anymore.

    Spreading the word is the only way to stop these guys. It cuts off the money they make.

16. 

    Posted by Melissa Kramer on Oct 02, 2008 at 11:17am

    Here’s another one on Craig’s List. I knew something was wrong when I read this:

    It is a great pleasure that to you are interested in my flat.Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Kingston White,the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only dauther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the (West Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent for $500 per month including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnished .Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money that is the main problem that is why is cheap but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.i do that
    once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

    SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATIONS FORMS BELOW
    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    Also,Pls let me get this answer.
    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6)Do you have a pet?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)Monthly Income (MI) ?

    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can
    have it in my file incase 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 or come and see you in person,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.
    Thanks and you are welcome call me +2348081342851

    I new the broken English and requests for personal information were too much and the deal was too good. Just posting this to help others not get scammed. DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION as they are ruthless thieves!

17. 

    Posted by Thomas on Oct 02, 2008 at 07:10pm

    Hi everyone,

    My partner and I are trying to settle in Barcelona (Spain) following my transfer in this city. We used one of the most famous websites (www.loquo.com) to try and find a place suiting our needs. We quickly found something that was perfect, too perfect as others already said. After contacting the “owner” by email we received a quick answer which is an almost exact copy of the one found in the first post. Below is a copy of our brief exchange with the scammer. Just to say that this scam can happen outside of the USA. So be careful folks.

    Cheers,
    Thomas

    On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 6:46 AM, Thomas wrote:

    Hello,

    I found your ad for this flat on loquo.com and was wondering if it is possible to view it. Provided it isn’t gone already of course.

    The rent indicated is 500 euros / month. Could you tell how long the flat can be rented please?

    Thank you,

    Thomas
    ___________

    De : Danny Blues
    À : Thomas
    Envoyé le : Mercredi, 1 Octobre 2008, 17h36mn 46s
    Objet : Re: 500 € – Lovely 3 bedroom flat for rent in Barcelona (Barcelona)

    Hi

    Thanks for the email. Am the owner the house and I also want you to
    know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my family to
    leave the house. I want to give it out for rent and I and my wife is
    Looking for a responsible,dedicated,
    committed and trustworthy person
    that can take very good care of the as we are not after the money for
    the rent but we want it to be clean at the time it is rented out and
    the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for
    now,we have moved to Miami in USA into our new house and also with the
    keys and documents of the apartment is with us, we try to look for an
    agent that we can give this documents and keys before we left but we
    were unable to to get one. That is why we took along with us the
    documents and keys of the apartment. I want you to know that am
    currently on a trip to West Africa now on a business trip. So I hope
    you will promise us that you will surely take good care of take very
    good care of the apartment once you rent it. So get back to me on how
    you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in
    renting an apartment. And the apartment is going to be available for
    rent for the next 5 years.

    The price of the apartment is 500 euros per month and the apartment
    has the following features embedded inside. A well presented apartment
    with three bedrooms(two double rooms, one with suite and double
    bed,the other with two beds,and a single room), ample embedded closets
    and two complete bathrooms. An area of study, with WI-FI Internet
    service,telephone service, a hall-dining room and a kitchen totally
    equipped with electrical oven, microwave, washing machine,
    refrigerator, washing machine and dryer.

    The hall-dining room is totally outer and has ample large windows with
    to the terrace where you can enjoy the wonderful views of the
    apartment taking advantage of the light in the apartment. Also it has
    a system of refrigeration and heating in all the apartment being able
    to enjoy the temperature you wish at any moment. It has a private
    parking in the same property.

    LOCATION & AREA

    Close to Plaza Espanya and Montjuic Magic Founts with spectacular show
    of water, light and music. Times in Metro to different sites :
    Las Ramblas : 8 min.
    Passeig de Gracia : 10 min.
    Gothic town : 10 min.
    Sagrada Familia of Gaudi : 15 min.
    Barceloneta beach : 15 min.
    Address: 36 Badal, Barcelona 08014, Spain
    Nearest Metro / Subway: Plaza Espanya – 100 Meters
    Nearest Bus / Tramway: Plaza Espanya – 100 Meters
    Nearest Airport: El Prat – 12 Kilometers

    Await your swift response as soon as possible. And if you are really
    sure that you want the apartment for rent then fill out the rent
    application form that is attached to this email and get back to me
    with the filled rent form via email as soon as possible.Then we can
    arrange on how the keys and documents of the apartment will be sent
    over to you via express courier service.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    Last Name: First Name:
    Middle Initial:
    Date of Birth:
    Telephone Number:
    Current Address:
    EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
    Job Title: Company Name:
    Length of Employment: Supervisor/Mgr. Name:
    Employer Address & Contact Information
    1) Your Full Name
    2) Phone Number
    3) How old are you?
    4) Are you married?
    5) How many people will be living in the house?
    6) Do you have a pet?
    7) Do you have a car?
    8) Occupation?

    Reference
    Name:
    Address:
    Telephone Number:
    Relationship:

    I hereby represent that all of the above information is true, accurate
    and complete, and hereby of the authorize verification over items,
    including but not limited to the obtaining of a credit report/and or
    recovery of monetary claims, and agree to furnish additional credit
    references on request.

    DATE………… APPLICANT SIGNATURE/NAME……………..

    You can also give me a call on this phone number +2348036453699. I
    hope to read from you as soon as possible

    ________________

    On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 8:56 AM, Thomas wrote:

    Hello,

    This sound like an interesting offer, however before giving any details and committing myself to taking this flat, I need to view it and make sure it actually suits my needs. Could you please tell me if it is possible to view it and if so in which conditions?

    Thank you,
    Thomas
    ________________

    Hi

    Thnaks for the swift response so far and it is possible for you to view the apartment before you move into the apartment. I want you to give me a call on my cell phone and my phone number over here is +2348036453699. I hope to read from you as soon as possible and I will also be expecting your call.

    Thanks and GOD bless you.

    Cheers!

18. 

    Posted by Rachel on Oct 03, 2008 at 06:16pm

    Just so you know, here’s another one going on in Singapore. Was majorly tipped off by the Nigerian-scam-sounding English, and the fact that the address of the place cited is nowhere near where the Craigslist ad said it was – http://singapore.craigslist.com.sg/apa/861528018.html – and furthermore, why would a guy with wife and kids own a one bedroom flat in Singapore, and then leave it? The hedged mention of ‘West Africa’ rather than a specific country made me suspicious, and investigating the given phone number’s country code confirmed the big black name of Nigeria. Be warned, Craigslisters!

    ——–

    Hello,
    My name is Mark Hills the owner of the One bedroom apartment and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me my wife and children to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in west Africa, our new house and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for, since i am not residing there for now.I left behind some Facilities and electonics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, arefrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave,dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Acess Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the lease document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue,Hope you are okay with the price of $1200 per Month with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air condition and so on,but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing so will want you to get back to me with the Application form below.

    THE ADDRESS OF THE APARTMENT:2 River Valley Close, Singapore, Singapore 23, Singapore.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6)Do you have a pet?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)When do you want to move in
    10)How long do you want to stay in my apartment
    11) Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my apartment
    MORE DETAILS

    The accomodation comprises; entrance hall/landing (21′1×5′10), reception room (17′0×16′0), kitchen breakfast room (13×11), bedroom 1 (12′10×10′5), bathroom and separate WC on the first floor.
    FURNISHED
    PERIOD PROPERTY
    SPACIOUS AND LIGHT
    KITCHEN BREAKFAST ROOM
    POPULAR AREA
    GOOD TRANSPORT LINKS

    Landing 22′1″ x 5′10″ ( 6.73m x 1.78m )
    Reception room 17′0″ x 16′0″ ( 5.18m x 4.88m )
    Kitchen 13′0″ x 11′0″ ( 3.96m x 3.35m )
    Bathroom 6′10″ x 5′10″ ( 2.08m x 1.78m )
    Guest WC 5′0″ x 2′10″ ( 1.52m x 0.86m )
    One Mr Jose called me about the apartment,I told him that I can’t give him the apartment because he loves smoking,drinking and dont want him to get drunked and damaged my property one day so If you are still interested, No extra fees.I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are. I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as our new tenant.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 of the house to you.

    My Number +2348088089918

    I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as my new tenant. 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 of the house to you.

    I wait to Read back from you
    Thanks and God Bless you
    Mark Hills

19. 

    Posted by Melanie on Oct 09, 2008 at 04:22pm

    Dammit!!! I found a post for a 3-bedroom house in an amazing neighborhood in my town, for only 500 a month and just knew it was too good to be true!! How frustrating!!

20. 

    Posted by Melanie on Oct 09, 2008 at 04:23pm

    My response was from a Kingston White who had be transferred to Nigeria. Lame.

21. 

    Posted by Kim on Oct 16, 2008 at 04:18pm

    I recently came across an ad like this on Craigslist and thought it was too good to be true…but i emailed the guy anyway just to see. I asked what were the rental qualifications etc. Sure enough this is the email I got back from him::

    Thanks for Emailing Me Towards in Renting my house,i want to use this opportunity to thank my living God who direct you to me as a Man of God,Actually the house is for rent because we are not in the state and we want someone like you to occupy the House for us while we are in west africa.It is a great pleasure that you are interested in my House.Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Michael Vossen. The owner of the house you are making enquiry of. Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my Chruch as a missionary man of God,and now situated in the (West Africa Nigeria).and presently my house is still available for rent for $800 with security deposit of $700 and the utilities like hydro,washer and security.Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in the (West Africa).I Want you to go and view the house and get back to me as soon as you Arrive,but the only things is that you will not be able to go in and view the inside of the house because the house is Locked and the keys and the documents are with me here in West Africa ,Please Accept my Apology. Please i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money that really matters to me,but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.you can reach me on this my mobile phone +234-708-103-5146 or 011-234-708-103-5146.

    HERE IS THE ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE: 6301 Vincent Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55423

    SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAL
    APPLICATION FORM BELOW.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM

    Also,Pls let me get this answer.

    1)Your Full Name

    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number

    3)How Old Are You?

    4)Are You Married?

    5)How Many People Will Be Living In The House?

    6)Do You Have A Pet?

    7)Do You Have A Car?

    8)Occupation?

    9)Moving Date?

    10)How Long?

    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you,Await your 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 do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this my property and God bless you more as you do this.
    Thanks God Bless You.

    –What is the deal with the missionary thing??? Do they think people will trust them more if they are pretending to do “Gods work”. So right then I knew it was bogus but my boyfriend decided to write back and see what the guy would say…So we input some fake info except for our phone number to see if the guy would call. The next day I get a call from his calling card number and he is on the phone with this thick accent and i cant really understand what he is saying so he says he will email me with the info. This is what he writes::

    Thanks you very much for your reply, i can see your willingness in this House. I want you to know that i’m satisfied with your profile and also believe l can trust in you because l will not like to experience what l experienced from my last tenant again, l showed your profile to my wife and daughter , they said they are ok with it.l want you to know that we can let you stay in my House till the period of time you wish to.

    I want you to know that the rent fee is among the House utilities all included, so you can use them anytime but make sure you take proper care of my properties.We will come and pay you a visit after you have moved into my House to see how you are maintaining it,I will be receiving the first months deposit payment from you via Western Union because l think it reliable,secured and fast,l wish you best of luck in your work, from your profile l can see that you are responsible and a hard working person may the almighty Lord lead you in what ever you wish to do.

    As soon as the first month rent payment and deposit payment has been confirmed by my family via Western union at any local store around your home,l will go ahead and commence on how the Houses keys/Documents will be delivered to you via DHL on next day delivery and it will be delivered to the address you have to provide.Let me hear back from you as soon as possible so that l can arrange for the delivery of the keys/Documents.

    Once again l’m giving you this House on trust and do not disappointed me because l don’t want our house to be destroyed again, if you wish to move in with your own properties,we still have one extra room that is empty so you can easily put our own things that you think you dont need in there.Here are the contents that will be delivered to you via DHL courier service.
    1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
    2) Paper/Permanent House form(Containing your reference details)
    3) The House documented file.
    4) Payment Receipt.

    Get back to me via email if you will need me to send you the information which you will use to make the first month rent payment and the security deposit payment to me in west Africa via western union.you can reach me on this my moblie phone +234-708-103-5146 or 011-234-708-103-5146.

    Thanks and God bless you…

    –I wrote back telling him that there was no way I was sending him that money without keys in hand…and I am still waiting to see if he writes or calls back!!! And surely enough right after I had emailed him the first time his ad magically disappeared off of Craigslist… I hope that no one falls victim to these types of things…just use common sense! If they are out of the country and want you to send them money up front STAY AWAY!!! Hopefully this helps someone

22. 

    Posted by Cat on Oct 16, 2008 at 07:45pm

    Here’s another one that showed on NYC Craigslist. Fortunately, we did a little research and discovered it was a scam before it went too far:
    Subject: Re: $700 / 1br – Cossy one bedroom apartment for rent (Manhattan)
    Hello,
    Thank you very much for taking your time to mail me. How are you doing today? l must tell you that it is my sincere pleasure to write you back and to let you know that the one bedroom apartment you are making enquiry of is still available, the monthly fee is $700 and a security deposit of $200,which is refundale,available from now. Utilities Included:Dryer,Washer,Heat,Gas,Light,Water and a secured parking space.Well trained pets are also allowed.

    Let me quickly introduce myself to you. My name is Elizabeth and my husband name is Mourice , my husband is the owner of the apartment you are making enquiry of, but right now he’s in west Africa on a missionary work, l was suppose to go with him but some months before he traveled l had a very serious car accident, that affect my back bone and brain, now l am using wheel chair and l find it very difficult to talk but l can communicate through email, that is the reason why l did not traveled with him,l am staying with my mother in Ohio.

    Actually me and my husband both resided in our apartment before he traveled to west Africa on a missionary work, so we both agreed to rent/lease our apartment to somebody that can take proper care of it if we let he/she rent our apartment,. We will not like to experience what we experienced from our last tenant, he destroyed most of our valuable home appliances ,and l know how much my husband spent to repair the things our last tenant destroyed.

    to be very honest with you, a whole lot of people are contacting me regarding our apartment but l am not sure of who to accept due to our past experience, so we’re taking our time to look for a responsible and a very honest tenant that will take proper care of our home since me and my husband are both far from home, although my husband is a very busy man due to the nature of his job, but he said if l find a responsible tenant that can promise to take care of our apartment should rent it out to he/she.

    We don’t ever want to take the risk of putting our apartment in care of an agent again, because our last agent just leased our home to somebody that almost destroyed all that my husband has suffered for, since my husband is a very busy person, he said l should be very careful with the kind of person l rent out our apartment to, but if you can assure me that if l let you rent our apartment, you will take proper care of it, l will be glad to make you our new tenant to be.

    Here is the address of our apartment ( 210 W 13th St.New York, NY 1001 ).As soon as l hear from you l will send you more information about our apartment and if my husband is okay with you, Expect to read from you soon, once again thank you very much for the time you took in mailing me l must tell you that l really appreciate it.

    Yours Sincerely
    Elizabeth Mourice

23. 

    Posted by A Nigerian on Oct 23, 2008 at 10:16am

    This is quite sad, as there are a good amount of legitimate Nigerians. I am Nigerian, own property in Connecticut and moved back home to Nigeria 2 years ago, so it looks like I fit the typical scammer profile..lol. This is actually quite an old scam that has been going in Nigeria for a while, people actually sell property that doesn’t belong to them with doctored documents and while the victim is left battling it out with the real owners in court the scammers are off with the cash. Because we don’t have a proper credit rating system here, most transactions are cash based making it very easy to perpetrate fraud.

    Like most of the comments above mine the obvious red flags are; poor grammar, really lengthy irrelevant stories, and no one who resides locally who can show you the property. I can’t imagine any Nigerian that has property abroad and doesn’t have at least one person (brother, sister, child in University, etc) abroad that looks over it.

    Cheers.

24. 

    Posted by Jade on Oct 31, 2008 at 07:14pm

    Hey Guys,

    I had my own scare today where I actually had to change my personal phone number due to harassment. I also notified the police.

    It has been a hard time for me trying to get a nice,honest and resposible person for this lovely apartment before I had a car accident that almost destroy most part of my boby,but I thank God today that im still alive and I can walk again.The accident effect me to the extend that I can speak fine again,but I believe with God I will be okay and speak fine again.The one apartment belong to my husband in the respect of Rev. Peter Davidson,he just been transfered to west africa NIG to complete his missionary work with God which will last me 3 years before he will return.The apartment is a private place,formally occupied by both of us before my husband got posted to his present work location.Right now im living with my grandmother in New York our 2 bedroom apartment.The apartment itself located in a nice,safe and secure area has an up dated living room,a fully quipped kitchen one bathroom and one bedroom.$600 including Electricity, Water, Internet, Satellite TV, Airconditioning, Clothes Dryer, Laundry,Telephone, Washer, Security and heating with free park.

    The apartment address is….( 2909- 17 Ave .S.W. Calgary (Downtown) Alberta ),it’s available now for short and long time rental,all documents and keys are with my husband in west africa,and he can send you the keys and document at any time via DHL courrier service for faster delivery.You can visit the area at your convenient time to view the place if you wish,while you will mind the way you will patrol on the street cos the security around.The one bedroom apartment is already available since last 2 months and will be free for the next 3 years,my husband was not ready to give the place out to any one cos of his last experience,but I believe God will give us the perfect person for this apartment.Im sure he will be glad to rent to you if only you will promise to take good care of the place for us,which is the most important things to us.Internet already connected to the place and I know how much it takes my husband to get all these in good position,we are a neat and clean couple and all we need is someone who is just like us.

    Let me know if this is okay with you and if yes,you can easily tell me the experience you have renting an apartment.I will be offline now and check my mail later to see if you have mail back,so that we can proceed to the next step.

    Thank You and God bless

    Mrs. Jennifer Davidson

25. 

    Posted by Kyle on Nov 06, 2008 at 07:19pm

    I found one today as well in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Here is my 2nd response. This one differs a bit from what I have read on here.

    Hi,

    How are you today? Hope all is well with you over there. Good hearing from you that you shall be promising me that my apartmentwill be well taken care of, and i appreciate your expression. All i want you to do is to stick to your words.See below for the review of the form and make sure you fill it and get it back to me.

    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase 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 i am giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words and please do not let me down in this my property.

    The apartmentis located at , I don’t normally give the address to anybody because the last time i did that, the apartmentwas burgled and it cost me alot to get it fixed back, so i will like you to drive by and view the area and surroundings, when you have done that, kindly get back to me so that we can move on from there, i don’t have anybody around now to show you the house, the apartmentis available now as long as you ready to rent it. The monthly rent is $850 and all utilities are included in the price. You can reach me on +2348075938401 for more information. I will not be coming back to reside in the place, you can rent it for as long as you want. You will have to pay for the first month rent before the keys can be sent to you, the keys will be sent to you through DHL courier services. The mode of payment is through western union.

    APPLICATION FOR RENT
    Name ___________________________________
    Birthdate: _____ / ____ / ______
    Present Address _____________________________________________
    City _______________________ State ______ Zip ____________
    Dates Rented _________________
    Present Phone # ( _____) ___________________
    Number of Persons to occupy requested Residence: ____________
    Names of Adults to occupy Rental Head of Household: _____________
    Spouse: _________________________

    Nearest RELATIVE to notify in an Emergency: ___________________
    Relationship: _____________________
    Address City State Zip Phone: ___________________________
    SECURITY DEPOSIT AND RENT DUE UPON APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO OTHER PERSONS TO RESIDE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT OF PROPERTY OWNER. APPLICANT INITIAL _________________

    I (WE) HEREBY AGREE THAT ALL ADULTS RESIDING IN THE apartmentARE JOINTLY LIABLE FOR ALL RENT AND DAMAGES INCURRED DURING THE TERM OF OCCUPANCY.

    Applicant Vehicle Make: _________________________________________

    Year _________

    Vehicle Color _________________

    Do you have any PETS? (Circle and Initial) YES _________ NO _________
    If yes give description: ______________________

    ARE YOU A CONVICTED FELON? _________________________
    IT IS ILLEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY PERSON BECAUSE OF RACE,COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, HANDICAP, FAMILIAL STATUS, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

    Regards.
    Await your reply now

26. 

    Posted by Deanna on Nov 12, 2008 at 01:58pm

    Sound familiar? This is an ad from CraigsList.es:

    Hello,
    ..It is a great pleasure that to you are interested in my
    flat.Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I
    am Tumlinson Kimberly. the owner of the house you are making enquiry
    of. Actually I resided in the house with my family., my wife and my
    only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer of
    my newly secured job and now situated in ( united kingdom and West
    Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent
    for 400euros per month including the utilities,it is furnished and
    also “PET IS ALLOWED”. I want you to Promise us In the Name of
    Almighty God That you will Take very Good Care of Our Apartment Very
    Well, Because We Know How Much we Spent On the Apartment Before we
    Left for West Africa Nigeria, More so Now,I just left for a trip in
    the (West Africa Nigeria) last Month .Pls i want you to note that,i
    am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot of money on my property
    that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute
    maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that
    taken,it is not the money you are paying is deal the main problem is i
    want you to keep my apartment tidy all the time so that i will be glad
    to see it neat when i come for a check up.i do that once in a while.I
    also want you to know that giving you the apartment is base on trust
    and the faith i have in my serving GOD please don’t let me down. I
    always stand on my word.You would have to fill the Rent Application
    Form below if You Are Ready To Rent The House. . The apartment is very
    clean and i don’t want the apartment to be used any how, that is why
    i had to take the keys along with me. The rent per month is 400euros
    include all utilities . If you can assure us that you are going to
    take care of the apartment, kindly fill the application form, so that
    i can know you and also try to consider it if it pleases my demand,
    because i have other interested people that needs the apartment.

    ***********RENT APPLICATION FORM**********
    Last Name:_________________________
    ______
    First Name:______________________________
    Middle Initial:__________________________
    Date of Birth:___________________________
    Telephone Number:________________________
    Current Address:_________________________
    EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
    Job Title:_______________________________
    Company Name:____________________________
    Length of Employment:____________________
    Employer Address & Contact Information
    1) Your Full Name:_______________________
    2) Phone Number:_________________________
    3) How old are you:______________________
    4) Are you married:______________________
    5) How many people will be living in the house:
    6) Do you have a pet:____________________
    7) Do you have a car:____________________
    8) Occupation:___________________________
    9) How Much will you Deposit:____________
    When do you want to move in:_____________
    When do you want to move out:____________
    I expect to read from you soon.
    Regard
    tumlinson kimberly.
    +2348028109344.
    +447031965520.

27. 

    Posted by clare on Nov 15, 2008 at 10:15am

    Hey, I had nearly the exact same email sent to myself. I found a beautiful flat in the centre of Madrid that had been newly renovated and the rent was really cheap… it sounded too good to be true but I emailed anyway. The person replied saying it was their house where they used to live with partner and daughter but that they had had to move because of missionary work. I replied in Spanish explaining when I wanted to flat and the person replied in very broken english disregarding all the things I had said in the email about me not needing the flat until summer 2009. The next email was all about a payment through the Western Union and that they did not want “time wasters”. There was alot of stuff about God and people of good faith… and to top it off the persons name (which I was stupid enough to not notice was strange at the beginning..although i knew it wasnt a spanish name) was Balian Godfrey..all I had to do was to google that and see the responses that it is a made up name!!!

28. 

    Posted by Michele on Nov 17, 2008 at 07:48pm

    I, too, fell for this scam at first. Unfortunately, I got a little farther along, filling out the rental application. I was almost told them that some of the information they requested is illegal — as it leads to discrimination — i.e., age, marital status, etc. I was gullable and did fill out the rental application. . .but when I kept asking for the address so that I could go look at it and see if it was suitable, I got the same response each time. The “cute cottage” they advertised IS really cute — and it’s located in the same mobile home park where I live currently. They never gave me a unit number — only the street address — and there are over 200 mobile homes there! They kept telling me to go look at it, that it is unoccupied and ready to move into. Not giving me a space number, just the street address, is what tipped me off that it was a scam and too good to be true. Obviously, they didn’t know the house is a mobile home and that I needed a space number to know which one it was. Of course I drove around the park and found the little cottage — with lawn chairs on the porch and a freshly watered lawn.

    Like a previous blogger, I hope that I didn’t give so much information that they can try to open credit cards. (Because of the current real estate situation, my credit is so terrible they wouldn’t get too far!)

    I’ve contacted the owners of the mobile home park so they are aware of the scam, also Craig’s List. It was also posted on Backpage.com — I saw both ads on Saturday — the ads were gone on Sunday from both sites.

29. 

    Posted by i almost got scammed! on Nov 19, 2008 at 12:08am

    Hello Dear,

    Adress:San Diego, CA – 1427 Hornblend St
    3 Bed, 3.5 Bath (Townhouse)

    Sorry for the late response!!!!It is a great pleasure that you are
    interested in my house… Thanks for your email and it is my gladness
    hearing from you.i am Mr smith editha ,the owner of the house you are
    making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such
    as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due
    to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the (West
    Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent for
    1500 which the deposite is 500 dollas including the utilities like
    hydro,washerand security,it is furnised or if u which to move in with
    your furnishes no problem..Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in the
    West Africa .
    Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i
    spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will
    solicit for your absolute mentenance of this house and want you to
    treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main
    problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be
    glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.i do that once in a
    while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on
    my word. YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON +234-8034183119 Or
    011-234-8034183119 SO IF YOU ARE REALY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO
    FILL THE RENTAPPLICATIONS FORMS BELOW
    RENT APPLICATION FORM

    Also,Pls let me get this answer.

    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: _________________
    LAST NAME: __________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    PHONE (____) __________
    (CELL)PHONE (____) __________
    (WORK)PHONE (____) __________
    (HOME)KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _______________
    STATE: ______________
    ZIPCODE: ____________
    HOW LONG? ___________
    IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
    HOW LONGDO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________
    IF YOU HAVE A PET,
    NAME OF PET: _____________
    KIND OF PETS: _____________
    HABITS
    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 incase 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 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.

    Thanks and you are welcome

30. 

    Posted by Diane Gordon on Nov 30, 2008 at 09:40pm

    It’s probably a good idea to not do business with Nigerians. Period. As well, try to make phone contact as soon as possible. Your radar will speak to you.

31. 

    Posted by Anonymous on Dec 14, 2008 at 08:28pm

    This was the reply a scammer gave me when i told him that i dont trust him..

    Hello,

    I want you to know that am a man of God and i cannot tarnish my image all bcoz of money…..i want you to know that your money is not the problem is just am looking for the person that will take very good care of my apartment and i promise you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ that we both serve that as soon as you make the payment i will get back to you with the Tracking details asap and i want you to know that i have already register your name as my new tenanat so you can make use of Western union to send the payment so i can proceed on how to send you the Keys and Document asap so let me know

    Thanks and God Bless You

32. 

    Posted by M on Jan 22, 2009 at 11:54pm

    I was completely scammed by these people. Well, not completely, I got the fraud part before they could get any money from me. I had seen the add late at night, after a hard day of work and thought, “wow, that is awesome, I should inquire…” When I did, I got back an email asking for personal info, I gave it, the whole thing still sounded ligit as there are missionaries in the world who I am sure do want to rent their homes out for a period of time. As I have never heard of the Nigerian scams, I told them I was very interested. When I spoke with them on the phone in Africa, the man had very broken English and the questions were all about the deposit. After a random hang up, I said to myself “hmmmm…..” I inquired again about questions regarding utilities and they did not answer my question. At that point I knew, and with the “I suggest you send the money today to get everything going” Even though I made it clear I could not move in for a few months.
    After a google of “House Rental Scams” I knew I was suckered. Nigeria popped up all over the place and I felt like a fool. It does sound like a great offer and you think to yourself “There really are great offers out there, you just gotta look!” I do hope I did not give out too much information for them. Be careful what you believe!

33. 

    Posted by Diane Gordon on Jan 23, 2009 at 07:59am

    Folks:
    Don’t do ANY business with Nigerians online. Nigerians are the most talented scheisters in the world. If you do, you’re nuts. As soon as you walk off the plane in Lagos, they are lining up to scam you. Just so NO!!!!!

34. 

    Posted by Julia on Feb 03, 2009 at 02:35pm

    Here you go:) “NowToronto” classified!

    Hi,

    Thanks for your email response. The Apartment is still available for
    rent on6 Yonge st.M5E 2A1 , ready for move in at $700monthly. ready
    for move in. I inherited the Apartment from my late father. I lived in
    the Apartment with my younger sistser, i but presently now i am in West
    Africa and i will reside here for some time due to my current
    assignment. I just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to
    occupy the Apartment and put all my worries off concerning the
    maintenance of the Apartment for, since i am not residing there for
    now. I left behind some Facilities and electonics like satellite TV
    which you have to pay for the subcription, and a sony DVD player, air
    conditioning, alarm system..

    The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, a
    refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwas her and
    washing machine. Also the keys to the Apartment are right here with me,
    and the lease document………. Which i can send to you after all
    necessary agreement has be accepted.. Also i will like you to know that
    the rent charges is not really the issue , but your absolute
    maintenance of my Apartment, because that is the only valuable property
    my late father left behind, and it also took him so much time and money
    to put all those facilities in place..

    Bedrooms: 1

    Bathrooms: 1

    Beautiful open floor plan

    Plenty of storage space

    Bedroom has walk-in closet

    In-suite laundry

    Outdoor Balcony, North West facing

    Parking for one vehicle

    Bike storage

    Amenities include:

    Gym, weight room & cardio

    Billiards room

    Meeting room

    Pets are allowed

    smoking allowed

    Terms: Lease Terms: 6 to 12 months and 12 to 4years leases and more
    available Please, call me as soon as possible if you are really
    interested in having my Apartment

    Regard

    Benson adams

35. 

    Posted by Kacie on Feb 05, 2009 at 01:58pm

    FYI….just got a similar email. They’re in Phoenix now! Beware!

36. 

    Posted by cj on Feb 07, 2009 at 08:00pm

    woot!! mine might be more offensive that all of yours:

    (The real sneaky part is that the e-mail name matches the name of the owner listed on our county auditor’s website)

    Hello,

    Thanks for your response regarding your interest in having my house for rent.The house is much available for now and it a 4 bedroom home.I want you to know that i am the owner of this building situated at (——-address removed by me ——-) Rd,Columbus, Ohio,43220.But i am now presently in West Africa for my Hopitals Project prayer crusade with my wife and we have the keys right here with us.I will like to inform you that it was due to my transfer that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now,We are here in West Africa,NIGERIA our new house and also with the keys of the house,we are trying to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our house to be used any how in our absent that is why we took it along with us here.We are only willing to give the house out to a lovely and caring family only, so if you know you cannot give the house the neatness it deserves please don’t contact me.But if you promise to always take good care of the house,get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting a home.Hope you are okay with the monthly price of $1000 with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air-condition Etc.I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP, below is the application form for you to fill and discuss on how to get the house for rent.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    Also,Pls let me get this answer.
    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6)Do you have a pet?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)What is your religion?
    10)Are you born again?
    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase 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 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.
    Regards.
    Thanks

37. 

    Posted by Valarie on Feb 08, 2009 at 09:38pm

    Hey there…I just received this email today in response to my inquiry on the rental price of the home…I guess the saying is right…If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

    Hello,
    Thanks for the email. I Scott Edward owns the house and also it is situated and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my Family to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take a very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean all the time and the possible tenant will see the house as his or her own…

    We have left the US and we are currently in the West Africa for a program called ‘World Conference Against Racism Youth Summit, Empowering youth for combating racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education, the program is taking place in three major countries in Africa which is Sudan, Ghana and Nigeria. It as been a very sad and bad moment for me, the present condition that I found myself is very hard for me to explain. If you will be the right tenant to our house, we will get the keys and documents of the house sent to you via courier services as soon as all terms are settled.

    HOUSE ADDRESSES 1066 Brightwood Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078…4br, 3 ba and 2863 sqft Single Family Home. Gorgeous 4 Bedroom home in the highly desired Crest View Community in San Elijo Hills! This home is everything your looking for. It’s a beautiful home in a great location with tons of space. As you enter the home, the grand entry way is very welcoming. The home has 4 spacious bedrooms. 3 Bedrooms are upstairs, the 4th bedroom is downstairs as well as 1 full bath. The Master Bedroom has it’s own retreat and the Master Bath has an oversized Champagne Bubble Tub! There is a family room upstairs as well as downstairs. You are within walking distance to the Elementary and Middle School. San Elijo Hills offers great parks and miles of beautiful walking trials… I am flexible regarding the length of the lease. 6 mo., 1 yr., 2.yr, 3yr. etc. are all acceptable. I never increase the rental amount for good tenants..All credit considered, all types of pet allowed and Additional monthly charge of $200 for pet deposit…..You can drive down there to take a look ate it.

    I will be online through out to get back to you as soon as you are able to get back to me. I would want to know how soon you would want to move in, as I will be taking a 2-month upfront payment which mean the first and last months you will be staying in the house including some utilities (Electricity, Water, Internet, Heat and Garbage). I am asking for $1300 and I believe we should be able to help ourselves. I am accepting $1300 including utilities because I want you to take a very good care of the house while I am away.

    I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent over to me so that I can get the keys and papers sent to you via FedEx or ups e.t.c, also are you ready to rent it now or when? Await your reply. I will be willing to send the inside view of the building if you demands for it.

    I could let you remain in the house till I come back if you are a good tenant and you can reach me on +2348084598905.

    Thanks and awaits your mail as soon as possible.

    Scott…

38. 

    Posted by it happend today on Feb 11, 2009 at 05:32pm

    They did the same to me. they even used the Real Estate agents name that was renting the house. they are good!

    Hello,

    Thanks for the email. I own the house and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer to West Africa (Nigeria), that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean all the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now we are here in Lagos, Nigeria and will be staying here for the next 4 years in our new house and also with the keys of the house for rent, we try to look for an agent that we can give this documents and the keys before we left but could not find, and we as well do not want our house to be used any how in our absence that is why we took it along with us. I and my wife came over to Africa for a missionary work, so i hope you will promise us that you will take very good care of the house. So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. Hope you are okay with the price of $600 per month.

    You could give me a call on +234-703-363-7225 OR 011-234-703-363-7225.

    This is the address of the house: 10859 Macouba, San Diego, CA.

    SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE
    RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM.
    Pls let me get this answers.
    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address
    3)Your Phone Number
    4)How old are you?
    5)Are you married?
    6)How many people will be living in the house?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)When do you intend moving in?
    10)How long will you like to rent the property?

    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase 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 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.

    Thanks and Remain Blessed.
    Regards.

39. 

    Posted by Michael B on Feb 12, 2009 at 01:25pm

    Today in Carlsbad, CA….

    Hello,
    Thanks for your interest in my property, the home is still available and ready for move in. My names is Micheal McCann.., the house is located at 2575 Highland, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This fabulous 3 Full, 1 Partial Bathrooms and 2,837 Est. Sq. Ft. One story home is located in CARLSBAD EAST . Subdivision of Olde Carlsbad. Dishwasher, Disposal, Garage Door Opener, Microwave, Range/Oven, Refrigerator, Shed(s). The home is close to everything.

    My wife and I are currently in West Africa for missionary call. Before we left the stateside, we search for a God fearing and reputable agent who can take good care of the house, but we couldn’t get anyone then. We left with the key, remote and the papers. I’m willing to rent out the home to a tenant who is able to come up with first months rent and a security deposit of $1200 as a move in deposit and I will like him/her to assure me that the house will be properly managed.. Concerning the lease, duration is minimum of 6months or according to the would-be-tenant need.

    I’m giving out the home with such a reasonable amount because I am only paying God back for his kindness and mercy over me and my family with what I have that`s why I asked for such a reasonable amount. It`s also a pride for me to work for him on a missionary work. Also I need someone/a family that will take good care of the house as their own property.

    If you can assure me that you can take proper care of the property and also you can afford the move in deposit, kindly confirm your interest by getting back to me with the below application details.

    RENT APPLICATION DETAILS

    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: _________________
    LAST NAME: __________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    PHONE (____) __________
    (CELL)PHONE (____) __________
    (WORK)PHONE (____) __________
    (HOME)KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _______________
    STATE: ______________
    ZIPCODE: ____________ HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
    IF YOU HAVE A PET,
    NAME OF PET: _____________
    KIND OF PETS: _____________
    HABITS
    DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
    DO YOU DRINK? ______________
    DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT?

    I’ll be looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you. The Lord Almighty has been good to me, I am paying him back with my missionary call. I could let you remain in the house till I come back if you are a good tenant. I will email you the pictures and rent terms as soon as I receive your reply.

    God Bless You.

    Sincere Regards,

    and….

    Thanks for your response. Every information provided in your previous message shall be use for the rent application. I’ll contact you if any additional information is required. For us to proceed, i’ll like to know your exact move in date and how soon you can come up with the deposit. We’ll be here for 3years or more and i could let you be our tenant till we return back to the stateside. whenever we plan to return, we shall notify you atleast 3months ahead of our arrival date.

    To preview the home, i’ll invite you to take a drive by the home to see it’s exterior and it’s neighborhood. As soon as you do so and if you like the location, get back to me for the interior pictures and every other necessary details to complete the rent.

    Feel free to call me anytime on +234 803 932 4950

    I’ll be looking forward to reading from you ASAP.

    Stay blessed and rejoice in the LORD.

40. 

    Posted by Shannen on Feb 12, 2009 at 08:36pm

    I just received a similar email about an apartment in San Diego. Be careful, fellow san diegans!

41. 

    Posted by diahni on Feb 13, 2009 at 06:12am

    as I mentioned before, DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH NIGERIANS. Period.

42. 

    Posted by Nathan on Feb 18, 2009 at 07:26pm

    Just got the same thing for a listing in Woodinville, WA.

43. 

    Posted by Malea on Feb 27, 2009 at 10:31am

    I got the following about a townhouse in KC MO. Knew something was fishy when the ad and the response listed two different addresses. Then my mom found this blog… guess I will keep on looking!

    __________________________________________________________________________
    Dear,

    Thanks for interested in my home, The home is located at 7009 NE 113th Terrace Kansas City, MO.This is a home with lots of character. It has wonderful open ceilings in the kitchen/dining room and living room with a loft between. You won’t be disappointed with this marvelous house. It has a nice private back yard.
    I’m a inspector agency in (S G S) inspection, verification, testing & certification service , But presently working with (S . G . S) here in Republic of Benin, Am here to inspect some containers moving out of this country and my duty down here will last for a period of (4year) the house was place on for sale but right now we have decided to rent it out, the House is Presently locked up and i have all keys and necessary document to the house with me down here i would only be interested in given the premises to someone whom will take absolutely good care of the House, Where are you currently located? How soon are you hoping to take up this home? If you are willing to have this premises,then you will be required to make a down deposit of the first month rent which is $700 and a damage security deposit of $400 total amount requested is ($1100) for you to secure this 2bedroom and move in do note that utilities are already included in the monthly fee, This is my first time of doing this but believe and hope we can work out the details in our best interest and find an honest tenant to rent from me, please i only need a very honest and serious contacts Hope to hear from again,do fill out the application form correctly.

    LEASE APPLICATION FORM

    FULL CONTACT NAME?

    OCCUPATION?

    RESIDENTIAL HOME ADDRESS? YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER?

    YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER? YOUR WORKPLACE NUMBER?

    WHAT TIME IS THE` BEST TIME TO REACH YOU?

    AGE & MARITAL STATUS?

    OWN A PET?

    OWN A CAR?

    HOW MANY PEOPLE SHALL RESIDE IN THE PREMISES?

    ANTICIPATED MOVE IN DATE?

    REFERENCE?
    ============================== =======
    Application Comment
    ============================== =======
    Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your applications.

    Best Regard.

44. 

    Posted by Aaron on Mar 01, 2009 at 11:18pm

    Here is a reply to a posting on Craigslist that we recieved.

    —————————————————————————
    “Good Day,

    Please am sorry that i couldn’t respond quickly. I’m using 5 years in West Africa,so I’m not giving it out for month alone but for years.I and my wife had an accident when we were in state,and i lost her during the accident,And also i almost lost my hearing along the inccident so please if you know you are going to rent my house kindly take good care of it. My name is Mark Moore.The rent is $800 /month and it includes the utilities. I am the owner of the House, Now I live in West africa( Nigeria )right now and I came to West Africa under (WHO) World Health Organisation(WHO). WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on globalhealth matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.Visit our website for more information if you also want to make an impact to the world. http://www.who.int/about/en/ . I hope you will promise me to take very good care of the House. The House is very big and nice and it is in a nice area I have received many proposals today for my property. Hope you are okay with the price of $800 per month and the security deposit is $300.Get back to me for the rental application.You can go and view the house anytime.I want you to know that i have decided not to rent my house with the property management and also you can move in with your pets.”
    —————————————————————————

    What’s strange about this one, is that when we showed up to the house, an apparent “home ownwer/neighbor” came from the house behind with the keys and opened the apparent rental home up for us.

45. 

    Posted by Kelly on Mar 04, 2009 at 02:16pm

    Hello,
    Thanks for your interest in my property, the home is still available and ready for move in. My names is Max Cheryl, the house is located at 13577 N 73RD AVE PEORIA AZ 85381 . This Great in great location, home with swimming pool plus waterfall with pool service included. Near Loop 101 freeway, Peoria sports complex, ASU West campus, AZ Broadway Theater, shopping. Separate dog run with in wall doggie door.

    My wife and I are currently in West Africa for missionary call. Before we left the stateside, we search for a God fearing and reputable agent who can take good care of the house, but we couldn’t get anyone then. We left with the key, remote and the papers. I’m willing to rent out the home to a tenant who is able to come up with first months rent and a security deposit of $800 as a move in deposit and I will like him/her to assure me that the house will be properly managed. Concerning the lease, duration is minimum of 6months or according to the would-be-tenant need.

    I’m giving out the home with such a reasonable amount because I am only paying God back for his kindness and mercy over me and my family with what I have that`s why I asked for such a reasonable amount. It`s also a pride for me to work for him on a missionary work. Also I need someone/a family that will take good care of the house as their own property.

    If you can assure me that you can take proper care of the property and also you can afford the move in deposit, kindly confirm your interest by getting back to me with the below application details.
    RENT APPLICATION DETAILS
    FIRST NAME:_______________
    MIDDLE NAME: ________________
    LAST NAME: ________________
    PROFESSION: ______________
    PHONE ______________
    (CELL)PHONE ______________
    (WORK)PHONE (___) __________
    (HOME)KIDS ______________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _Peoria_
    STATE: __AZ_______
    ZIPCODE: _______________
    HOW LONG? _______________IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? ______________
    IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING?
    ______________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? __________________
    IF YOU HAVE A PET,
    NAME OF PET: ______________
    KIND OF PETS: ______________
    HABITS
    DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
    DO YOU DRINK? ______________
    DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ______________

    I’ll be looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you. The Lord Almighty has been good to me, I am paying him back with my missionary call. I could let you remain in the house till I come back if you are a good tenant. I will email you the pictures and rent terms as soon as I receive your reply.

    God Bless You.

    Sincere Regards

    Thanks for your response. Every information provided in your previous message shall be use for the rent application. I’ll contact you if any additional information is required. For us to proceed, i’ll like to know your exact move in date and how soon you can come up with the deposit. We’ll be here for 3years or more and i could let you be our tenant till we return to the stateside. whenever we plan to return, we shall notify you at least 3months ahead of our arrival date.

    To preview the home, i’ll invite you to take a drive by the home to see it’s exterior and it’s neighborhood. As soon as you do so and if you like the location, get back to me for the interior pictures and every other necessary details to complete the rent.

    Feel free to call me anytime on +234 803 322 9333 .

    I’ll be looking forward to reading from you ASAP.

    Stay blessed and rejoice in the LORD.

46. 

    Posted by David on Mar 13, 2009 at 04:08pm

    Happened to me too. Didn’t send money, thankfully, but I did fill out the rental application. What can be done now?

47. 

    Posted by Anonymous on Mar 19, 2009 at 06:13pm

    Unfortunately I fell for this scam. I’m a single mother & was unaware of the scams in this area. All of the contact (e-mails, phone calls) appeared legitimate as well. The home was actually listed with a real estate company but only for sale. The scammer even used the realtor’s contact information to trick me & copied the realty ad including pictures.
    People in the St. Louis area beware of Craigslist. I can’t even report the ad as a scam because the ad was deleted, imagine that. Hopefully this keeps others from falling into the trap I just did.

48. 

    Posted by Derek on Apr 07, 2009 at 08:28pm

    Just got the same e-mail back as Kelly and Michael B in the Charlotte area. Glad I found this before we replied back.

49. 

    Posted by Mazzi on Apr 17, 2009 at 11:26am

    Ours was pretty refined. The name on the email and the property address matched the official records on our state’s property search. We found a listing by the property managers and the price was fairly reasonable – $1000 by owner for us to “take good care of the house” vs. $1400 through the prop manager co. It seemed reasonable. But the pics they eventually sent did not match the real pics of the house. I just called the prop manager co, and they say that they still have the house under contract.

    Thankfully there were enough weird things to raise my eyebrows, but I might possibly have fallen for it if my hubby and I were not such skeptics.

50. 

    Posted by Dave Dugdale on Apr 19, 2009 at 09:29pm

    I created a rental scam detection tool that you might find interesting. You can try it here:
    http://www.pickrent.com/stuff/scamquiz.cfm

    It would be an honor if you could let your readers know about our tool on your site. Thank you so much for any consideration.

    With much respect,
    Dave Dugdale

51. 

    Posted by Stephanie on Apr 21, 2009 at 08:37am

    This happened to me a few mos ago in Chicago. I ended contact with them before giving them any information because, to be honest, they just seemed off and I was actually thinking it sounded like a sexual predator…

    I realized something was really wrong when they sent me pictures of the property that did not match the pictures on craigslist. They also sent me pictures of themselves to show that they were “good” people. He claimed to be a minister in Africa and his wife was temporarily staying in New Jersey with family and she had the keys. They did mention a rental application but hadn’t sent it to me yet.

52. 

    Posted by slq in AK on May 04, 2009 at 03:40pm

    I am currently dealing with people looking in my windows and knocking on my door–the Nigerians have posted my house on Craigslist for a to-ggod-to-be-true renatl price. It was flagged and taken off, only to return a month later. The email address used includes the nake of the previous owner (must have been researched at the recorder’s office) and the listing includes photos of the inside of my home! These must have been obtained when my house was on the market less than one year ago. It is freaky seeing your own home for lease on Craigslist. I only hope people are not dumb enough to fall for this and I feel sorry for those that have spent so much time searching to discover it is only fraud!
    Please continue to expose these losers. It is creating havoc all around. Thanks.

53. 

    Posted by Josh on May 07, 2009 at 05:47pm

    Just had the same thing happen in seattle. Who doesn’t leave a set of keys to view a house. Legit looking posting too. Just keep an eye out. My email back was nearly verbatim.

54. 

    Posted by Ty on May 09, 2009 at 01:23pm

    I just called one here in Las Vegas. A Jorge Polick. They are letting me rent the house! Now i have to send them the deposit and the rent for one month ($2000.00 total amt.) This is via western union. My wife and i both saw the red flags. You would think these people would at least learn the english language! Broken english is a dead givaway! Funny thing i was approved the same day I submitted the application! But having been thru this before I automatically went to the internet and checked on sscams! Also you would think these nuts would change cities, this West Africa garbage is so old!!! Beautiful home, I’m sure who ever lives there loves it and probably has no plans to move any way soon I wouldn’t!!!

55. 

    Posted by S.T. on May 14, 2009 at 10:10am

    This seems to be well documented at this point, but I thought I’d throw my hat into the ring as well. I am relocating my family and my small business to Las Vegas from Seattle this summer. I have been looking at several homes for rent in the area, when I came across a real gem. Rent was below market value, included monthly pool service, and the home was just stunning. What amazes me, is that I asked for dimensions for a few of the rooms so that I could make sure my small home office would be big enough, and the Nigerians were able to provide me with ROOM BY ROOM dimensions for the entire house. What a treat, I thought. (I didn’t yet know what was going on). As the conversation progressed though, the emailer ignored certain questions of mine and gave fairly poor broken-english responses for others. It became quite apparent what was going on, and when I asked for a fax of his driver’s license or passport (he said he was on missionary duty in Africa) he called my office. Luckily we captured his phone number and I was able to tell from the country code he was in Nigeria.

    Here’s the scammers info:

    Email: arlinsch@gmail.com
    Phone: +234-8022281990

    Oddly enough, the amount of information he was using was impressive. He had nearly a dozen good photos of the home, knew the room-by-room dimensions (I spoke to the real home owner who advised me that she had it listed for sale previously, and thats where the scammer got all the details). Crazy to me, though, that he was also using the home owners REAL name. I cross-checked the home address vs. Clark County property records and the names matched, which at first lead me to believe this was quite possibly legit.

    I was able to spot their trickery and avoid catastrophe – but the real victim is the homeowner who is getting notes on her door, and phone calls from people wanting to rent her home. That has GOT to be so annoying, and I pray it stops for them.

    Be on high-alert people… these guys are out to snatch our money one way or the other. Do NOT get caught up.

56. 

    Posted by Staci on May 15, 2009 at 09:57pm

    I was looking for a place in San Francisco. I received 4 emails with slight variations, but all were “relocated” to West Africa.
    I ask many, many questions first, before I answer anyone else’s questions. They were not willing to answer anything. I asked questions like, “are all appliances still in working order? Is there any yardwork? Is anyone currently living there? If you come back soon will you need the place?” They replied that my questions were too personal. I still think my questions are valid for any private rental.

    I emailed Craigslist of my suspicion, but I never received a reply from them. I like craigslist. I don’t want to see them go under the bus.

57. 

    Posted by Brandon on May 16, 2009 at 08:41am

    I just removed myself from a situation that began on craigslist. The ad itself did not deliver any red flags, but the price for a rental was at least $100 less than the area warrented so I thought it was worth looking into. The response I received was from a Leroy Humprhey, who explained to me he was on a mission serving God in West Africa. Coincidentally, and ironically it would now seem, serving God was why he was renting the house so cheap, you know, to help out his fellow man. He asked for similar details that I have seen scammers ask for in previous emails sent to “undisclosed recipients” that I somehow received, but since the information at this stage was attainable through public record, I briefly wrote my name, address, etc. I also included a statement that I would not pay for anything until a viewing of the home and a more formal arrangement. His response was interesting because he wrote back as Humphrey Leroy, not Leroy Humphrey. He also told me that when he left the USA, he could not trust any property management companies, so he kept the keys and papers. He left a phone number for me to call (+234 803 322 9333) if I had more questions. I decided to google the number and this blog popped up and confirmed what I already knew to be true.

    People, if the person cannot even be professional enough to use reasonable grammar or even remember the name they lied to you with, would you really want to rent from them anyway?

    Be careful

58. 

    Posted by Anonymous on May 16, 2009 at 05:28pm

    this just happened to me!! i yahooed the number that the email gave me and this page came up!!! errrrr.

59. 

    Posted by nate on May 16, 2009 at 06:17pm

    (1) wow the comments on this post are forever long.. Glad it’s been helpful to people

    (2) I’m also glad Yahoo is bringing up the phone numbers of people who are the scammers. That’s an unintended positive thing I suppose.

    Thanks to everyone who’s commented.

60. 

    Posted by Melissa on May 17, 2009 at 02:40pm

    Same thing happened to me in Carlsbad, Ca. This, big nice house for rent for $800, yea right! Red flags went up for us when we looked up the house on google maps and the address was a single story home, in the ad it was two stories…. Look out.

61. 

    Posted by jj on May 17, 2009 at 03:05pm

    Thanks very much for your reply, i can see your willingness in this rent how is work? i will be given you the apartment in good faith.also i want you to know that the apartment is a very good and quite place to stay for you and i want you to take good care of the apartment it is very close to public transportation, grocery store and school. i want you to know that know extra bill because the $850 per month include with all utilities like Gas, Hydro, Electricity, Water, Dryer, Cable, Internet access and a good parking space and it’s fully furnished but you can come with your own furniture if you like as i have a storage in the apartment. I will be here in west africa for 3 years and i will not sleep in the apartment when coming to pay you visit and see how you are taking care of my property. I Have forward all your information to my Personal Assistant (PA) and we both agree and choose you as my new tenant because you have answered to the question in a perfect way. so i congratulate you and i am so happy that i and my wife have found a new Tenant for the Apartment. But i want you to know we spend alot on this property so we want you to keep your Promise and take good care of the apartment when you Move In. the apartment is pleasant neighbourhood. so we want a good Tenant that will be taking Good care of the apartment and tidy it up. Here are the contents of the document i will be sending to your presence address via DHL courier service.

    1) Entrance and the Rooms Keys
    2) Papers/Permanent house form (Containing Your Reference Details)
    3) The House Document File.
    4) Payment Receipt.
    5)Contract Lease agreement to be sign.
    6) Full Address and Description of House.

    So you will need to make the first and last month deposit payment of $1700 to my Secretary information below as soon as possible and i can confirm your payment and issue the receipt so the key of the apartment can be ship out to you as soon as possible today . and your payment will start counting the date you will be moving In. So i want you to know that you will need to look for any Western Union Store around you and send the first and the last month deposit payment to my Secretary here below is the information’s to wire the money.

    Receiver name: Lawrence Sketch

    Receiver’s address: 57 Paul Oguntola Street

    City: Mushin

    State: Lagos

    Zip code: 23401

    Country: Nigeria

    Text Question : Who is our creator

    Answer : God

    Amount Sending: $1700

    So i want you to get back to me with the western union confirmation as soon as you send the payment. i will be waiting to hear from you with the western union information on the receipt below:

    Full Sender’s Name:
    Sender’s address:
    MTCN #:
    Text Question & Text Answer:

    I will be waiting to read from you soonest. i appreciate your promise once again.

    God Speed to you and your family.

    Thomas

62. 

    Posted by jj on May 17, 2009 at 03:06pm

    My name is Thomas Karne own the 2 bedroom and 2 Bath home and its located @ 46 Waniska Avenue, Toronto M8Y 1P9, Ontario. and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me my wife and Son to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in west Africa, our new house and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for, since i am not residing there for now.I left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, airfrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Access Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the lease document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue ,but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing so will want you to get back to me with the Application form below

    RENT APPLICATION FORM

    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6)Do you have a pet?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)When do you want to move in
    10)How long do you want to stay in my apartment
    11)Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my apartment

    One Mr Richard Luis called me about the apartment,I told him that I can’t give him the apartment because he loves smoking,drinking and don’t want him to get drunk and damaged my property one day so If you are still interested, Note that the rent is going to be $850 Per month No extra fees.I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are.below is my phone number

    002348062609594 or +2348062609594

    I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as my new tenant.

    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 of the house to you. below is some pictures of the apartment and The address of the house is 46 Waniska Avenue, Toronto M8Y 1P9, Ontario , Canada.

    Thanks

    Thomas Karne

63. 

    Posted by anonymous on May 19, 2009 at 11:04pm

    My fiance and I are looking for a place in tulsa and almost fell for this “too good to be true” scam on craigslist. Thank goodness my mother used to work at a credit union and was aware that many many scams take place out of nigeria. Beware!

    Hi, I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist.I am Lawrence.. The house is still available but presently I’m not around.. I did bid for a portion of petroleum land sometimes ago in West Africa and fortunately I won the bidding so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up because I will still have to rebid for it in the next 10 years. I came over here with my wife, we both built the house when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the house so I have to look for an agent, after getting one, we got a deal but later my wife advised against that. She said we may not be able to win the bidding next time, in other to keep our head when we return that we have to keep the house. I
    > reasoned with her and accepted her advise. So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents. Later we decided to have the house rent out, we would have give the same agent this job also but the truth of the matter is that the agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later.. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of
    > the house and ha ndle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the house.You can reach me + 2348030970382 or 0112348030970382 let me know if you are intrested so that i can send you the rent application form so that you can fill them up then we can proceed further. BEDROOMS:3 BEDROOMS RENTAL AMOUNT………..$700 SECURITY DEPOSIT………….$400 ADDRESS OF MY HOUSE……… 8909 E. 3rd Pl, Tulsa
    > STATUS OF MY HOUSE:AVAILABLE FOR MOVE IN. LONG AND SHORT TERMS ARE BOTH ALLOWED. ALL PETS ARE ALLOWED.(

64. 

    Posted by Kendal Richards on May 22, 2009 at 02:58pm

    I unfortunately didn’t realize this was a scam until I had already sent my application (including my signature!). Am I at risk for identity theft or are these guys only interested in the “deposit” money?

65. 

    Posted by Anonymous on May 26, 2009 at 08:23am

    I received the follwoing email/ also obviously a scam…
    —–
    Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hear from you.I am Thomas Smith,the owner of the Apartment you are making inquiry of.Actually I resided in the apartment with my family,presently we moved away due to my transfer from my working place,my apartment is Located in 6809 Bellona Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21212-1222,and presently my apartment is still available for rent for $450 per month including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnished.More so Now, I went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the states for
    more discussion as She is with the keys and the documents to the apartment.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.I do that once in a while.I want have trust in you as i always stand by my words.Where are you located? let us know how soon you are willing to move in.Email my wife Nicole,on (nicole000smith@gmail.com)and she will attend to you better.
    ——

    I’ve flagged it on craigslist for removal.

66. 

    Posted by Tom on May 27, 2009 at 11:40am

    Here’s one that I haven’t seen before. A woman claimed she was transferred to London and had to sublet her apt in the Crescent Bldg 951 Fells St Balt
    MD she was using Rent.com but the property wasn’t listed with Rent.com. The syntax and grammar in the email from the “not real Rent.com” was pretty bad. Also she was renting a place that was going for $2359-$3359 according to the leasing dept at the bldg for $725. It’s currently on Craigslist as of today. Beware.

67. 

    Posted by Katers on May 27, 2009 at 04:01pm

    I’m so thankful you had this posted, This just happened to me today, of course I didn’t send them any money. I SEEMED legit until I contacted him and I could hardly understand a word he was saying, my husband called the realtors #s that were in the window and said it was owned by a bank and it is probably a scam. I did a quick surch online found this and sure enough, it really was to good to be true. Thank you!!

68. 

    Posted by beman on Jun 01, 2009 at 03:50pm

    I listed a house for rent on craigslist and was contacted by a ” doctor” who was to transfer to the united States from England. He was having furniture delivered to the home etc. He had jos financier send a check for more than I asked and then asked me to send money to the furniture company. Do not fall for this one!

69. 

    Posted by Graeme on Jun 08, 2009 at 04:46am

    Hi There,

    Me and my girlfried are looking for a flat in Barcelona and came accross lots of these scams, mikehalles007@gmail.com is by far the best one yet;

    Dear Mr Halles,

    My name is Eilidh. I am coming to Barcelona on the 29th June and I will be taking a job as an English Teacher in Barcelona. I am interested in your flat, which is advertised on loquo, could you tell me more precisely where it is so I can see how far away from my work it is?

    Thanks,
    Yours Faithfully,
    Eilidh

    Hi
    Thanks for the email. Am the owner the house and I also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my family to leave the house. I want to give it out for rent and I and my wife is Looking for a responsible,dedicated, committed and trustworthy person that can take very good care of the as we are not after the money for the rent but we want it to be clean at the time it is rented out and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now,we have moved to United Kingdom(London) into our new house and also with the keys and documents of the apartment is with us, we try to look for an agent that we can give this documents and keys before we left but we were unable to to get one. That is why we took along with us the documents and keys of the apartment. I want you to know that am currently on a trip to West Africa now on a business trip. So I hope you will promise us that you will surely take good care of
    take very good care of the apartment once you rent it. So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting an apartment. And the apartment is going to be available for rent for the next 5 years.
    The price of the apartment is 600 Euros per month and the apartment contains an area of study, with WI-FI Internet -service,telephone service, a hall-dining room and a kitchen totally equipped with electrical oven, microwave, washing machine, refrigerator, washing machine and dryer. The hall-dining room is totally outer and has ample large windows with to the terrace where you can enjoy the wonderful views of the apartment taking advantage of the light in the apartment. Also it has a system of refrigeration and heating in all the apartment being able to enjoy the temperature you wish at any moment. It has a private parking in the same property. Await your swift response as soon as possible. And if you are really sure that you want the apartment for rent then fill out the rent application form that is attached to this email and get back to me with the filled rent form via email as soon as possible.Then we can arrange on how the keys and documents of the apartment will be sent over to you via express courier service.
    ********RENT APPLICATION FORM*******
    ********PRAVITE & CONFIDENTAIL********
    Also,Please answer these questions below:
    1)Your Full Name_________________________ ____________
    2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone ________________________
    3)How old are you___________________________
    4)Are you married _ _____________________________ _____
    5)How many people will be living in the apartment __
    6)Do you have a pet ____ __________________________ ___________
    7)Do you have a car _______ _______________________ ____________
    8)Occupation ____________ _________________
    9)What is your religion __ ____________________________ ______________
    10)How long are you willing to stay _______ ____________________-
    11)When do you intend to move in ___
    12)1 month Or 2 month deposit needed ______________________________
    Reference
    Name:
    Address:
    Telephone Number:
    Relationship:
    I hereby represent that all of the above information is true, accurate and complete, and hereby of the authorize verification over items, including but not limited to the obtaining of a credit report/and or recovery of monetary claims, and agree to furnish additional credit references on request.
    DATE………… APPLICANT SIGNATURE/NAME…………….

    You can also give me a call on this phone number 0112348036453699 or
    +2348036453699. I hope to read from you as soon as possible. Awaiting
    your swift response now.

    Cheers!
    Mike

    Dear Mike,

    I am interested in taking the flat but I would like to clear up the matter
    of the exchange of keys and money first before we go any further. I have had
    some problems with suspicious people who want me to pay for the flat before
    I see it. I hope you can understand my situation. If there is anyway you can
    arrange for a third party in Barcelona (an aquaintance or an agent) to
    show me the flat on the 29th of June I will be more than happy to go ahead
    with the transaction. Please let me know if you will be able to do this. I
    need to have some guarantee for myself and as I have said I have already had
    problems with people pretending to rent flats from abroad.

    Thanks,
    Eilidh

    Hi

    I want you to give me a call on my cell phone over here as soon as possible. My phone number is +2348036453699 or 0112348036453699. Just dial the number directly and then we can get to talk better and also arrange something.

    I hope to read and I will also be expecting your call as soon as possible.

    Have a great weekend.
    Cheers!
    Mike

    Hi Mike,

    It just so happens that I have won a prize of an all expenses paid trip to
    West Africa courtesy of Mars, I happened to buy a prize winning Twix!!!!

    Great news or what?

    I leave in one week’s time, as you are currently there on business (I assume
    as that it is a business trip you will be there for while) I would be more
    than happy to travel out and meet you face to face to exchange the keys and
    the money

    Just let me know your address and I will be there, if there’s any problems I
    will phone you on the number you provided

    If we can’t meet in West Africa incase you have returned to London then don’t worry, my flight is from Heathrow and I would be more than happy to
    meet you at your home

    Thanks,
    Eilidh

    Hi

    I will out of west Africa then i will be in South Africa. so just give me a call as soon as possible.

    Thanks

    Hi Mike,

    That’s unfortunate that you will be going to South Africa……

    …….OR IS IT?

    For I, Eilidh, as part of my all expenses paid trip to West Africa (courtesy of Mars), will also be getting an excursion to South Africa via
    Wildebeest (black or blue, I’m not sure yet), I will finally achieve a life
    long dream of visiting Johannesburg and enjoying a weekend in South Africa’s
    capital city, where I’m sure we can meet and discuss the flat you have up for rent

    I really couldn’t imagine that my luck would travel so far (pun intended),
    this has to be destiny

    I look forward to meeting you face to face, maybe Mars will even pay for a
    drink for us both!!!

    Take care,
    Eilidh

    The house has already been taken….so am sorry no need for you to rent it anymore.

    Hi Mike,

    “Am” sorry a was not quicker.

    That is unfortunate, you are right. I was so looking forward to moving into
    the flat. I would still like to meet you when I am on my trip to South
    Africa. I feel like we have built up a trust and my spirit is with you. I
    would like to see you as I feel we have a connection. I could rent a flat in
    Africa and stay longer to know you. Do you know anyone who has a flat there
    I can rent? I would be so very grateful if you helped me to do this. I would
    even pay you more for the flat in Barcelona and you can visit me there.

    BFF
    Eilidh

    Pls do not contact me again

    Hi there Mikey boy,

    “Am” deeply saddenned by your e-mail requesting not to contact you again, it’s really put a dampener on my all expenses paid trip to West Africa with an excursion to Johannesburg via wildebeest, courtesy of Mars

    I really felt that we had made a genuine connection and it is most unfortunate that you found someone to give you the money upfront for your flat in Spain, I really would have liked to have taken it and thought that as I would have been in Africa anyway we could have met and exchanged the keys,

    I would still like to meet up anyway for a drink and hopefully you could show me around (maybe be a guide to me and stop the natives robbing me at spear point!!!!)

    I propose to you, Mr Mike Halles, that if you tell your future tenant that the deal is off, I will offer you an extra 100 euros a month in order to get your flat, that sounds like a fantastic deal to me, one that a savvy business man such as yourself would find hard to knock back

    I will be in Africa next week but will have my laptop with me so we can keep in touch and meet up

    BFF
    Eilidh

    We have yet to receive a reply from the esteemed Mr Halles but I intend to keep emailing him, we’ve also had several other emails with similar stories

70. 

    Posted by juneau alaska on Jun 11, 2009 at 06:05am

    I noticed on craiglist, a rental.

    1200/MO. listed as 2bd/ 2ba. etc.. Brand new constuction in a good beighborhood. I thought it was a good deal. too good, but in an event its real i sent an email.

    Requesting a little more info, and things such as pets, deposits, etx.

    In reviewing these response, i looked on
    -remax.com
    -juneau alaska
    -3bd/2ba
    -single fam house

    not far into search i see its for SALE!!

    Not sure but they mention working for mobile producing co, and this and that.

    Dont think i need to repsond any further.

71. 

    Posted by Anonymous on Jun 11, 2009 at 06:24am

    There are two rules to remember concerning such transactions: 1. Don’t do business with Nigerians. 2. Don’t do business with Nigerians. Okay, there are many more rules, but you can figure out what they are!

72. 

    Posted by Purin P. on Jun 15, 2009 at 07:59pm

    THEY ALMOST GOT ME!

    —- Here’s the original e-mail:

    Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Rev Jeff, the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and resently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the Madrid,Spain,and presently my house is still available for rent including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is urnised.Moreso Now,i went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in State for more discussion as She is with the keys and the document to the house.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute mentenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.Where are you located and where do you see our advert also let us know if you need more pictures.
    Email my wife Elizabeth. on ( elizabeth.cath@gmail.com ) and she will attends to you better.
    God bless you
    Rev Jeff

    —- I was stupid enough to believe it and reply:

    Elizabeth,

    I have been told by Jeff to contact you regarding the house you will
    be renting out in Palo Alto.

    My name is *****t. I’m currently
    living with my friend in San Mateo, not too far from Palo Alto. I
    found Jeff’s posting on Craigslist about the vacancy and would like to
    schedule a viewing any time this upcoming week. I am an extremely
    neat and responsible person (my friends and past landlord can attest
    to that).

    I can be reached at this e-mail (preferred) or mobile *** *** ****.

    Thank you very much! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

    —- Now, her reply:

    Thanks for the email and also Yes, my husband in respect of Rev the house and also it is situated in 924 Webster St, Palo Alto, CA and also want you to know that it was due to my husband transfer that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now,Am here in the United Kingdom our new house and also with the keys of the house,we try to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our apartment be used any how in our present that is why we took it along with us here and as you know that,my husband over in the west Africa for a mission of God,so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the apartment.So get back to me on how you could take care of our apartment or perhaps experience you have in renting home.Hope you are okay with the price with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air condition,internet connection and so on. i look forward to hearing from you ASAP so that i can forward you the Rental Application Form to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent,also are you ready to rent it now or when
    NOTE:I want you to know that all will are only looking is a good
    person that will take very good care of our apartment,If not don’t email us back if you no that you are not going to take very good care of the apartment for me and my Husband.Thanks
    Regards

    —- I’m still stupid enough to believe this is real:

    Elizabeth,

    Two things:

    1. Because this is such an unusual case for any renters (to be honest,
    it sounds almost like a scam), so I would like to ask you a few silly
    questions before I am committed to renting the house:

    1.1) This might sound weird, but can I take a look at your family
    picture? I’m having a difficulty imagining who you all are. What
    nationality are you?
    1.2) How long were you living in the place? Did you buy it? Was it
    long time ago?
    1.3) Do you know anybody in the neighborhood? Your next-door
    neighbors? People at the church? Can I talk to any of them?
    1.4) Is the house currently being taken care by someone else?
    1.5) Did you consider selling the place knowing that you will be away?
    I’m assuming you expect to move back? If so, when?
    1.6) The aforementioned rent is $820, correct? Does this include utilities?

    2. As I have previously mentioned, I am extremely neat and
    responsible. I am 25 and people say I am much more mature than my
    actual age. You can have my word that I will take a very good care of
    your place as if it was my own.

    I look forward to seeing your answers, and if all goes well, filling
    out an application so that you can actually check my credit. I am
    ready to rent as soon as possible. :)

    —- So now, her reply, getting close:

    Hello,

    Good hearing from you that you are promising us that our flat will be well taken care off,and I really appreciate your expression.So,Like I told you there’s none of my friends or relatives to show you the flat..I want you to stick to your words.Is that okay with you?And the below is the final question that you must answer to qualify for the rent.

    Hope you have a nice working day,Infact I will like to meet you when coming to visit you soonest,You will not be able to see inside of the flat..We do a long term and short term renting anytime you which to leave the place will be greatful and we are ready to rent a long-term for 4 years lease or more.

    Note that you will are not allowed to enter the flat,because the keys/document is here with me in Florida and i want you to know that the address is correct.

    *******RENT APPLICATION FORM*******
    (Private & Confidential)
    Also,Pls let me get this answer.
    1)Your Full Name
    2)Present Full Address(where you reside now) & Phone Number to Reach You
    3)Age
    4)Are you married?
    5)Sex?
    6)How many people will be living in the house?
    7)Do you have a pet?
    8)Do you have a car?
    9)What is your religion?
    10)Occupation?
    11) Citizen of which Country?
    12) When are you ready to Move In ?
    13) When are u planning to leave the flat ?
    14) How many months rent can you deposit ?

    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details for approval so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you,Please we are giving you all this transaction is based on Trust & Honesty and again I want you to stick to your words,We are putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this property of ours and God bless you more as you do this.

    N:B : We are doing doing this because of God as a good christian, If you can pay two months, you will get one month free , I had an accident which affected my hearing and my legs , I am currently on a wheel chair right now, I do not use a phone that’s why I am always online, you can reach my husband on +2347084902669.if you are interested, you can fill out the rent application below and get back to me as soon as possible.

    Thanks so much and have a nice day.

    —- Smelling fishy: the number is nigerian. They live in Madrid, UK, and Florida? Searched on google about “criagslist rental scam” and found this post. The following is my reply. I regret…I could be meaner.

    Elizabeth,

    Sorry, you didn’t respond to any of my questions. As much as I’d like
    to help you out, there are reasons that make me believe this is a
    scam. I’m no longer interested.

73. 

    Posted by Whiskers on Jun 15, 2009 at 09:06pm

    Just got this response regarding a home in Columbia, SC. I couldn’t help but laugh when they asked for “NAME OF PET”

    Hello Dear,

    Calvary greetings to you,also to your house hold..Thanks for the email and it is my gladness hearing from you.i am the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the (West Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent ..including the utilities like hydro,washerand security,it is NOT furnised because i have already move down my furnitures to the Store.. if u which to move in with your furnishes no problem..
    Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,i will want you to take absolute maintenance of my house and want you to treat it as your own,i,it is not the money the main problem but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.

    SO IF YOU ARE REALY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAPPLICATIONS FORMS BELOW.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM

    Also,Pls let me get this answer.

    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: _________________
    LAST NAME: __________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    HOME PHONE (____) __________
    (CELL)PHONE (____) __________
    (WORK)PHONE (____) __________
    KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _______________
    STATE: ______________
    ZIPCODE: ____________
    HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
    HOW SOON CAN YOU HAVE THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT SENT TO ME___________________________
    HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMETS OF THE HOUSE___________________________
    DO YOU HAVE A PET: _____________
    NAME OF PET: _____________
    KIND OF PETS: _____________
    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 incase 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,Note that the keys and documents of my house is with me here in west africa.please we are giving you the house 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 notlet us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this..

    You will only be able to drive by the house for now but not have a look at the interior until i have sent the keys and documents of the house to you..and the requirement for getting the keys and documents of the house is a fully refundable payment of $500 USD,which is 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..

    PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RENT ONLY STARTS COUNTING AFTER YOU HAVE FINALLY MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, SO YOU NEED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT NOW AND NOT MOVING IN IMMEDIATELY,ALL YOU’RE DOING IS SECURING THE HOUSE IN YOUR FAVOUR IN ORDER NOT TO LOOSE IT TO OTHER INTERESTED APPLICANTS..

    PROPERTY DESCRIPTION:
    This Beautiful Completely renovated historic home in downtown Columbia. Conveniently located near USC, the Vista, downtown Columbia, and the interstates, this home boasts three large bedrooms, a stunning kitchen with top appliances and granite countertops and a large deck and porch to entertain your guests. Hardwood floors are throughout with gas logs and all the moldings you would expect from a large 1920s bungalow.

    Address: 2145 Marion Street Columbia Sc , SC 29201
    DEPOSIT IS 700 DOLLARS AND RENT IS 800 DOLLARS..

    You can reach me on +234-806-431-5450 Or 011-234-806-431-5450.

    Thanks and God bless you .

74. 

    Posted by LS on Jul 09, 2009 at 11:03am

    This is STILL going on. What sucks is that Craigslist could care less that half their rental listings are spam/scams. They just want you to flag stuff, not caring that plenty of others will possibly get sucked into the scammer’s deal by the time there are enough flags to bring it down.

    The one I got had basically just ripped off ad copy and photos from a realtor’s website. A good way to check properties is to just google the address with ‘owner’ and see if it pops up for sale on a realtor’s site.

75. 

    Posted by JU on Jul 09, 2009 at 10:10pm

    Thank God for this blog, we were on the verge of being scammed of $1700!!! Ya Thomas Karne in West Africa!!! The apartments in the hood were going for $2400 a month, but getting one 2 bed 2 bth for $850, we were xcited! But then the phone number was for Nigeria, so i decided to google for jobs in the area, and bang this blog came up. I googled Thomas Karne but there was nothing correspong then the phone number, thanx guys!!

    I honestly didnt know about this scam, I knew they were selling shares, giving lottery winning but rentals, and the way they use God in their mails is disgusting. Here is one I received today,
    My name is Thomas Karne own the 2 bedroom and 2 Bath home and its located @ 46 Waniska Avenue, Toronto M8Y 1P9, Ontario, Canada. and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me my wife and Son to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in west Africa, our new house and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for, since i am not residing there for now.I left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, airfrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Access Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the lease document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue ,but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing so will want you to get back to me with the Application form below

    RENT APPLICATION FORM

    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6)Do you have a pet?
    7)Do you have a car?
    8)Occupation?
    9)When do you want to move in
    10)How long do you want to stay in my apartment
    11)Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my apartment

    One Mr Richard Luis called me about the apartment,I told him that I can’t give him the apartment because he loves smoking,drinking and don’t want him to get drunk and damaged my property one day so If you are still interested, Note that the rent is going to be $850 Per month No extra fees.I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are.below is my phone number.

    +2348062609594 or 002348062609594

    I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as my new tenant.

    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 of the house to you. below is some pictures of the apartment and The address of the house is 46 Waniska Avenue, Toronto M8Y 1P9, Ontario, Canada.

    Thanks
    Thomas Karne

    GUYS PLEASE BE VIGILANT

76. 

    Posted by delaney on Jul 10, 2009 at 08:48am

    Ok, guys. I had a Nigerian boyfriend in college who was an exchange student in the US many moons ago. This is probably how I know that one should never do business with Nigerians. The brilliant scam talents of Nigerians go way back.
    If you fly to Lagos, some official looking people with uniforms will tell you that you need to hand over your passport, pay them a landing fee. It’s all a scam. Whatever. It is an ingrained part of the culture. It’s just the way it is. If you get scammed, it’s because you don’t know. Just say no.

77. 

    Posted by Michele on Jul 10, 2009 at 01:32pm

    Thanks for your response and interest in my house.

    The house is very much available and has large 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathroom. Which was formally occupied by me and my family before we left for Nigeria for a pastoral duty, we left for a volunteer mission together with other missionaries for a development program with the aim of developing the people of west Africa physically and spiritually as God as directed us. We wanted to sell the house initially but we later changed our mind after we discovered that we wouldn’t be spending more then 5 years here in Africa.

    So as you know where the house is located at 11716 Smithfield Rd, Manassas VA 20112 Which my family and I have spent so much time and money to maintain it up till its standard. We have been trying our best to make the house as clean as possible, because am a clean person and we don’t like dirt around our surroundings and also the Bible says cleanliness is next to Godliness.

    So we are looking for a well-behaved, clean and honest tenant to rent out our house too. So will like you to give us your word and promise us that you will take good care of our house so that we will be happy when we come to visit you in the future.. We accept short or long-term rent and it’s month by month.. All the utilities are included in the rent.. Pets are allowed. So kindly get back to us with this information below.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: _________________
    LAST NAME: __________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    (CELL)PHONE () __________
    (CELL)PHONE () _____________________
    (WORK)PHONE () __________
    KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _______________
    STATE: ______________
    ZIPCODE: _______________ HOW LONG? ______________IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?
    IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
    HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? _______________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
    IF YOU HAVE A PET,
    NAME OF PET: _____________
    KIND OF PETS: _____________
    HABITS
    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 incase 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 do not see our selfs 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 hear from you. you can give us a call on our cell phone number: 0112348029886104

    Best Regards
    0112348029886104(call anytime)
    Note: the Rent is $1000 and securtity deposit is $1000
    Total Move In Cost:$2000

78. 

    Posted by Tiffany Edwards on Jul 13, 2009 at 08:55am

    Ok so i am one of those people who got scammed, i’m an emotional bag right now and have been for months. I understand I will not get the money back, but who do I contact to let them know, or is it out of my control?

79. 

    Posted by Jenny on Jul 20, 2009 at 09:51pm

    Yep! We just went through this too. I only know it’s a scam for sure because of this blog verifying it! Thanks so much. I mean I for sure had a hunch but all this is exactly what our e-mails said too.

80. 

    Posted by MrsBrandy on Jul 22, 2009 at 05:47pm

    I have gotten 3 responses from “God-fearing” missionaries in Nigeria and 2 more from bidders on African oil land. When I notify them that there information, including phone numbers, has been sent to DC’s FBI agents…. well, the ad tends to be removed within the hour. lol Everyone that can’t believe this, should look for decent housing (non-ghetto)near NOVA/DC! At least they tried to change it up with the oil gig, but it was still phrased in that “cookie-cutter” manner. Needless to say, after reading their horrific grammar, the only response they recieved from me was the lovely, you’re busted email. I guess they don’t expect it from a young, sweetly-spoken, housewife.

81. 

    Posted by Filiani on Jul 23, 2009 at 07:21am

    Hello Rachel,
    I’m writing with regards to the apartment (Killiney) that you advertised on Craigslist. I’m wondering if it’s still available. If it is, is it possible for me to make an appointment to view it? Please advise. Look forward to hear from you again soon. Thanks.
    Regards,
    Filiani

    ============================================================================

    From: Rachel Brad
    Subject: Re: Apartment Studio for Rent
    To: “S Filia”
    Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 5:59 AM
    Hello ,

    I will quickly give you a simple description of the apartment so that you can decide if it is ok for your schedule or not. The one bedroom Studio apartment was furnished to the taste of every modern day business minded person. I and my husband wanted to use it personally when he was transferred to work there but he was later transferred to Victoria Garden city, Lagos Nigeria , so we left together with the keys and locked up the place since we still have all our valuable things inside the apartment.

    I am originally from St. Andrews Scotland but I fell in love with an African man so I married him, we have been married for close to 20years now and we have a lovely kids, a boys and a girl, My husband is a music producer and he is an hardworking man and is always on the move so I am left to take care of the issue of getting a good tenant for the apartment. The apartment will be free for the next 1 year and 5 months and we are ok with any long or shot term rental.

    Address Apartment: 160 06-05, LA Cristal, Killiney Road Singapore 239404, Singapore.

    The apartment is loaded with all the utilities like, wireless Internet, electricity, water,
    refrigerator, water heater, Laundry Facilities, Parking Available, Satellite TV, stove and
    Oven. Every thing is included in the rental of SGD1000 (688.072 USD). We made the rent low so that the tenant can help us take good care of the place for the time we will be away.

    The entire floors are made of polished fine woods and it needs cleaning regularly to keep it in form and shining. The fancy lights bring out the beauty at night. The picture on the wall of the bedroom cost us a lot and need care in handling it. The bed is large enough for 2/3 persons to sleep and the floor will need constant cleaning as well.

    When I visited him I was fascinated by the kitchen materials I saw so I equipped my kitchen to the taste of every one that love cooking. But if you don’t want to cook make sure the kitchen is clean and every thing locked up safe for me.

    The bathroom is made of woods all thru and it has every thing you can think of except I don’t know that thing you need there that was not included. There is even a cosmetic shelf in the bathroom and it is for both males and females.

    If you are staying for up to 1 year 1 month rent will be paid in advance, and if you are staying for bellow 5 months 1-month rent will be paid in advance if you are staying for just a month maybe we will talk about that after I get your mail. If every thing suits your taste get back to me and let me know so that I can talk over with my husband and get back to you.

    Have a nice day,
    Rachel Brad

82. 

    Posted by Filiani on Jul 23, 2009 at 07:25am

    This is the posting advertised by Rachel Brad.

    http://singapore.craigslist.com.sg/apa/1242558646.html

83. 

    Posted by Emily on Jul 24, 2009 at 10:42am

    I just got through a back and forth with one of these guys too. He posted a ridiculously good deal on Craigslist: $500 / 1br – Live in the heart of the financial district, at the top of the Optima (Phoenix, Arizona)‏– These are luxury highrise condos. Sounded too good to be true and so after a little research, I found two other listings for this same condo for $1550 (obviously the legitimate owners). I emailed him that I found the other price, suggested perhaps it was a typo, and he responded with his wife convinced him to lower the price so others could afford it. They are “not concerned with money, just someone to take good care of their home.” The guy’s “name” and email was Stockan Michael — stockumltd@yahoo.com
    I looked up the email address and there is another listing on the Albuquerque– so, if he does use this name again- BEWARE!

84. 

    Posted by Lisamarie on Jul 26, 2009 at 12:10pm

    Well people just to let you know this scam has now hit glasgow, scotland, check out these emails:

    Thanks for the email and it is my gladness hearing from you. I am the owner of the apartment you are making inquiry of. Actually i resided in the apartment with my family, such as my wife and my only daughter before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place on a Christian missionary work and now situated in the Nigeria, West Africa and presently my apartment is still available for rent.Including the utilities like hydro, washer and security, it is furnished but if you which to move in with your furnishes no problem.

    Pls i want you to note that i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent, i will want you to take absolute maintenance of my apartment and want you to treat it as your own, money is not the most important thing but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.

    SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAL APPLICATION FORM BELOW..

    Also, Pls let me get this answer.
    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME:_________________
    LAST NAME:__________________
    PROFESSION:________________POSITION:__________
    HOME PHONE (____)__________
    (CELL)PHONE (____)__________
    (WORK)PHONE (____)__________
    KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS:_____________________
    CITY:_______________
    STATE:______________
    ZIPCODE:____________
    HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING?____________
    CURRENT RENT PAYMENT:____________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________
    DO YOU HAVE A PET:_____________
    NAME OF PET:_____________
    IS THE RENT FEE AVAILABLE NOW?______________
    REASON FOR MOVING OUT?______________
    KIND OF PETS:_____________
    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 to you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you. Note that the keys and documents of my apartment is with me here in West Africa, Nigeria. Please we are giving you the apartment 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.

    APARTMENT INFORMATION
    Bedrooms: 1 Bedroom
    Bathrooms: 1 Bathroom
    Rent per month: 300Pounds(First Month Rent Fee)
    Deposit Req’d: First month(300Pounds)
    Application Fee: $0.00
    Parking: Reserved.
    Available: Now
    Smoking: Allowed
    Lease terms: As long as you wish

    Here is the address to the apartment below.

    4 Belhaven Terrace,
    Glasgow
    G12 8SL
    Scotland
    United Kingdom

    Awaiting your reply soon.
    Thank you

    **after falling for this cos it does sound legit i emailed him the details back and got this reply**

    Hello Lisamarie,

    Thanks for getting back to me, Am very happy to hear back from you, and also i am sorry for not getting back to you earlier it was because i am a bit busy here, Yes, all the info is okay by me, and you have qualified to be my new tenant definitely. I must give you my house for rent.. More over i can see your willingness in this rent.. I shall be giving you my property for rent and there is an internet broadband connection inside. Pls again take very good care of my house I have read your mail, you are a responsible person that I can trust with all my heart. Reading through your mails I discovered that you would be a trustworthy person. You are the type of tenant that I have been looking for and I want you to sticks on your words as a good responsible and trustworthy person that I can trust with all my hearts, so i promise to give the rent to you because there is allot of inquiry on the rent and i know you will love the interior of the apartment when you move in.I want you to have it in mind that I will like to send the keys and the documents of my house to you before your move in date via Int’l Delivery Company .

    Here are the contents of the packages that will be delivered to you.
    1) Entrance and the rooms Keys.
    2)Paper/Permanent house form(Containing your reference details).
    3)The house documentary file.
    4)Deposit Payment Receipt.
    5)Full address and description of the House.
    6)Security code to the systematic laptop.

    I will take the key and document to courier service office as soon as you are ready with the deposit payment have been confirmed to book for the delivery of the packages to you, so kindly re-confirm your delivery address carefully, because it is so important.

    I want you to know that I will have my property documents send to you based on trust and I hope you will not disappoint me on this?, Please always make my property neat and tidy, because I worked very hard to get this my property that I want to give you for rent, and I don’t want my property to be use anyhow in presence of my life and I hope you will help me treat my property like your own?. Let me know and make a promise to me. get back to me so that i can forward you the information that you’ll be using to make the first month rent deposit fee so that you can have the keys packages arrives as soon as possible for bonafide occupancy, so that you can make the payment at once

    Hope to read back from you as soon as possible today.

    My Regards,

    **i then reply back and ask how he wants me to send the payments and that i am unsure about sending money plus the fact he sent me the same email from a different address the reply**

    Hi Lisamarie,

    Am sorry for the mistake the rent fee is still 300pounds and also i want you to know that i am a pastor and i can never tarnish my whole life and image just because of money all i am just trying to do is to make sure i give out my apartment to a very responsible family and which i hope you are one, and also regarding the payment i want you to know that you’ll be making the payment of the first month rent deposit fee through Money Gram Money Transfer so as to get the keys and documents shipped out to you in package and also you’ll be paying the first month rent deposit fee through money gram money transfer so that i can get the keys and documents shipped out to you in package, and also i have re-verified your address for the delivery of the package to you and also i want you to know that all the utilities and facilities fee has already been included with the rent fee such as electricity, council tax, TV license,gas bills, water e.t.c. so you will not need to pay them again and they have already been edited to your name, and also you’ll be making the payment of the first month rent deposit fee through money gram money transfer.
    So you will be making the payment to my secretary’s information because i haven’t collect my id card at my office but am assuring you that there will be no problem with that.

    So below is my secretary’s information that you’ll be using to make the payment for the first month deposit through money gram so once the payment is been confirmed the package will be shipped out to your home address the next day.

    So here is the information that you will be using to make the first month rent deposit through Money Gram Transfer.

    Payment Information For The First Month Deposit Payment:

    Receivers Name: Kimberly Tumlinson

    Address: 160 Ring Avenue

    State:Lagos

    City:Ikeja

    Zip Code:23401

    Country:Nigeria

    Amount Sending:300Pounds

    Text Question: Love

    Text Answer:God

    So as soon as you make payment at the money gram local store you would be given some information,You would have to get back to me with the information below.

    Full Senders Name

    Reference #

    Amount Sent:

    Text Question:

    Text Answer:

    And also please do check below for the verification of your delivery information for the delivery of the package to you in order to avoid confusion of the keys and documents to you

    **i email him back saying that i cannt possibly send that amount of money to someone that i dont know here is the next response**

    Hi Lisamarie,

    Thanks for your kind response, i want you to still know that i am a true pastor and i can never tarnish my whole life and image just because of money all i am just trying to do is to make sure i give my apartment out to a very reliable, trustworthy, honest and responsible person and most important a tidy person.But the only way to help about this is for you to make an half payment of the deposit and get back to me with the balance once you have the keys and documents of the flat in package but i want you to promise me in the name of God that you’ll get back to me with the balance once you have the package containing the keys and documents with you.

    So get back to me today so as to proceed on this.

    Thanks and God bless.

    **i replied and told him that i wasnt going to be making a payment maybe he can find a way around this (im curious as to what he will say lol) i havent got a reply yet but will post when i do, i cant believe i nearly fell for this we even went and had a look at where the property was!!!

85. 

    Posted by Whitney on Jul 31, 2009 at 08:22am

    I found a great apartment listed at a great price being as though I am a student. I thought it was too good to be true so I emailed the lister inquiring about the location figuring it was in the worst part of Baltimore since it was so reasonably priced. After receiving the response I immediatetly saw red flags!! I looked up the address and it is an aparment complex and he couldn’t possibly own the unit. this website was one of the results that came up in my attempt to research the property. Thank you so much who knows how far I may have gotten with these scammers. I am tempted to send him “Mr.Smith” a strongly worded e-mail. How can we put a stop to this type of scam?? Be low is his response…apparently he’s on a crusade now!! Lol

    Response to my inquiry—-

    Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hear from you.I am Jason Smith,the owner of the Apartment you are making inquiry of.Actually I resided in the apartment with my family,presently we moved away due to my transfer from my working place,my apartment is Located in 6809 Bellona Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21212-1222,and presently my apartment is still available for rent for $450 per month including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnished.More so Now, I went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the states for more discussion as She is with the keys and the documents to the Apartment.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.I do that once in a while.I want have trust in you as i always stand by my words.Where are you located? let us know how soon you are willing to move in.Email my wife Nicole,on (nicole000smith@gmail.com) and she will attend to you better.

86. 

    Posted by Michelle on Aug 03, 2009 at 09:57am

    I am dealing with the same issue right now as well! I found a really nice house on C/list- def too good to be true. The address did check out, but when i went to see it (on my own) it was in a gated community so I couldn’t get in. The prospective landlord “Cathi Lane” as assured me several times that as soon as she receives my deposit of $400.00 she will fed ex me the keys and the gate code! PLEASE! How can you have a 5br home in Mission veijo for only 1600 a month and no property manager to deal with potential tenants?? Very suspicious indeed! here was her last response to my decline… (RENTERS BEWARE! SO MANY SCAMS OUT THERE!)

    ———-
    Hello Michelle,
    I understand you perfectly and i also understand your concern but I want you to know something and it’s true like the bible said”The truth and only the Truth shall set you free,thus says the lord of host”.I’m telling you the truth now as a dedicated Christian is against my doctrine to rip people off there money which they labored so hard for, i did not leave my home all the way to West Africa to rip people off any one money.

    I know what i have been through in all my trips especially in West Africa, I’m a human being like you and i have feelings like you do,i also believe that God is watching every step we take that is why i made the house so inexpensive because i believe everybody deserves a home both the rich and the poor so you don’t have to be afraid because i know i can trust you that is why I’m giving you my house based on trust.

    In The Bible God did said Never cheat on people because if you do he will get Angry, so i don’t have any Right to cheat on you because i am a Responsible and God fearing Landlord, i am renting my house to you base on the trust i have in you because i always put you in prayer that God to help you out, My living God review to me that you are the right tenant to rent my house that is the most reason why i am doing all my possible Best to make ensure you receive the keys and documents.

    And in this life what goes around comes around which is what will happen to me if i rip off your money, believe me i will not want such thing to happen to me or my family.So i don’t have any reason to lie to you knowing the consequences involved in it.
    So Michelle Hermann, Just try and send out the $400 security deposit today so as to get the keys and documents shipped out to you.

    I Await Your Response.

    Regards

    — On Fri, 7/31/09,

    Hi Cathi,
    I do not feel comfortable sending any money before seeing the house as I mentioned before.
    If there is no one here locally that can show me the property then I will have to pass on this rental.

    Thank you.

    Regards,
    Michelle

    From: Cathi Lane [mailto:lanecathi@yahoo.com]
    Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 5:28 PM
    To: Michelle
    Subject: Re: $1600 / 5br – Panoramic City View Large Canyon Crest 5Br/3Ba Single Family Home (Mission Viejo, CA )

    Hello,

    I am very happy to read an email from you,showing interest in my home.Thanks for your email and I am very glad having receive an email from you regarding my Home, I am Professor Lane Cathi,the chief surgeon for the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and my Wife Denise and we are the very owner of the Panoramic City View Large Canyon Crest 5Br/3Ba Single Family Home you are making inquiry of.

    Previously, we reside in this particular house with the rest of our family, which are our two wonderful children (Michael and Loveth) ,we lived there before and presently we packed due to an emergency transfer to Head the Surgery department of a General Hospital,here in Nigeria and this transfer is temporary but will last for at least 51months (4years+),this house is available for an amount of $1600 per month (All Utilities also Included)and a security deposit of $400. I want you to know that the House is Unfurnished, so you can move into the house with your own Personal furnitures but the Utilities are intact such as Dishwasher,Dryer, Electric Stove, Fridge, Washer,Air Condition,Sewage,Trash,all included in the monthly rent,as i am in a governmental programme that sponsors my utilities on monthly basis etc.

    Please note that, we are a kind and honest family,that spent a lot on property that is available for rent, so in one accord,we are soliciting for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own.
    We want you to keep it tidy all the time so that we shall be glad to see it whenever we are around on a visit.

    SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAL
    APPLICATION FORMS BELOW:

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    1)Your Full Name
    2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
    3)How old are you?
    4)Are you married?
    5)How many people will be living in the house?
    6a)Do you have a pet?
    6b)What type
    7a)Do you have a car?
    7b)What type?
    8)Occupation?
    9)What is your monthly income?
    10)Reference Contact Name and Address?
    11)When do you intend Moving in?
    12)When can you check the surroundings?
    13)Any good credit?
    14)Credit Score?
    15)Any Police problem?

    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that we can have it our file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you..

    Await your prompt reply so that we can discuss on the rental terms and agreement, please we are renting the house to you base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words.

    So please do not let us down in maintaining this our property and God bless you more as you do this.
    House Address: 22171 Brookpine ,Mission Viejo, CA 92692
    Thanks and you are welcome.

    You can give me a call on +2347038557051 or 0112347038557051

    Regards.

87. 

    Posted by diddly diddly on Aug 05, 2009 at 06:53am

    This was the add

    http://www.ahlein.net/Lebanon/Beirut/Hamra-Basta-Ras-Beirut/Apartment-Flat/1863.aspx

    And the email response I got :

    Hi ,

    thanks for the message. I attached all the pics i have of the apartment to show that it is fully furnished. I will be renting this 52sqm apartment out for $400 per month, all bills inclusive. The apartment is located about 100 m from AUB on Jean Darc St, Hamra, Beirut , Lebanon.. Excellent Location. Just Move in with your luggage! There is also private parking.

    I am renting this apartment out because i am presently out of Lebanon, but you can reach me on 002348067470507. We can further discuss details on phone. I am a volunteer for Anti-HIV campaign programs. I really hope that you will take good care of the apartment. The utilities in the house are maintained from the rent. It is a private apartment, all for you…it has a TV and internet.

    The apartment was furnished to my taste and that is why i want you to take good care of it as if it were yours. You can be rest assured that the apartment will be available for your desired duration of stay if you make a deposit payment now because i am not in town and will not be there anytime soon. I did not entrust the apartment in the care of any agent or anyone. The keys of the apartment are here with me.

    I will send you the keys and documents of the house once you make an initial deposit.
    Get back to me ASAP. If you are interested in renting the house, i will send you the application form so that i can have and verify your information before renting out the apartment to you.

    Fidelis

    Whats funny is that this name comes up in another add here but this time its in america :

    http://chicago.olx.com/tastefully-furnished-apartment-for-rent-iid-37361878

88. 

    Posted by Barbara on Aug 13, 2009 at 01:37pm

    I just inquired about a house for rent on craigslist and sure enough, I have to western union money, 1100.00 and they will send keys and house documents by DHL. It is a small house and the rental price seemed legit, but the email I got back was from some guy, who was in an accident in the States, lost his wife etc. When I asked if I could see the inside of the house he told me I would have to go to the house and look in the windows. I am waiting to hear back from the woman who really owns the house.

89. 

    Posted by Jodie on Aug 13, 2009 at 01:56pm

    Me again, My sis and I are looking for a place but landed on relatively priced 2 bed 2 bath place for $1200 in the hood the normal range is $1400 plus $1800! I wrote and got a swift reply only to read the usual gabbage, that due a transfer for Missionary work, we are here in WEST AFRICA! These guys are a waste of time!

    These NIGERIANS ARE __________________ GOD SHOULD SAVE THEIR SOULS!!!
    THEY NEED SALVATION!

90. 

    Posted by Jodie on Aug 13, 2009 at 02:11pm

    The guy has had the audacity to write back.

    Check this garbage

    Hello Tenant,

    Thanks for your email and interest in the property.. I personally own the property and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that made me and my wife to leave the property and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in west Africa, our new house and also with the keys and documents of thehouse, we try to look fo r an agent that we can give this documents before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our property to be used any how in our present that is why we took it along with us. I and my wife came over to West Africa for a missionary work, so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house. kindly get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. The rent fee is included all the utilities . I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application form to fill out and discuss on how to get the property for rent.

    God bless you

    Look at the English and grammar! I don’t know if they know that taking God’s name in vain is sin!!

91. 

    Posted by Jason on Aug 14, 2009 at 12:20pm

    I got this from a response to a rental house in Berkley, MI.

    “Thanks for your response and interest in my house.

    The house is very much available and it is a large 3 bedrooms and 2 bathroom house. Which was formally occupied by me and my family before we left for Nigeria for a pastoral duty, we left for a volunteer mission together with other missionaries for a development program with the aim of developing the people of west Africa physically and spiritually as God as directed us. We wanted to sell the house initially but we later changed our mind after we discovered that we wouldn’t be spending more then 5 years here in Africa.

    So as you know where the house is located at 2233 Beverly Blvd, Berkley MI 48072 Which my family and I have spent so much time and money to maintain it up till its standard. We have been trying our best to make the house as clean as possible, because am a clean person and we don’t like dirt around our surroundings and also the Bible says cleanliness is next to Godliness.

    So we are looking for a well-behaved, clean and honest tenant to rent out our house too. So will like you to give us your word and promise us that you will take good care of our house so that we will be happy when we come to visit you in the future.. We accept short or long-term rent and it’s month by month.. All the utilities are included in the rent.. Pets are allowed. So kindly get back to us with this information below.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: _________________
    LAST NAME: __________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    (CELL)PHONE () __________
    (CELL)PHONE () _____________________
    (WORK)PHONE () __________
    KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _______________
    STATE: ______________
    ZIPCODE: _______________ HOW LONG? ______________IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?
    IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
    HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? _______________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
    IF YOU HAVE A PET,
    NAME OF PET: _____________
    KIND OF PETS: _____________
    HABITS
    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 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 do not see our self’s 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 hear from you. you can give us a call on our cell phone number: 0112348029886104

    Best Regards
    0112348029886104(call anytime)
    Note: the Rent is $700 and security deposit is $600
    Total Move In Cost:$1300″

    Sent from this email: hogan.family@sify.com

92. 

    Posted by Diane Gordon on Aug 19, 2009 at 07:23am

    Enquiring minds wanna know. On what planet do people not know that Nigerians are the most talented scam artists in the known universe? There is probably some guy in Lagos who sells copies of the fake rental application, along with instructions.

93. 

    Posted by Danni B on Aug 22, 2009 at 02:09pm

    DAMMIT, This is for a house listing in Atlanta. We also called them and spoke to them and sent back the rental application. My instinct told me to google the phone number.. 0112348029886104 and it brought me to this website. Thanks for the heads up!!

    …………………..
    Thanks for your response and interest in my house.

    The house is very much available and it is a large 4 bedrooms and 4 bathroom house. Which was formally occupied by me and my family before we left for Nigeria for a pastoral duty, we left for a volunteer mission together with other missionaries for a development program with the aim of developing the people of west Africa physically and spiritually as God as directed us. We wanted to sell the house initially but we later changed our mind after we discovered that we wouldn’t be spending more then 5 years here in Africa. Regarding seeing the inside of our home, we would be able to send you current pictures of our home if you are really interested to rent.

    So as you know where the house is located at 2205 Edison Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30305 Which my family and I have spent so much time and money to maintain it up till its standard. We have been trying our best to make the house as clean as possible, because am a clean person and we don’t like dirt around our surroundings and also the Bible says cleanliness is next to Godliness.
    So we are looking for a well-behaved, clean and honest tenant to rent out our house too. So will like you to give us your word and promise us that you will take good care of our house so that we will be happy when we come to visit you in the future.. We accept short or long-term rent and it’s month by month.. All the utilities are included in the rent.. Pets are allowed. So kindly get back to us with this information below.

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: _________________
    LAST NAME: __________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    (CELL)PHONE () __________
    (CELL)PHONE () _____________________
    (WORK)PHONE () __________
    KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
    PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
    CITY: _______________
    STATE: ______________
    ZIPCODE: _______________ HOW LONG? ______________IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?
    IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
    HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? _______________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
    IF YOU HAVE A PET,
    NAME OF PET: _____________
    KIND OF PETS: _____________
    HABITS
    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 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 do not see our self’s 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 hear from you. you can give us a call on our cell phone number: 0112348029886104

    Best Regards
    0112348029886104(call anytime)
    Note: the Rent is $900 and security deposit is $700
    Total Move In Cost:$1600

94. 

    Posted by Richard on Aug 27, 2009 at 01:01pm

    I received the same SCAM and I think is good put here to help people avoid this:

    Hello,
    Thanks for your email and interest in my Apartment so fill out my form below and we can go from there, since i am not residing there for now,I left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent,DVD player,ipod,Airconditioning,alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils,refrigerator-freezer,four-hob and oven, microwave,dishwasher and washing machine, my computer connected with Internet access also the keys and document of the apartment are right here with me in West Africa,Nigeria as i am here on a missionary work and the lease documents. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue, hope you are okay with the price of 100Gbp per week including utilities like hydro, heat laundry facilities, aircondition and so on, but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important to me, if you are really interested renting this apartment fill the application below and get back to me with the answers,Moreover as a man of God i intend to do my things with soft kindered heart and i will like you to be free with me.
    Bedrooms 1
    Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial
    Sq Footage 600
    Parking 1 dedicated
    Pet Policy Pets Allowed
    Location…….17 Pigg Lane, Norwich, NR3 1RS,United Kingdom

    Note…….YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO VIEW INSIDE OF THE APARTMENT,BUT YOU CAN VIEW IT FROM OUTSIDE.

    ********RENT APPLICATION FORM*******
    ********PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL*********
    Also,Pls answer these questions below:
    1)Your Full Name_________________________ ____________
    2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone ___________________
    3)How old are you___________________________
    4)Are you married _ _____________________________ _____
    5)How many people will be living in the apartment __ _________________
    6)Do you have a pet ____ __________________________ __________
    7)Do you have a car _______ _______________________ ____________
    8)Occupation ____________ _________________
    9)What is your religion __ ____________________________ _________
    10)How long are you willing to stay _______ ____________________-
    11)When do you intend to move in ___
    12)1 month Or 2 month deposit needed ___________________________
    13)Picture of you or Occupants……——————–
    I personally will come visiting you sometime during the
    year as our new tenant. Looking forward to hear from you with all this
    details so that i can have it in my file in case of issueing the
    reciept for you and contacting you. Awaiting your reply so that we can
    discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you.
    Thanks And God Bless.
    Rev Martin Noble
    +2348023917216

95. 

    Posted by Anonymous on Aug 27, 2009 at 11:18pm

    This happened to me too in Berkeley, CA.

96. 

    Posted by Kelly on Aug 31, 2009 at 08:16am

    This happend to me too in Texas. I have spent hours on the phone with prospective renters who are not able to determine the ad was a scam. Sorry, I’m not the sharpest pencil in the drawer but I had that figured out from just looking at the ad and the rental price.

97. 

    Posted by M. Spare on Aug 31, 2009 at 11:31am

    I had someone try to rent my out house on craigslist. We kept having people come to the house wanted to see it, and someone told us it was on craigslist. We found it and started email as though we were interested. Pretty much the same as others have said here. He claimed to be my husband and a missionary in Nigeria, and wanted 2 months of rent. I reported it to the state police. I just hope there aren’t some people who actually believe and send payment.

98. 

    Posted by Idan on Aug 31, 2009 at 12:34pm

    I’ve been getting lots of scammers while trying to find a place in Barcelona.
    Check this one out…he uses the same addree (though different story) as an earlier example.

    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

    Hi ,

    thanks for the message. I attached all the pics i have of the apartment to show that it is fully furnished. I will be renting this 48sqm apartment out per month, all bills inclusive.

    The house is located on

    Close to Plaza Espanya and Montjuic Magic Founts with spectacular show
    of water, light and music. Times in Metro to different sites :
    Las Ramblas : 8 min.
    Passeig de Gracia : 10 min.
    Gothic town : 10 min.Sagrada
    Familia of Gaudi : 15 min.
    Barceloneta beach : 15 min.

    Address: 36 Badal, Barcelona 08014, Spain

    Nearest Metro / Subway: Given below also
    Plaza Espanya – 100 Meters Nearest Bus / Tramway:
    Plaza Espanya – 100 Meters
    Nearest Airport: El Prat – 12 Kilometers

    I am renting this apartment out because i am presently out of town, but you can reach me on 00234808613186. We can further discuss details on phone. I am a volunteer for Anti-HIV campaign programs.. I really hope that you will take good care of the apartment. The utilities in the house are maintained from the rent. It is a private apartment, all for you…it has a TV and internet.

    The apartment was furnished to my taste and that is why i want you to take good care of it as if it were yours. You can be rest assured that the apartment will be available for your desired duration of stay if you make a deposit payment now because i am not in town and will not be there anytime soon. I did not entrust the apartment in the care of any agent or anyone. The keys of the apartment are here with me.

    I will send you the keys and documents of the house once you make an initial deposit.
    Get back to me ASAP. If you are interested in renting the house, i will send you the application form so that i can have and verify your information before renting out the apartment to you.

    Alan

99. 

    Posted by Louise on Sep 01, 2009 at 10:41pm

    While looking on Craigslist for rentals for my daughter, I came across an add for rents in a nice area that was also to good to be true. But not thinking scam I responded thinking the $1000 rent was a typo…the response was very similar to what everyone on this website has stated. While I don’t intend to send any money, I intend to play along with this jerk a bit. These people are something else and more annoying is to use GOD in their verbiage to sell their scams…Sick!!!

100. 

     Posted by Dean on Sep 02, 2009 at 01:22pm

     I recently encountered this scam in Canada: all the same elements, great place at an absolute blow out price, strange story about how the apartment can’t be shown right off, actual photos of the real building copied from a legitimate listing. A few new wrinkles to this one though: The person e-mailing me claimed to work for a Canadian high tech firm, Adastra, and even provided a link to the coporate website, which is an actual legitimate firm. This gives it just a little extra touch of credibility. The e-mail even showed up as Adastra Corp in my inbox. Closer inspection revealed it was a yahoo address with a user name Adastra34, which anybody can do. There was also a story explaining why they weren’t going through a rental agent, that they had tried that, but he had stolen all the furniture out of the apartment. My tip off’s were the yahoo e-mail with an attempt to make it look corporate and the country code on the phone number he gave was 234, which is Nigeria (he didn’t mention Nigeria in his e-mail). Besides, who the hell doesn’t go through either an agent or the Condo corp.? But it’s a great scam: You’re suspicous but it’s such a great deal it’s tempting to grab the bait.

101. 

     Posted by DaLeeta on Sep 07, 2009 at 08:47am

     This exact same thing just happened to me!! I am so glad that I found this website! I saw this really nice house on Craigslist and was so excited about how inexpensive it was so I contacted this guy about it. Here is the complete couple of email conversations, you can tell where I get suspicious:

     To: nikolasdd48@yahoo.com
     Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 11:40 PM

     Hello,
     We saw your add on Craigs list for the 4 bedroom home for rent. Can we get an address so that we can ride by and see if it is in the local we are looking for and to see if it is large enough for us?

     Thank you so much!

     From: Nickolas Dixon
     Sent: Sun, Sep 6, 2009 11:08 pm
     Subject: Re: Fwd: Rental

     Thanks for the email. I own the house and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer to West Africa (Nigeria), that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean all the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own..So for now we are here in Lagos, Nigeria and will be staying here for the next 4 years in our new house and am also with the keys of the house for rent, we try to look for an agent that we can give this documents and the keys before we left but could not find, and we as well do not want our house to be used any how in our absence that is why we took it along with us. I and my wife came over to Africa for a missionary work, so i hope you will promise us that you will take very good care of the house. So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. Located at 401 Pelican Bay Drive Daytona Beach, FL 32119

     SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE
     RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW.

     RENT APPLICATION FORM.
     Pls let me get this answers.
     1)Your Full Name
     2)Your Full Address
     3)Your Phone Number
     4)How old are you?
     5)Are you married?
     6)How many people will be living in the house?
     7)Do you have a car?
     8)Occupation?
     9)When do you intend moving in?
     10)How long will you like to rent the property?

     Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase 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 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.

     Thanks and Remain Blessed.
     Regards.

     To: nikolasdd48@yahoo.com
     Date: Monday, September 7, 2009, 3:33 AM

     Thank you for your reply. The house looks very beautiful from the pictures on Craigs List. Let me tell you a bit about us. My husband and I have 3 teenagers that are very well behaved. We are a Christian Family and are selling our home so we have to move. We have lived in our home for over 16 years. Should we rent the home I promise that it will be treated with the best care as I am very picky about my home. Is there someone that can meet us with a key or is there a lock box on the door? I will answer all of your questions below:

     Not publishing the personal answers to the questions he asked:::::

     How much of a deposit are you requiring? The rent is 800.00 per month, correct? Do you allow animals? We have a small dog (Corgi) and a cat both of which are completely house trained.

     Looking very forward to hearing from you again!

     From: Nickolas Dixon
     Sent: Mon, Sep 7, 2009 12:33 am
     Subject: Re: Rental
     Thanks for getting back to me with the Rent Application Form. I am writing with happiness to let you know that we have decided to let you live in our house. As we have found your application very satisfactory and acceptable by my family. So we would want you to go through this email and get back to us on what you feel so we could proceed in renting the house to you.We would like to send the following documents and keys to you via FedEx to your current address and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possibly occupy our house, The package includes:

     1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
     2) Paper/Permanent house form
     3) The house documetary file.
     4) Full Description of the house
     5) Payment Receipt

     Please once again, we are giving you this on trust and do not dissapoint. We are with the above document and keys here with us. You will need to make Payment for the security deposit of $600 to enable the shippment of the Keys and document to the address you have to provide to us, so that you can secure the house, afterwhich you could move in at your convenience. Then after you have secured the house with the deposit mentioned, I will now prepare the lease agreement form in which both of us will sign and file for record purpose. Thanks and hope to read from you asap.
     Note: Small dog and cat are welcome.

     To: nikolasdd48@yahoo.com
     Date: Monday, September 7, 2009, 5:12 AM

     We are very excited about this news but have a couple questions that we would like to ask of you since we cannot meet you. We would like to look at the home first before we make an agreement. I am sure that we will love it but in order to make a permanent agreement we would like to see it first as I am sure you can understand. If we do decide to rent the home, how will we get the rent/deposit to you? Are you in Nigeria with a church? May I ask which church? Can you tell me what an average cost of electric and water bill is in this home? Is your name Nickolas Dixon? Is this your home or are you renting it for a family member? Do you have someone local that has a key so that they can meet us over there to look at the home? Maybe your church? I hope you dont mine me asking but I feel we need to get to know each other better (via email) if we are going to be taking care of your home. I am looking so forward to this!
     Looking very forward to hearing back from you!

     I WAS TRYING TO GET CHURCH INFO SO I COULD CALL A CHURCH TO VERIFY IF THIS MAN WAS BEING STRAIGHT UP.. I DID LOOK HIM UP ON THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR SITE AND THE HOUSE IS OWNED BY DIXONS BUT THE FIRST NAMES WERE DIFFERENT, THUS, MY QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM OWNING THE HOUSE. GUESS THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK TOO…

     From: Nickolas Dixon
     Sent: Mon, Sep 7, 2009 1:39 am
     Subject: Re: Rental

     Yes thats my name and I own the house, you can drive by tomorrow to the see the outside but there is no one with the keys to let you in and show you the inside of the house. Once the deposit is made, I will be sending the keys and document of the house down to you so that you can see things for yourself inside the house. The utilities are included in the monthly rent. Me and my wife recieved a calling from God that we should go into missionaries and change the world for better, We did not come to Africa with a church.please make sure you take very good care of the house when you have finally move in okay.

     You will be sending the deposit by western union at any of their local agency or grocery stores around you to the information below so that I can instruct my shipping agent to complete the shipment of the package.

     PAYMENT INFORMATION:

     Payment receiver’s name: Nickolas Dixon
     Receiver’s address: 187,Maryland,Ikeja
     City: Lagos ,
     Country: Nigeria
     Zip: 23401
     Payment transfer Test Question: Who is the Greatest
     Payment transfer Test Answer: GOD

     I will want you to get back to me with the Western Union Information given to you

     1.Full senders name :
     2. Senders full address :
     3. MTCN ( 10 digits ) :
     4. Test question and Answer :
     5. Amount sent :

     Thanks and hope to read from you as soon as possible.
     God Bless You.

     HE PLAYED THIS DOWN TO THE LAST SECOND!!! DOES ANYONE KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? PROBABLY NOT SINCE THEY ARE NOT IN THE COUNTRY. OH, I DID GO BACK ONTO CRAIGLIST TO REPORT THIS BUT THE HOUSE WAS ALREADY REMOVED FROM THERE.
     BEWARE PEOPLE!!!!!!! I ALMOST GOT LOST HOOK LINE AND SINKER UNTIL I FOUND OUT THAT THE UTILITIES WERE INCLUDED TOO!!!!

102. 

     Posted by Maggie on Sep 08, 2009 at 08:52am

     The ad –

     $700 / 3br – HOUSE FOR RENT (VANCOUVER WA )

     —————————————————————————-Date: 2009-09-07, 4:26PM PDT
     Reply to: bachlejefferys@yahoo.com [Errors when replying to ads?]

     —————————————————————————-

     13802 63RD ST VANCOUVER WA

     this beautiful two story single family home!! Comes with ALL of the following appliances; front loading washer/dryer, stove/oven, dishwasher, refrigerator and a microwave. New carpet and a gas fireplace in the family room. All bedrooms are upstairs with high ceilings and large windows. Master has a walk-in closet.

     Schools include Pioneer, Frontier and Union

     RENTAL FEATURES

     Central heat Fireplace Walk-in closet
     Family room Living room Dishwasher
     Refrigerator Stove/Oven Microwave
     Washer Dryer Laundry area – inside
     Balcony, Deck, or Patio Yard Cable-ready

     COMMUNITY FEATURES

     Garage parking

     cats are OK – purrr
     dogs are OK – wooof
     Location: VANCOUVER WA

     The email –

     Subject: $700 / 3br – HOUSE FOR RENT (VANCOUVER WA )
     To: bachlejefferys@yahoo.com
     Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 12:06 AM

     Is this place seriously 700 a month?

     http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/apa/1363074385.html

     The Reply –

     Re: $700 / 3br – HOUSE FOR RENT (VANCOUVER WA )‏
     From: NEILS TIFFANY (bachlejefferys@yahoo.com)
     Sent: Tue 9/08/09 7:45 AM

     Hi,
     I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist. The house is still available but presently I’m not around.. I did bid for a portion of petroleum land
     sometimes ago in West Africa and fortunately I won the bidding so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up because I will still have to rebid
     for it in the next 10 years. I came over here with my wife, we both bought the house when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the
     house so I have to look for an agent, after getting one, we got a deal but later my wife advised against that. She said we may not be able to win the bidding next
     time, in other to keep our head when we return that we have to keep the house. I reasoned with her and accepted her advise. So I contacted the agent back and requested
     for my keys and documents. Later we decided to have the house rent out, we would have give the same agent this job also but the truth of the matter is that the agent
     would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are
     offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no
     way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy
     the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if
     you belief you can take good care of the house and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to
     let you rent the house.

     Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purpose

     PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
     Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( ) ________________________
     Date of Birth_________________________________
     Other Phone ( ) ___________________
     Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
     Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
     Are you married____________________________
     How many people will be living in the house____________________________
     How many people will be living in the house____________________________
     Do you have a pet____________________________
     Do you have a car____________________________
     Occupation____________________________
     How soon can you have the deposit payment sent to me_________________________
     How soon do you want to receive the keys________________________________________
     Move In Date____________________________

     House Address
     13802 63RD ST VANCOUVER WA

     Description
     this beautiful two story single family home!! Comes with ALL of the following appliances; front loading washer/dryer, stove/oven, dishwasher, refrigerator and a microwave. New carpet and a gas fireplace in the family room. All bedrooms are upstairs with high ceilings and large windows. Master has a walk-in closet.
     Schools include Pioneer, Frontier and Union
     RENTAL FEATURES
     Features
     Central heat Fireplace Walk-in closet
     Family room Living room Dishwasher
     Refrigerator Stove/Oven Microwave
     Washer Dryer Laundry area – inside
     Balcony, Deck, or Patio Yard Cable-ready

     COMMUNITY FEATURES

     Garage parking

     No Smoking

     Rent:$700 Deposit:$700

     Best Regards

     NEILS

     YOU CAN REACH ME ON THE NUMBERS BELOW
     +234-806-077-8261 OR 011-234-806-077-8261

     Um yeah, i don’t think so!

103. 

     Posted by Kristina on Sep 09, 2009 at 08:06pm

     I am an owner and am now recieving phone calls from people who have seen my place for substantially less than what I am offering to rent it for. The ads come down quickly once someone asks too many questions. I find this very disturbing and not sure what I can do about it. Anyone have suggestions

104. 

     Posted by Alexander on Sep 15, 2009 at 02:21pm

     Hi all,

     The same’s in Paris. An exact copy of “husband in Nigeria” thing. Here’s the e-mail I’ve got in response to my mail about a very cheap studio advertised on Craigslist.

     ”
     Hello,

     I will quickly give you a simple description of the apartment so that you can decide if it is ok for your schedule or not. The one bedroom studio apartment was furnished to the taste of every modern day business minded person. I and my husband wanted to use it personally when he was transferred to work there but he was later transferred to Victoria Garden city, Lagos Nigeria, so we left together with the keys and locked up the place since we still have all our valuable things inside the apartment.

     I am originally from St. Andrews Scotland but I fell in love with an African man so I married him, we have been married for close to 20years now and we have a lovely kids, a boys and a girl, My husband is a music producer and he is an hardworking man and is always on themove so I am left to take care of the issue of getting a good tenant for the apartment. The apartment will be free for the next 1 year and 5 months and we are ok with any long or shot term rental.

     Address Apartment: Rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France.

     The apartment is loaded with all the utilities like, wireless Internet, electricity, water, refrigerator, water heater, Laundry Facilities, Parking Available, Satellite TV, stove and Oven. Every thing is included in the rental of 500 Euro. We made the rent low so that the tenant can help us take good care of the place for the time we will be away.

     The entire floors are made of polished fine woods and it needs cleaning regularly to keep it in form and shining. The fancy lights bring out the beauty at night. The picture on the wall of the bedroom cost us a lot and need care in handling it. The bed is large enough for 2/3 persons to sleep and the floor will need constant cleaning as well.

     When I visited him I was fascinated by the kitchen materials I saw so I equipped my kitchen to the taste of every one that love cooking. But if you don’t want to cook make sure the kitchen is clean and every thing locked up safe for me.

     The bathroom is made of woods all thru and it has every thing you can think of except I don’t know that thing you need there that was not included. There is even a cosmetic shelf in the bathroom and it is for both males and females.

     If you are staying for up to 1 year 1 month rent will be paid in advance, and if you are staying for bellow 5 months 1-month rent will be paid in advance if you are staying for just a month maybe we will talk about that after I get your mail. If every thing suits your taste get back to me and let me know so that I can talk over with my husband and get back to you.

     Have a nice day,
     Rachel
     “

105. 

     Posted by erina on Sep 22, 2009 at 01:13am

     omg…i responded to an ad on craigslist, too in San Diego just the other day, and got some of the exact parts of some letters that you all posted. I thought it sounded too good to be true. Especially when both my husband and I had emailed 2 different properties, and got the exact letter back. How could the same “home owner” (obviously) have left from 2 different homes? such a red flag. this is the letter that i got:

     Hello

     Thanks for your response regarding your interest in having my house for rent.The house is much available for now and it a 3 bedroom home..I want you to know that i am the owner of this building situated at 8377 Katherine Claire Lane San Diego, CA 92127 .But i am now presently in West Africa for my Hospitals Project prayer crusade with my wife and we have the keys right here with us.I will like to inform you that it was due to my transfer that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own..So for now,We are here in West Africa,NIGERIA our new house and also with the keys of the house,we are trying to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our house to be used any how in our absent that is why we took it along with us here.We are only willing to give the house out to a lovely and caring family only, so if you know you cannot give the house the neatness it deserves please don’t contact me.But if you promise to always take good care of the house,get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting a home.Hope you are okay with the monthly price of $1000 with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air-condition Etc.I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP, below is the application form for you to fill and discuss on how to get the house for rent..
     Kindly confirm your interest by filling the form below:
     TENANT RENT APPLICATION
     FIRST NAME: __________________
     MIDDLE NAME: __________________
     LAST NAME: __________________
     PROFESSION: ________________
     PHONE (____) __________ (CELL)
     PHONE (____) __________ (WORK)
     PHONE (____) __________ (HOME)
     MARITAL STATUS: _________
     KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
     Home ADDRESS: ___________________________
     CITY: _______________
     STATE: ______________
     ZIPCODE: ____________
     HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING
     WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? _______________________________________________________________________
     CURRENT RENT: _______
     IF THIS House IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
     HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
     WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________

     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 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.

     You could contact me asap.
     (+234-802-859-3562 OR 011-234-802-859-3562)

     what a joke. sigh….

106. 

     Posted by nelson on Sep 22, 2009 at 03:15am

     hi people.
     i live in zurich, switzerland.
     and, well… that happened to me too.

     well, didn’t happen, of course, but i was curious enough to pursue it.
     and the guy even called me and all that, from a nigerian number (or so it appeared as my called I.D.).

     i did suspect the tone and all the ‘god bless you’s but… it’s person-to-person, so you do want to believe. however, i contacted another poster whose reply was also similar and ‘blessful’ and from nigeria… hm, the plot… thins. lol

     by the way, and i don’t know if this is another one, but i also contacted a guy who had to move to egypt and said he’d only come to zurich to, er, give me the key (based on his pictures and my wishful thinking, i imagine) AFTER i’d given him a bank deposit. o well.

     god bless me indeed.

     just wanted to share this non-experience with you.
     so, my guys’ names were donald jude and reina williams lol.

     and i found this blog because i was just googling the alleged lawyer’s name. as if. lol

     thank you for starting this thread!

     by
     nelson

107. 

     Posted by nelson on Sep 22, 2009 at 03:17am

     p.s. – and this one is really recent. like, the guy called me an hour ago, so… the legend lives on!

108. 

     Posted by Tina on Sep 23, 2009 at 06:23pm

     Hi,

     I just got one from Craiglist. Thanks for saving me the troubles.

     http://toronto.craigslist.ca/tor/apa/1387613965.html

     Subject: Re: $900 / 2br – LOVELY APARTMENT FOR RENT IN TORONTO (TORONTO)

     Hi

     Thanks for the email. Am the owner the house and I also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my family to leave the house. I want to give it out for rent and I and my wife is Looking for a responsible,dedicated, committed and trustworthy person that can take very good care of the as we are not after the money for the rent but we want it to be clean at the time it is rented out and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now,we have moved to Berlin (Germany) into our new house and also with the keys and documents of the apartment is with us, we try to look for an agent that we can give this documents and keys before we left but we were unable to to get one. That is why we took with us the documents and keys of the apartment. I want you to know that am currently on a trip to West Africa now on a business trip. So I hope you will promise us that you will surely take good care of take very good care of the apartment once you rent it. So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting an apartment. And the apartment is going to be available for rent for the next 5 years.

     The Location of the apartment is given below:

     140 Cowan Ave, apt # 4
     Toronto, ON, Canada

     The price of the apartment is 900 Dollars per month and the apartment contains an area of study, with WI-FI Internet service,telephone service, a hall-dining room and a kitchen totally equipped with electrical oven, microwave, washing machine, refrigerator, washing machine and dryer. The hall-dining room is totally outer and has ample large windows with to the terrace where you can enjoy the wonderful views of the apartment taking advantage of the light in the apartment. Also it has a system of refrigeration and heating in all the apartment being able to enjoy the temperature you wish at any moment. It has a private parking in the same property.
     Await your swift response as soon as possible. And if you are really sure that you want the apartment for rent then fill out the rent
     application form that is attached to this email and get back to me with the filled rent form via email as soon as possible.Then we can arrange on how the keys and documents of the apartment will be sent over to you via express courier service.

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

     ********PRIVATE &CONFIDENTIAL********

     Please answer these questions below if you are Interested

     1)Your Full Name_________________________ ____________
     2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone ________________________ _______
     3)How old are you_____________________________
     4)Are you married _ _____________________________ _____
     5)How many people will be living in the apartment __ _________________________
     6)Do you have a pet ____ __________________________ ___________
     7)Do you have a car _______ _______________________ ____________
     8)Occupation ____________ _________________
     9)What is your religion __ ____________________________ ______________
     10)How long are you willing to stay _______ ____________________-
     11)When do you intend to move in ___
     12)1 month Or 2 month deposit needed ______________________________

     Reference
     Name:
     Address:
     Telephone Number:
     Relationship:

     I hereby represent that all of the above information is true, accurate and complete, and hereby of the authorize verification over items, including but not limited to the obtaining of a credit report/and or recovery of monetary claims, and agree to furnish additional credit references on request.

     DATE………… APPLICANT SIGNATURE/NAME…………….

     You can also give me a call on this phone number 0112348036453699 or +2348036453699. I hope to read from you as soon as possible. Awaiting your swift response now.

     Cheers!

     Mike

109. 

     Posted by Brandee on Sep 25, 2009 at 07:49am

     I am so sick to my stomach over this. I am a single mother with 4 boys ages 17-6. I have no place to live and been looking and looking for a apartment or house rental. EVERYTHING is so expensive. Someone I work with suggested craigslist rather than rent.com and every other possible site out there. I FOUND the best house and I question everything so was a little leary then after several emails he contacted me. The guy was in Africa on a PEACE project and said I was “GOD SENT” because of my references and jobs. FINALLY I had a smile on my face, went to look at it…looked great and was for sale as he said and the realtor couldnt sell it. One of my friends sent me a HOME scam email then I found this site and OH MY GOODNESS….THE SAME DAMN WORDS and phone number. I think I want to take a trip to Africa and tell this loser what I think. THANK “god” as he would say that I didnt send him the $1500 he was asking for through Western Union. His so called name was Bob Peterson… this is only ONE of the many emails I had from him…. I am posting thios so NO ONE else has to get hurt!!! My kids had their HOPES up on actually living somewhere besides a campground!!!

     Anyone want to take a flight with me??? ARGH!!!

     Email from Africa – Bob Peterson who is a “peace worker”

     Thanks for the mail,i am glad to read from you and i am really happy that i have finally found a new tenant to my house,Well like i told you in my preevious email that i am with the keys and documents to the house and i will want you to go and look at the sorroundings of the house at your convinence time,You can go ahaed and the security deposit then onec you receive the keys and documents you can send the rest of the money.

     Below is the information you will use in sending the money,the money should be sent Via Western Union Money Transfer .You can do that at any groccery store close to you.

     HERE IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION
     RECEIVER’S NAME:Bob Peterson
     RECEIVER’S ADDRESS:101 Osolo Road
     CITY:ISOLO
     STATE:LAGOS.
     COUNTRY :NIGERIA
     ZIP 23401
     Get back to me with the following detailS as soon as the payment is made,so that I can proceed in seding the package to you.
     SENDER’S NAME:
     SENDER’S ADDRESS”
     AMOUNT SENT:
     MTCN:
     TEST QUESTION?
     ANSWER:
     ` I will be waiting to hear`from you with the Payment details.
     Remain blessed

110. 

     Posted by Judith Caesar on Oct 05, 2009 at 08:44am

     I was wondering if anyone has been scammed by a Jerry Miles at the above website a few brokers stated that he was taking advantage of people with bad credit stating to lender that money for a down payment of $800 and asking for personal bank information. He sent me a contract his address is area 7 garki abujin Nigeria

111. 

     Posted by chirag amla on Oct 06, 2009 at 05:40am

     Similar case, here the guy diverts me to his wife… with the below mail…

     Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Rev ,the owner of the apartment you are making inquiry of.Actually I resided in the apartment with my family,such as my wife and my only daughter before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in UK and presently my apartment is still available for rent for $120 per week and a bond of $500 including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnished. More so Now, i went for a Crusade in the?west Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the UK for more discussion as She is with the keys and the document to the apartment.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word. Email my wife Victoria on(victoriahouston15@gmail.com ) she will attends to you better. Request for the picture from my wife.

112. 

     Posted by jessmundo on Oct 08, 2009 at 02:39pm

     Well the guy is tryng to do it now in NYc!!! He even send me the address and a phone number …. his email:

     Hi there, its really nice to hear back from you. So incase you are willing to proceed with the rental. The building is in a great location situated in the quiet and safe area and offers secure access. Internet, Cable, Laundry in-suite, Storage facilities, heat, water are included in the rent. Attached are the interior pictures for you to have an idea how beautiful and spacious the inside looks.So get back to me with your final decision and let me know If you are ready to proceed with the rental so that i can forward the rental application form to you to fill. Also the lease is available for either long or short term it depends on how long you wish to stay in the place.

     NB – I have attached the pictures for you to see because i wont be able to show you the apartment in person anytime soon, and also there is no agent/friends i can trust with the key because the last time i did they messed up the place and that cost me much to set it up again so let me know when you are willing to proceed with the application form so that we can proceed from there. And pets are also welcomed in the apartment, and Its actually a 2 bedroom i am just renting out one of the rooms to you so that you can have access to the apartment and take care of it. Kindly go and check out the exterior and get back to me if it suits you for living. You can reach me on +2348075938401 for more informations, you will have to contact via email or phone incase of any problem and it will be fix immediately.Concerning the key, you will have to pay for the first month rent and security deposit so that i can send the keys to you via courier services. The mode of payment accepted is via western union.

     I look forward to hearing from you.
     Regards.

     As soon as I read Western Union …I knew it… hope he gets caught!!!

113. 

     Posted by niall on Oct 11, 2009 at 06:55am

     He’s trying it in boston too! I got the same email as JessMundo today!

     I was slightly suspicious and I found this site by googling the phone number he listed in his email – lucky break!

     Niall

114. 

     Posted by Sean on Oct 11, 2009 at 02:23pm

     Thats pretty funny I got a similar email in Oxford, UK.

     Hi,
     Thanks for your email response, i am so excited you are interested in my apartment which i am giving out for rent. Actually the apartment is still very much available for rent. I resided in the apartment with my Husband and our 2 years son,Before we relocated here in Nigeria due to my Husband new post as the leading Evangelist here with CHURCH OF GOD THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
     The apartment is available for 500 per Monthly including the utilities, which i think is not too much, i just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to occupy the home and put all my worries off concerning the maintainance of the apartment . Since i am not residing there again. As i told you earlier in the apartment listing.

     The accommodation comprises of 2 Bedrooms, Bathroom. Kitchen,Breakfast room,Bedroom, Bathroom and a separate WC..Facilities Internet connection,Electronics like satellite TV and which you have to pay for the subscription, a sony DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system ETC.

     The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine.
     Also the keys to the flat are right here with me, and the document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accomplished.

     Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue , but your absolute maintenance of the apartment , because that is the only valuable property. So i wouldn’t want an violation of my property if finally rented by you. I will like you to treat the apartment as your own okay.Here is the location”"”"58 St Thomas’ Street, Oxford, OX1 1JP, UK

     INFORMATION BELOW IS NEEDED TO DELIVER THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS
     APPLICATION FORM.
     1)Your Full Name
     2)Your Full Address
     3)How old are you?
     4)Are you married?
     5)How many people will be living in the home?
     6)Do you have a pet?
     7)Do you have a car?
     8)Occupation?
     9)Contact number
     10)When are you willing to move in?
     11)When are you willing to move out?
     Pets are no problem.

     I will be waiting for your mail so that we can to start to commence on how to the keys and document..
     Best Regards.

115. 

     Posted by Jacqui on Oct 18, 2009 at 10:44pm

     THANK GOD I just did a search on the wife’s email address & found this site!! I just received the following reply an hour ago:

     Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Rev ,the owner of the apartment you are making inquiry of.Actually I resided in the apartment with my family,such as my wife and my only daughter before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in UK and presently my apartment is still available for rent for $120 per week and a bond of $500 including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnished. More so Now, i went for a Crusade in the? New York and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the UK for more discussion as She is with the keys and the document to the apartment.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word. Email my wife Victoria on(victoriahouston15@gmail.com ) she will attends to you better. Request for the picture from my wife. Here is my number to call anytime..+12016683512

     Look familiar “chirag amla”???

116. 

     Posted by Jacqui on Oct 19, 2009 at 03:38am

     I JUST RECEIVED A REPLY FROM “VICTORIA”:

     Its very Nice to Read from you,My name is Victoria wife of Rev owner of the 1 Bedroom flat for rent on 483 SWANSTON STREET MELBOURNE, VIC wants to be rented out,so we are looking for a responsible person that can take Very Good care of the flat..My husband in respect who owned the flat and I also want you to know that it was due to my husband Missionary Transfer that made us to leave the flat,so we want you to take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now I am now at UK,and more also i am with the keys and documents of the flat,We try to look for an agent or friends that we can give this Keys and document before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our flat to be used any how in our Absent that is why i brought the keys along with me here.As you know that,my husband over in West Africa for his Job is also wanting a good tenant,so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the flat.

     So pls get back to me on how you could take care of our flat or perhaps experience you have in renting apartments, My husband how ever told me that you spoke like a lovly person to him in the first e-mail you wrote to him,Hope you are okay with the price of $120 aud per week with utilities like :- Stove -Electric ,Refrigerator, Microwave ,Ice Maker ,Full Kitchen ,Coffee maker ,TV /VCR,Stereo ,Phone ,Linens provided ,High Speed Internet ,CD Player ,Cable/Satellite TV,Double/twin zip & link beds and a child’s cot can be provided ,Fittedwardrobe, Kitchen Electric hob/oven,Kitchen utensils ,Microwave ,Washer &dryer ,Refrigerator & freezer ,Toaster ,Electric kettle ,Iron and ironing board ,TV & DVD ,Telephone and Fast internet access ,Pedestal Fan ,Free parking.

     I look forward to hearing from you asap so that I can forward you an application to fill out and discuss on how to get the flat for rent,. Looking forward to hear from you soon.and below is the address of the flat, So if you are ok with this pls request for an application form in your next e-mail… am so sorry that i cannot call you because some problems with my ear and cant speak well. Just a little problem God Can take care off, pls bear with me, My husband would be he one to call you once you have filed out the application form..and also you
     could call him…..

     Flat Address :483 SWANSTON STREET MELBOURNE, VIC

     Rent :$120 aud per week/$480 aud per month
     Security Deposit :- $500 aud Refundable once your leaving the Flat

     Thanks

117. 

     Posted by Ruth on Oct 29, 2009 at 01:06pm

     Hey,

     Just thought I’d add my experience. I enquired about an apartment in Whistler, BC that was advertised on Craigslist and this is the response I got.

     It immediately struck me as a scam and I decided to google the phone number which brought me here. Sick wife? New Jersey? I don’t think so. Plus $700 rent for a 1 bdrm apartment over the winter olympics, I wish! Twice that would be good value.

     Hello,
     Warm Greetings to you and your family. My name is BRIAN HOUSTON the owner of the 1bedroom apartment you are making enquiring of and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer and also due to my wife’s Sickness that made us to leave the home and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take good care of the home that makes me my wife and children to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want the property to be kept clean all the time as it is our hard-earned property. If you are honestly interested and will absolutely maintain my property (Taking care of it like yours) as i hope i can put my trust and confidence in you because I earlier wanted to sale the house but had a second thought to rather put it up for rent.I earlier wanted to sale the house but had a second thought to rather put it up for rent. Presently we are here in New jersey, our new house and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the home for, since i am not residing there for now.I left behind some Facilities and electonics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, arefrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave,dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Acess Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the lease document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue,Hope you are okay with the price of $700 per month with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air condition and so on,but your absolute maintenance of my home is most important thing so will want you to get back to me with the Application form below.
     Pls note that you will be viewing the apartment from outside and the documents to the apartment are with me here in New jersey and It is located on a cool, quiet and safe neighbourhood.
     =========== RENT APPLICATION FORM ============
     PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

     Also,Pls answer these questions below:

     1)Your Full Name______________________________________

     2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone Number______________________________

     3)How old are you _____________________________

     4)Are you married ___________________________________

     5)How many people will be living in the house ___________________________

     6)Do you have a pet _________________________________________

     7)Do you have a car __________________________________________

     8)Occupation _________________________________________________

     9)What is your religion ____________________________________________
     10)How long are you willing to stay _________________________________________
     11)When do you intend to move in _________________________________________
     12)1 month Or 2 month deposit needed ______________________________________

     13) Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my home____________________________

     Landing 22′1″ x 5′10″ ( 6.73m x 1.78m )
     Reception room 17′0″ x 16′0″ ( 5.18m x 4.88m )
     Kitchen 13′0″ x 11′0″ ( 3.96m x 3.35m )
     Bathroom 6′10″ x 5′10″ ( 2.08m x 1.78m )
     Guest WC 5′0″ x 2′10″ ( 1.52m x 0.86m )
     Here is my phone number +12016683512 +12016683512 I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are. I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as our new tenant.Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the keys and the documents to you,please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words,We are putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this property of ours and God bless you more as you do this.

     Thanks & God Bless You.
     Brian

118. 

     Posted by Chris on Nov 02, 2009 at 03:20pm

     yeah, no shit. i got the same problem from the lottery scammer sending me an IM on yahoo telling me that they shipped the money to me and gave me the tracking number and it’s bullshit.

119. 

     Posted by Michele on Nov 07, 2009 at 02:03pm

     This same scam just happened to my husband and I in Manassas, Virginia. The scammers are once again using Nigeria and taking the religious angle. They even listed their name as my husbands and said he was a pastor which of course he’s not. See below.
     ____________________________________________________________________

     Thanks for your response and interest in my house.

     The house is very much available and it is a large 4 bedrooms and 3 bathroom house. Which was formally occupied by me and my family before we left for Nigeria for a pastoral duty, we left for a volunteer mission together with other missionaries for a development program with the aim of developing the people of west Africa physically and spiritually as God as directed us. We wanted to sale the house initially but we later changed our mind after we discovered that we wouldn’t be spending more then 5 years here in Africa.

     So as you know where the house is located at 45381 Leonard St, Manassas VA 20113. Which my family and I have spent so much time and money to maintain it up till its standard. We have been trying our best to make the house as clean as possible, because am a clean person and we don’t like dirt around our surroundings and also the Bible says cleanliness is next to Godliness.

     So we are looking for a well-behaved, clean and honest tenant to rent out our house too. So will like you to give us your word and promise us that you will take good care of our house so that we will be happy when we come to visit you in the future.. We accept short or long-term rent and month to month also… All the utilities are included in the rent.. Pets are allowed. So kindly get back to us with this information below.

     RENT APPLICATION FORM

     FIRST NAME:__________________
     MIDDLE NAME: _________________
     LAST NAME: __________________
     PROFESSION: ________________
     (CELL)PHONE () __________
     (CELL)PHONE () _____________________
     (WORK)PHONE () __________
     KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
     PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
     CITY: _______________
     STATE: ______________
     ZIP CODE: _______________ HOW LONG? ______________IF RENTING
     WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?
     IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
     HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? _______________
     WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
     IF YOU HAVE A PET,
     NAME OF PET: _____________
     KIND OF PETS: _____________
     HABITS
     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 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 do not see our self’s 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 hear from you. you can give us a call on our cell phone number: 0112348029886104

     Best Regards

     Pastor XXXXXX XXXXXXX (name removed by poster)
     0112348029886104 (call anytime)
     Note: the Rent is $1000 and security deposit is $1000
     Total Move In Cost:$2000

120. 

     Posted by Mel on Nov 10, 2009 at 02:57am

     This is the one i found in perth, australia.

     Hi,
     My name is Gerry Skuta and my wife is Kate Skuta.
     My wife and family have been relocated to Atlanta Georgia While am
     here in Nigeria ,We will not be coming back until five yrs from now.
     My plan was to option the house for sale but my wife refused so i decided to rent it out.
     Realizing now that we cannot afford to let the apartment remain vacant for as long as we are away, we decided to rent it out to someone who is God fearing,trustworthy and who will be able to take good care of the apartment as if its his or hers.
     The money is not the actual reason for the rent, but the need for someone to occupy the flat so as to maintain the facilities in the apartment.
     Like i said, the point i am emphasizing on is your ability to take good care of the apartment for us because that’s the only property we have left in the Australia.
     If you are sure of your ability to take perfect care of the flat, and you are still very much interested in the apartment, kindly answer the questions below.
     The keys to the apartment and other documents are with us here, and will be sent to you as soon as we have a deal.
     looking forward to hear from you. Your full information will be used to process all documents that will be coming together with the keys leading to the house and this will come to you through UPS courier service.
     So kindly confirm your interest by filling out the rental
     application form below.
     ===== RENT APPLICATION FORM =========
     =======PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL ==========
     Also,Pls answer these questions below:
     1)Your Full Name__________________________ ____________
     2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone
     Number________________________
     _______
     3)How old are you _____________________________
     4)Are you married ______________________________ _____
     5)How many people will be living in the apartment ___________________________
     6)Do you have a pet ______________________________ ___________
     7)Do you have a car ______________________________ ____________
     8)Occupation ______________________________ ___________________
     9How long are you willing to stay ______________________________ ___________
     10) when do you intend to move in ______________________________ ___________
     11) How many months advance rent are you willing /able to pay
     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 in your name and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you,please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words,We are putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this property of ours and God bless you more as you do this.

121. 

     Posted by Amanda on Nov 21, 2009 at 10:45pm

     I went through the same thing yesterday…I western unioned the money too…but when I thought twice about it afterward, i researched it…I am in school for criminal justice, this just didnt sound right. I am in FL so they are doing it everywhere. Luckily I figured out it was a scam before they picked up the money & I called western union and they reversed the transaction and I got my money back. I talked to the FBI and they said they are investigating but since US doesnt have a treaty with Nigeria, we cannot do anything unless these people step foot on US soil and at that, we wouldnd even know their real names or who they are! Nigeria’s government is corrupt and they condone this scam b/c it is making them money. Here are my emails….

     To: terry.crawford96@yahoo.com
     Sent: Wed, November 18, 2009 4:38:22 PM
     Subject: House for rent : Venice

     Hi, I am interested in your house for rent in Venice, FL. Is it still for rent? My husband and I are trying to sell our house (it’s paid off so we wouldnt be making payments on it while renting) and my husband is going into the military next summer. We are looking to rent a house for a year while selling ours, and while I wait for him to get out of training. Can we come see the house? We live in Bradenton and aren’t real familiar with the Venice area, but would like to move south, due to the rise in crime-rate in our area (We have young children). What are your requirements as far as background checks, credit checks, rental history, etc.?

     Thank-you,
     Amanda

     HIS REPLY:
     Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 6:14 AM

     Dear Prospective Tenant ,

     Sorry for the delay in response.I went on a trip.The property is available for move in at the

     moment for $600 for a months rent and $600 for the security deposit. making it a total of

     $1,200 for you to move into the House. But at the moment I do not have a local rep. or

     Realtor due to past experiences that didn’t go down well with me and some potential renters

     at that time.

     So if serious about renting the House then you would be working with me directly and i would

     email the necessary papers for the lease to you, for necessary endorsement. and detailed

     pictures of the interiors of the house. meanwhile here are full details of the property of

     your interest below.

     Location: North Venice, FL 34275
     Street Address: 177 Cipriani Way
     Residence Type: Single Family Home
     Bed & Bath: 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath
     Livable Space: Approximately 1,474 Square Feet
     Price / Rate: $600 Per Month
     Lease Term: 12 Month
     Security Deposit: $600

     Features: Air Conditioning, Den/Office, Dishwasher, Garage, Yard
     Available Date: Available Now!
     Contact Me: Terry J Crawford

     Bright and spacious.2bd/2ba Split plan with an additional den. Large Lanai overlooks lush

     preserve. Volume ceilings topped off with crown molding. Inviting eat in kitchen. WCI

     community offers extensive amenities for all. Fitness , Gated Community , Golf Community ,

     Golf Course,Lawn Service Included,Playground

     SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED AND SERIOUS ABOUT RENTING THE HOUSE WITH THE MOVE – IN COST

     AND ARRANGEMENTS GET BACK TO ME FOR THE RENTAL FORM ASAP:

     Looking forward to hearing from … so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the

     keys to you.The house is available for rent at the moment so you are free to move in as soon

     as you wish to …A Deposit of $600 (which happens to be the security deposit) is required

     before moving in…Feel free to call me for more information and arrangements on how to get

     the keys and other necessary documents delivered to you…The house will be available for

     rent for a period of 3 years so you have a choice of deciding how long you intend staying

     there…for further information or questions you can call or email me .

     Regard
     Terry J Crawford
     +234-806-927-0459

     To: Terry Crawford
     Sent: Thu, November 19, 2009 4:01:06 PM
     Subject: Re: House for rent : Venice

     Hi. I’m sorry I’m writing instead of calling, I’m in class at the moment. We truly are interested in renting from you. We would however like to see the house. If you can send pictures, that would be great. We are supposed to be going to North Port this afternoon to see my husband’s mom. If there is anyway to see the house while we are in the area, that would be great. If you’re not able to show it to us, I understand on such short notice. Again, pictures will do, and I can google earth the address to see the neighborhood. We are trying to get out of our house asap so we can get it up for sale and have time to sell it by the summer. So we are looking to move in as soon as possible. We have money to put down deposit, plus 3 months rent upfront. We have no pets, but we do have children. Would we need to bring our own appliances? If so, which ones?

     Thank-you,
     Amanda

     HIS REPLY:
     Hello theresa

     I went on a job transfer i m not in state at the moment,fill the rental form and get back to me asap here is the pictures of the house,if you like it get back to me so that we can proceed from there.

     To: “Terry Crawford”
     Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7:26 PM

     We are still wanting to rent but we just have a a couple last questions. Alot of golf communities require you to have a yearly membership. Would I have to purchase a golf membership? Are you on city water? Do we need to bring our own washer/dryer, refridgerator, or oven/stove? Are there any other association fees we would be paying per month or year? Or is it just the $600 per month rent?

     Thank-you,
     Amanda

     HIS REPLY:
     Hello Amanda,

     Compliments of the day. After going over the rental form filled by you, I and my wife have decided to accept YOU and with a strong believe that you would take care of the house as if it was your own. We would be coming back to Venice by Febuary because I would be on vacation so we would come around and visit and make our first inspection of the place. In Regards to your Question, The Golf Community has a Yearly Membership fee that is subject to revision every year so you would definetely have to purchase a membership.The House has A washer/Dryer, and a refridgerator but you would have to get an oven/stove for yourself.

     However Before we send you the keys and Entrance papers, You are to pay the security deposit of $600 to enable us send you the Keys so that you both could make necessary minor re-adjustments to the Villa to suit your personal taste. My wife actually preferred that you make the joint payment of the security deposit and first month’s rent before we send the keys but I thought that In order to create a trustworthy relationship between the Landlord and Tenant, we could give you the benefit of doubt to have the keys with paying for just the security deposit.Secondly, Since you are interested in a long lease term, it is necessary to create a conducive environment for you to make you at ease with us. You are to make the wire transfer of the $600 (Security Deposit) through Western Union Money Transfer to my son:

     Richmond Nwoko .C.
     Minister’s Hill, Maitama, Abuja, NIG..
     Test Question: Regards
     Test Answer: Terry.
     Amount : $600
     MTCN Number : Awaiting

     The package containing the keys and documentations will be delivered to you through Registered Express Courier to your present mailing Address as Indicated in your Rental Form. Besides, the $600 Security Deposit, The only other fee you would be making payable is your monthly rental.

     Once again, we are giving you this on Based trust and in a bid to foster co-existence between your family and ours so I would highly appreciate it if you do not disappoint the trust I am bestowing upon you. Once you receive the keys to the house, You would be obliged to send us the first months rent before you move completely into the House. Thanks for your anticipated Co-operation. Please let me know if you have any reservations.

     Terry J .C.
     +234-806-927-0459
     Thank you

     To: Terry Crawford
     Sent: Fri, November 20, 2009 10:04:41 PM
     Subject: Re: Villa for Rent @ Venice

     Hi. i just wanted to let you know that I tranferred the money via Western Union. I put the Test question & answer as you asked. They said you need to bring your ID to pick it up. The MTCN is 589-301-7383. Let me know when you have received it and sent the keys. Thank-you

     Amanda

     HIS LAST REPLY:::
     Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 6:02 AM

     Amanda,

     Got your mail and Im happy for a swift response. I am my son tried retreiving the $600 from the western union outlet but they said there wasn’t any match found in the western union database. We were informed by the agents that due to the abbrevation given to you in the address, You might have sent it to a wrong county so please go back to the western union outlet where you sent the money and Re-confirm the details.

     also make an attachment of the western union receipt and send by e-mail so that I can have proof of the money being sent before I go back to the outlet. Sorry for any inconveniences on your behalf. I have been trying to call your number but your were fast asleep.

     Terrry .C.

     AND HERES WHAT I TOLD HIM LAST…HE HASNT RESPONDED SINCE UGHH….

     I am about to graduate college with my law enforcement degree & become a cop. I have alot of friends with the local police and the FBI. I was informed by the FBI last night that this may be a scam and they showed me alot of proof. After doing some research and investigation of my own, I found the same house you are supposed to be renting to me on a real estate agent’s website renting it out for $1,100. I drove to the neighborhood and the guard let me go to the house. There is a real estate padlock on the door. I looked through the windows and there is already a stove/oven inside. You said there wasn’t. It seems the trust i bestowed upon YOU has come back on me. Therefore, I reversed the money back to myself and got a refund before you picked it up. If this really is your house to rent out, I would like to tour the inside of the house. Maybe you could mail the keys to a friend IN the US who could meet me at the residence and allow me to tour it. I will not send you any money or personal information until I have proof that you are legally renting out this house.

     I did not hear my phone this morning because you are 6 hours ahead of me and it was 4:00am when you were calling.

     Thank-you,
     Amanda

122. 

     Posted by DivaDD on Nov 23, 2009 at 09:23am

     These people need to have some kind of punishment, IF SOUND TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT IS.

     is a great pleasure that to you are interested in my house.Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am,the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only dauther before and presently we had packed due to my missionary work transfer (www.gowestafrica..org) and now situated at (WEST AFRICA,NIGERIA)and presently my house is still available for rent for $1,000 per month including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is well furnished but you can also have it unfurnished if you like.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this my house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money that is the main problem that is why is very cheap but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up..I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.All i want you to do is to go ahaed and view the house immediately. here is my number fill free to call me on this number 0112347036741656 or +2347036741656.let me know if you are intrested so that i can send you the rent application form so that you can fill them up then we can proceed further.

     BEDROOMS:4 BEDROOMS

     RENTAL AMOUNT………………$1,000

     SECURITY DEPOSIT………….$400.

     ADDRESS OF MY HOUSE……….. 4261 Justin Way, Oxnard,

     CA

     STATUS OF MY HOUSE:AVAILABLE FOR MOVE IN…

     LONG AND SHORT TERMS LEASE ARE BOTH ALLOWED.

     ALL PETS ARE ALLOWED.

     God bless.

123. 

     Posted by D. Glassman on Dec 02, 2009 at 02:16pm

     I have received many scams from Nigeria myself. All you have to do is ask for the address to make the Western Union paymment. The new Western Union process requires a valid address with city and state code. If the scammer wants his money he must provide a Nigerian address. Some have friends in countries such as the UK and maybe France. Nigeria is a british commonwealth so this is possible. In this case: always ask for a contact phone number. They will always give you a European number that startes with “70″. The 70 code is used by marketing groups and scammers. The 70 in the number is a BIG! signal. Tell him to go to hell and move on.

     Also, In many cases their IP adresses will show up in the email headers. Some will use a ISP that will block or hide it. In the header of the email message look for: “received by” and then copy the IP address. If you type in google “IP whois” then go to any site and paste the IP address in the space provided. It will state NIGERIA and the name of the ISP. Now: in many cases it will seem OK but that’s only because the IP was blocked and you will just get a Yahoo or Google domain.

     Just remember: if the person does not live in the city you are seeking to rent then its a scam. I was looking for a place in Italy and I will not deal with a person if they dont speak Italian and can not provide a valid address to send the funds. Valid meaning..an “Italian” address.

     Also, always ask for pics. If the pics are the same size and small they were taken from a site. If they are larger and not sized, thats a good thing. I look for details in photos too. One pic a Nigerian sent me had 110 volt outlets on the wall. Italy does not use them. The windows were square with cheap blinds. Italians do not use them. Knowing little things like this will also give you power. Remember: these Nigerians are not that bright and using your common sense will save you time and alot of anxiety.

124. 

     Posted by Darlene in SoCal on Dec 15, 2009 at 01:47am

     WOW! I got the exact same email. And guess what? The scammer actually called me!!!! I was in the middle of pulling the plug on his scam over the phone when CLICK he hung up on me lol.

125. 

     Posted by Quirked Eyebrow on Dec 16, 2009 at 10:20pm

     Kudos to the original poster for starting this page and kudos for everyone who has taken time to post so much information. I tripped over it while googling a scam phone number and was quite happy to sift through the posts to add pertinent details to our blog at http://www.chicaneryconsscams.blogspot.com where it will also hopefully help people trying to go about the business of finding a decent home.

     Thanks, folks ~ yer awesome!

126. 

     Posted by Kalisa on Dec 24, 2009 at 09:06am

     Wow!! I have received an email that is very very similar to the ones posted above-just yesterday. I was fine until I saw West Africa! LOL thanks for such a great article. Buyers/Renters beware.

127. 

     Posted by Jenny Zavo on Jan 02, 2010 at 10:01pm

     Tulsa,oklahoma, usa I too received this response;

     Hi,
     I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist. The house is still available but presently I’m not around.. I did bid for a portion of petroleum land sometimes ago in West Africa and fortunately I won the bidding so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up because I will still have to rebid for it in the next 10 years. I came over here with my wife, we both bought the house when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the house so I have to look for an agent, after getting one, we got a deal but later my wife advised against that. She said we may not be able to win the bidding next time, in other to keep our head when we return that we have to keep the house. I reasoned with her and accepted her advise. So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents. Later we decided to have the house rent out, we would have give the same agent this job also but the truth of the matter is that the agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the house and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the house.
     Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purpose

     PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
     Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( ) ________________________
     Date of Birth_________________________________
     Other Phone ( ) ___________________
     Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
     Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
     Are you married____________________________
     How many people will be living in the house____________________________
     Do you have a pet____________________________
     Do you have a car____________________________
     Occupation____________________________
     Move In Date____________________________
     How soon can you pay the deposit———————————-

     TAKE NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE BY AND SEE MY HOUSE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING GET THE APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO ME SO THAT I CAN SHIP MY KEYS TO YOU FOR YOU BE ABLE TO GO AND LOOK AT THE INSIDE OR MOVE IN IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD HAVE REALLY LOVE TO SHIP THE KEYS TO SOMEONE IN STATE BUT I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY THERE RIGHT NOW AND I DON’T WANT TO MAKE USE OF ANY THIRD PARTY THAT IS WHY AM HANDLING MY PROPERTY MYSELF..

     House Address
     1020 East 36th Street
     Tulsa, OK 74136

     Monthly Fee ; $900
     Security Deposit: $500
     Pets Allowed:
     Available :Available Now for move in.

     So pls get back to me today.
     I await your reply ASAP.
     Paul Joaniee
     contact Number . 011-234-805-803-9541 & +234-702-963-2643

128. 

     Posted by P.Witcher on Jan 08, 2010 at 03:42pm

     Unfortunately for me I fell for this scam minutes before he actually got the money, although it was only $250 it was still hurtful to know that this is happening to me and my family. I feel even worse knowing that other people have either fell for it also or almost fell for it. I wish there was a way that we all could tie ends to these scam artist.

129. 

     Posted by Andrew, Brooklyn NY on Jan 12, 2010 at 12:48pm

     Thanks for your response and interest in my house.

     The house is very much available and it is a 1Br/1Ba Located in the
     historic northern part of Brooklyn Heights. Which was formally
     occupied by me and my family before we left
     for Nigeria for a doctoral duty under a missionary, we left for a
     volunteer mission together with other missionaries for a development
     program with the aim of developing the people of west Africa
     physically and spiritually as God as directed us. We wanted to sale
     the house initially but we later changed our mind after we discovered
     that we wouldn’t be spending more then 5 years here in Africa.

     So as you know well that the house is located in 55 Pineapple
     St,Brooklyn,NY,USA Which my family and I have spent so much time and
     money to maintain it up till its standard. We have been trying our
     best to make the house as clean as possible, because am a clean person
     and we don’t like dirt around our surroundings and also the Bible says
     cleanliness is next to Godliness.

     So we are looking for a well-behaved, clean and honest tenant to rent
     out our house too. So will like you to give us your words and promise
     us that you will take good care of our house so that we will be happy
     when we come to visit you in the future.. We accept short or long-term
     rent and month to month also… All the utilities are included in the
     rent.. Pets are allowed. So kindly get back to us with this information below.

     The House Feautures:
     Located in the historic northern part of Brooklyn Heights, this
     spacious prewar one bedroom apartment is in great condition. Enter
     into a gracious foyer which doubles as a dining area. There are high
     ceilings, arched entryways and beautiful hardwood floors throughout.
     There is a separate renovated windowed kitchen, large,
     well-proportioned living room and generous sized bedroom. This well
     maintained coop has an elevator, live-in super, laundry, bike room and
     a lovely common courtyard for picnicking and barbecuing. The building
     is only one block from the subway and the promenade, and conveniently
     located near shops and restaurants. pets are welcome

     RENT APPLICATION FORM

     FIRST NAME:__________________
     MIDDLE NAME: _________________
     LAST NAME: __________________
     PROFESSION: ________________
     (CELL)PHONE () __________
     (CELL)PHONE () _____________________
     (WORK)PHONE () __________
     KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
     PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
     CITY: _______________
     STATE: ______________
     ZIP CODE: _______________ HOW LONG? ______________IF RENTING
     WHY ARE YOU LEAVING?

     IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,

     HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? _______________
     WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________

     IF YOU HAVE A PET,

     NAME OF PET: _____________
     KIND OF PETS: _____________
     HABITS
     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 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 do not see our self’s 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 hear from you. you can
     give us a call on our cell phone number: 0112347038557051 or
     +2347038557051

     Best Regards

     Dr. Michelle Kim
     0112347038557051 or +2347038557051 (call anytime)
     Note: the Rent is $700 and security deposit is $400
     Total Move In Cost:$1100

130. 

     Posted by Andrew, Brooklyn NY on Jan 12, 2010 at 12:52pm

     Hello

     How are you doing today, Hope great. My wife and I sends our heartfelt
     appreciation and warmth greetings to you.

     We went through your application and Most especially your mail, You
     gave us an inner peace of Mind that really got us going. Your
     Re-assuring mail that our home will be taken care of well as if it
     were yours is something that makes me want to rent to you.

     To sustain the Life we do not really require much. It takes only a
     little food,something to wear and a place to” lie down”. The rich
     might have an abundance of this things,and the poor may have to
     struggle to obtain what they need.What difference there is, however,
     is equalized when life comes to its end-everything comes to
     naught.(Eccl.9:5,6).

     Thus Life to have meaning and worth, it cannot and should not simply
     consist of things that one can acquire or possess.Whether we are rich
     or poor,we do not have complete control over how long we may live or
     whether we will even be alive tomorrow.The bible clear shows that Only
     God alone is the source of life and only he can grant faithful ones
     the real life or everlasting life without end in Heaven.

     You are just an accurate example of the fulfillment of psalm 23..which
     God has promised to make you lie down in grassy pastures and he
     further says :By well watered resting places He shall conduct you,
     verse 6 says surely Goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days
     of your life; And you will dwell in the house of the lord forever and
     ever.

     The Entrance keys and Documents can be sent down to you Via DHL
     mailing service to the address you gave to me in the Application Form
     and you will receive it Next day after shipment, because DHL deliver
     24 hours, so that you can have a legitimate and thorough access to the
     inside of the house, you will have to make your security deposit and
     first month rent to secure the house, so that we can ship the house
     keys and documents down to you at the confirmation of payment. you
     will be using western union money transfer to pay your rent until we
     are able to come down and open an account for the rent to be paid
     into. If we agree to rent to you, we will provide you with the
     information where you should make out your deposit so we can commence
     the shipment of the house keys and documents.

     We are considering renting to you, due to your manner of approach and
     prompt attitude in getting things done, you can drive by my house
     today, view the exteriors and surroundings, then you get back to us
     Letting us know if you like the house and you are financially ready to
     secure this house now for your move in, so that we can conclude and
     know if we will be renting to you.

     We expect to read from you soonest.

     Remain Blessed
     Mc Kelly Kennel

131. 

     Posted by Fabrizio on Jan 18, 2010 at 08:59am

     Here’s another one in Singapore.

     “Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hear from you.I am Rev.kizuji Park,the owner of the Apartment you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the Apartment with my family,such as my wife and my only daughter before, and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in Manchedter England and presently my apartment is still available for rent,the rent including the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it is furnished.More so Now, i went for a Crusade in England and i will like you to get in touch with my wife asap for more discussion as She is with the keys and the document to the Apartment.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.Email my wife Suwafu Park on, (suwafupark@gmail.com ) and she will attends to you better.”

     Then the alleged wife:
     Thanks for the email,My name is Suwafu Park am a Good Christian.Yes in respect of my husband Rev.kizuji Park who owned the house and also it is situated at 10 Gopeng Street The Icon building,Singapore and also want you to know that it was due to my husband’s transfer that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now,Am here in central London United kingdom(England) in our new house and also with the keys of the house,we try to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well as don’t want our house to be used any how in our absent that is why we took it along SGD700 per month with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air condition, internet and so on.i look forward to hearing from you ASAP so that i can forward you rent application to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent,also are you ready to rent it now or when ?, You can’t view the house until you get the keys and documents due to the distance between us . View attached file for house pictures.

     MORE DETAILS

     FURNISHED
     PERIOD PROPERTY
     SPACIOUS AND LIGHT
     KITCHEN
     POPULAR AREA
     GOOD TRANSPORT LINKS
     PARKING SPACE

     Await your reply

     They attached nice pics (but obviously fake as I saw others from the same condo).

     Finally the last email

     Good hearing from you that you are promising us that our apartment will be well taken care off,and I really appreciate your expression.So,Like I told you there’s none of my friends or relatives to show you the flat..I want you to stick to your words.Is that okay with you?And the below is the final question that you must answer to qualify for the rent.You can rent it unfurnished you will move our furniture to the storage room.Hope you have a nice working day,Infact I will like to meet you when coming to visit you soonest,You will not be able to see inside of the flat..We do along term and short term renting anytime you which to leave the place will be greatful and we are ready to rent a long-term for 1 years lease or more than either less than.Yes SGD700 include all utilities also there is washer and dryer available Note that you will are not allowed to enter the flat,because the keys/document is here with me

     *******RENT APPLICATION*******

     (Private & Confidential)

     Also,Pls let me get this answer.

     1)Your Full Name
     2)Present Full Address(where you reside now) & Phone Number to Reach You
     3)Age
     4)Are you married?
     5)Sex?
     6)How many people will be living in the house?
     7)Do you have a pet?
     8)Do you have a car?
     9)What is your religion?
     10)Occupation?
     11) Citizen of which Country?
     12) When are you ready to Move In ?
     13) When are u planning to leave the flat ?
     14) How many months rent can you deposit ?

     Looking forward to hear from you with all this details for approval so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you,Please we are giving you all this transaction is based on Trust & Honesty and again I want you to stick to your words,We are putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this property of ours and God bless you more as you do this.

     N:B : We are doing this because of God as a good christian, If you can pay two months rent fee, you will get one month free , I had an accident which affected my hearing and my legs , I am currently on a wheel chair right now, I do not use a phone that’s why I am always online, you can fill out the rent application below and get back to me as soon as possible.

     Thanks so much and have a nice day.
     Love in Christ and Kindness Regards

132. 

     Posted by Stacy on Jan 21, 2010 at 05:56pm

     We received this email after sending a Craigslist inquiry on a house which we later learned had already been leased weeks ago. I reported this to Craigslist, as well as contacting the relator and making him aware that his property was involved in a scam. It just makes you crazy that they say they are doing “God’s work”. What a joke.

     It’s my great pleasure that you are interested in our lovely 2br/1bth home for rent. I am Rev. Dwight Jones
     & My wife Wendy , I am the rightfull owner of this home. Actually we resided in this home before my transfer this is due to my profession,We are essentially missionaries dealing with Bible Translation and literacy worldwide and to also take care of the less previllage people,orphans, motherless babies.

     We will be serving for a long term and now our home is locked up now and presently we have found a new home here which we will be staying for a very long term which might last 5 years in (West Africa) and presently our lovely home is still available for rent for ($600)as first month rent including the utilities like washer,dryer and internet access and garage.

     Property Information.
     Bedrooms: 2 Bedroom
     Bathrooms: 1 Bathroom
     Square Sq. Footage:800-1000
     Address :25212 Hopkins, Dearborn Heights, MI)

     Air Conditioner BBQ Covered Parking Dog Run Fireplace Disposal Horse Stable Fenced Yard Patio Refrigerator
     Jacuzzi Off-Street Parking Yard Garage Storage
     Location:Well ventilated area

     Terms and Conditions.

     Monthly rental: $600
     Move in Fee (Deposit Fee) : $300
     Minimum rental period: 1 months
     Maximum rentals:5years
     Reference: Required

     Now that we on Retreat programme over here. Please I want you to note that all we will want is a very honest and caring person,so i will solicit for your absolute understanding and maintenance of this home and want you to treat it as your own,I hope that is taken. The money is not the main problem but all I want is for you to keep the home tidy always. I also want you to let me have trust in you as i have always stand on my word.. Please feel free to call me on my cell phone:0112347092398781.

     SO IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE RENT APPLICATION FORM FILLED.

     RENT APPLICATION FORM

     FIRST NAME:_________________
     MIDDLE NAME: _________________
     LAST NAME: __________________
     PROFESSION: ________________
     HOME PHONE (____) __________
     (CELL)PHONE (____) __________
     (WORK)PHONE (____) __________
     KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
     PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
     CITY: _______________
     STATE: ______________
     ZIPCODE: ____________
     HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
     WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
     DO YOU HAVE A PET: _____________
     NAME OF PET(if any): _____________
     KIND OF PETS: _____________
     DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
     DO YOU DRINK? ______________
     Pets Policy:Pets Allowed

     Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that I can have it in my file incase 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 sincerity so I won’t like you to disappoint us.

     Thanks and God Bless

     Phone # :0112347092398781.

     Rev. Dwight Jones.

133. 

     Posted by Anonymous on Jan 27, 2010 at 10:09pm

     happened to me too, i’m glad i inquired about this. WTF, HEY??

134. 

     Posted by Helis on Jan 29, 2010 at 03:53pm

     I have recieved exactly the same email there was just one different thing,that the guy left with his family on Mission as he is reverend and he will be back in 3 years,but everything is absolutely same.And I have send him 400Gbp before I’ve find out :-(( Sorry about my english as I am from czech rep.

135. 

     Posted by ms on Jan 30, 2010 at 02:54pm

     some differences from the earlier posts: better english, the listing was copied word for word from a realtor’s website for this house (which is for sale) and so was very accurate. but the telltale signs are there: gone to nigeria, took the keys, rental application that asks for personal info and a general too good to be true deal.

     Email #1

     Hello
     Thanks for the email. Yes the House is still available and will only be given out to
     the right person that will take very good care of the place and the facilities. The house has a lot of facilities like laundry facilities, air condition, internet and telephone access, Dishwasher, Dryer, Microwave, Oven, Refrigerator, Stove/Gas and other necessary facilities. I have really decided to give out the house as a result of my transfer to West Africa (Nigeria).

     I will be giving out the house for $800 with a security deposit of $800. I need to inform you as well that money is not the major reason why I am renting it out but want someone who can take care of it as if he/she owns it. So let me know as soon as possible if you can take good care of it, so that we can discuss the rent further. Pets are allowed.

     We initially wanted to sale the house through real estate agent before but we changed
     our minds and decided to rent it out because the economy is bad and it has also affected the housing market.

     We might decide to sale in the future but for now we are just renting it out. If you are interested you can go by and view it but you will not be able to go inside cause the keys are here with me in Nigeria. Here is the address of the house,(3935 Waldenwood Dr Ann Arbor, MI 48105).

     I await your reply.
     Rosa
     +2348-0849-59022

     Email #2
     Good to hear from you. We are happy that you love and will take good care of our home. The house will be available for three (3) years by then we will be back in the states. We initially wanted to sale the house but we changed our minds and decided to rent it out for now. We might decide to sell in the future but we just want to rent it out for now.

     We will be giving the house out at $800/month including utilities and a security deposit of $800. The house is available to move in ASAP.

     We would like you to get back to us with the informations attached in this mail so we can go through it then discuss the rent further.

     Rent Application Info

     1) Your Full Name………………………….?
     2) Your Current Address……………?
     3) Your State and Zip code……………?
     4) Phone Number………………….?
     5) How old are you……………………?
     6) How many people will be living in the house…………………………?
     7) Do you have a pet…………………………?
     8) Do you have a car…………………………..?
     9) Occupation…………………………?
     10) Marital Status………………………?
     11) Do you have Kids, and how many…………?
     12) How long do you intend to stay…………?
     13) Will anyone staying in the house smoke………………….?
     14) When do you intend to move in………………………?
     15) Reason for moving………………………?
     16) Your current rent……………………………….?
     17) Your current land lord’s address and phone number………………..?
     18) Your Personal references…………………?

     Rosa
     +234-808495-9022

136. 

     Posted by jonathan on Feb 03, 2010 at 09:50am

     i was scammed by wanda hernandez
     be carefull with this name!!!!

137. 

     Posted by Mike on Feb 04, 2010 at 08:00pm

     This what I got a couple days ago…

     Hi,

     Sorry for the late reply. I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist. The house is still available but presently I’m not around.. I did bid for a portion of petroleum land sometimes ago in West Africa and fortunately I won the bidding so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up because I will still have to rebid for it in the next 10 years. I came over here with my wife, we both bought the house when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the house so I have to look for an agent, after getting one, we got a deal but later my wife advised against that. She said we may not be able to win the bidding next time, in other to keep our head when we return that we have to keep the house. I reasoned with her and accepted her advise. So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents. Later we decided to have the house rent out, we would have give the same agent this job also but the truth
     of the matter is that the agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won’t be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the house and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the house.

     Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purpose

     PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
     Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( ) ________________________
     Date of Birth_________________________________
     Other Phone ( ) ___________________
     Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
     Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
     Are you married____________________________
     How many people will be living in the house____________________________
     How many people will be living in the house____________________________
     Do you have a pet____________________________
     Do you have a car____________________________
     Occupation____________________________
     Move In Date____________________________

     P.S: YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VIEW THE INTERIOR PART OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE I HAVE THE KEYS HERE WITH ME.

     House Address
     214 Forestview Rd., Lake Dallas, TX

     Best Regards

     August Matt

138. 

     Posted by Ann on Feb 09, 2010 at 12:02am

     Well… here’s the latest and the greatest from Nigeria… Saw the red flags after I filled out the “rent application form”…I’m a little worried about my info being over there in the hands of criminals.

     Hello ,

     I got your mail in regards to my apartment for rent, so what really happened is that, I’m not given my apartment for rent just because of money reason but due to my transfer of work to west Africa. I’m an X-RAY WELDER UNDER SHIP BUILDING, I have been working with nasco ship building here in the country, but have just been transferred to Niger dock Nigeria PLC, you can view the site at http://WWW.NIGERDOCK.COM. I left country with hope that i will be coming back in a month’s time, but right now the company have asked me to stay for 2yrs under contract with them, that’s why I have made up my mind to put up my apartment for rent, but I will like you to keep the apartment for me well okay just like yours, okay. I want to let you know that the apartment is available for rent anytime, you can easily go there and check it, but the issue is that you will not be able to check inside of the apartment, so through the address you will provide for me i will use to send you the keys and the documents to you through DHL COURIER SERVICE and It will be home delivery. I appreciate your expression and the apartment include cable /internet access, furnished, Central Air Conditioning, Laundry, Garbage Chute, Pets OK, cleaning service, dry cleaning,Heating, Electricity,etc and everything its already been furnished. And here is the application form below that you must answer to qualify for the rent of my apartment and I want you to know that I’m giving this apartment for rent base on trust and due to the way I read reply to my apartment, Hope you have a nice working day In fact I will like to meet you when coming to visit you soonest. Also,Please let me get this answer and you can call me on my cell +2348026748522 OR 0112348026748522

     RENT APPLICATION FORM
     1)Your Full Name
     2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
     3)How old are you?
     4)Are you married?
     5)How many people will be living in the house?
     6)Do you have a pet?
     7)Do you have a car?
     8)Occupation?
     9)How long Do you intend to stay?

     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 and dog is allowed. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you, please we are giving you all this base on trust.

     Awaiting to read back from you soonest.
     Thanks and God Bless you

     Regards,
     Ben

139. 

     Posted by Louise on Feb 12, 2010 at 10:49am

     It just nearly happened to me… until i thought i’d search the phone number… and found this site!!

     I’m so gutted, the flat sounded amazing and cheap! and i was really excited to move in..
     I’m just sooo happy i didn’t send him any money!

     Here’s the e-mail:

     Hello,Thanks for your email and interest in my Apartment so fill out my form below and we can go from there, since i am not residing there for now,The apartment is fully Furnished and has a big storage. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils,refrigerator-freezer,four-hob and oven, microwave,dishwasher and washing machine, my computer connected with Internet access.I have the keys and document with me here in West Africa Nigeria to be precise,I and my wife had the intension of selling our property before leaving but after a while we decided to place it for rent and and had few tenants before now so the apartment is very available and ready for you to move in if you are really interested in my apartment.I am here on a missionarry work with my family and will be here for 3yrs but on Due cases i will be visiting to check on you and my apartment cause absolute maintainance of my apartment is what i am after cause its newlyrenovated,Very spacious and Clean,So after Normal process is taking i shall be sending you the keys and document for you to move in, Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue, hope you are okay with the price of 100Gbp per Week which is 400Gbp Per Month including all bills like hydro, heat laundry facilities, aircondition and so on, but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important to me, if you are really interested renting this apartment fill the application below and get back to me with the answers,Moreover as a man of God i intend to do my things with soft kindered heart.

140. 

     Posted by Michael Bender on Feb 16, 2010 at 10:36am

     Yea, this is going on here in Charleston S.C. as well.

     Hello,
     Thanks for your interest regarding our House. The 3 bedroom is still available for rent, we renting this house to a responsible and neat person or family who has the fear of God and treat the house as his or her own. Well our house has been for sale before my wife advices me to put it out for rent that’s why we put it out for rent.

     The main reason why the house is for rent is that I got transfer from my place of work to West Africa Nigeria to preach the gospel to the unbelieve’s and even reaching out good things to the orphanage children, and I will be away for good 3 years or more that is the main reason I had to take my family along with me, and we cant leave the house for 3 good years, that’s why we really want good people that can take very good care of the house so that we will be very happy when we get back home and we will still be good family friends, so if you are interested in taking good care of our house, then my family will be ready in accepting you as our new tenant who be fully in charge of our house. If you really impress us by taking good care of our house then you will be allowed to stay as long as you wish okay…..This 3 bedrooms and 2 baths is very specious and is 1200-1400 sq. ft.

     Below is our address of the House:
     ADDRESS:1326 Bryjo Place, Charleston, SC 29407
     Pets Allowed: Yes (Dog Cat)
     Monthly Rent: $900
     Security Deposit: $700 (Refundable)

     Rental/Lease Spouse Full Names:
     Rental/Lease Kids Full Names:
     Rental/Lease Relatives or Friends Full Name:
     Rental/Lease Mobile/Cell Number:
     Rental/Lease Telephone Number:
     Rental/Lease Present House Address:
     Rental/Lease Present Work place name and Address:
     Rental/Lease Present work Tel. Number:
     Rental/Lease Numbers of Cars:
     Rental/Lease Pet type:
     Rental/Lease proposed date of Move in:
     Rental/Lease months budget to deposit before move in:
     Rental/Lease Reference contact info:
     Rental/Lease present Landlord Contact Info:

     So get back to us on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting. Hope you are okay with the price of US$900/month with heat laundry facilities, air condition, Etc… and the security deposit fee is $700… PETS ARE FULLY WELCOME! We are looking forward to hear from you ASAP. Stay Blessed

     NAME:RENEE BAXLEY.
     PHONE: +2348063292703
     CELL:+2348063292703

     BE CAFREFUL. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is!

141. 

     Posted by Upset - Avian Avenue Parrot & Other Birds Message Board on Mar 05, 2010 at 12:40pm

     [...] is scamming using her listing and pictures. Then I found this blog with similar situations. New Nigerian Scam: Rentals on Craigslist This frustrates me so much. How can people do this? I was so excited and now I am so disappointed. [...]

142. 

     Posted by john on Mar 08, 2010 at 01:00am

     got this scammer to respond to 2 different inquiries about houses for rent on craigslist,

     and this was my first reply,

     “this property is still listed as for sale on the internet, I know that you dont want any third party involvement, and that is fine as long as you can prove ownership and that this is not a scam. indeed i would take very good care of the property in which i am living, but at $800 mo.? if it seems to good to be true it probably is. Hoping its for real, J.C.

     HIS NEXT COMMUNICATION
     Hello,
     There is no problem about that,you can go and view the house,but i want you to know that incase you see any sign board place for sale it was due to when i was planning the sale the house due to my transfer and my wife advise me not to sell the house so please do not call the number on the sign board so drive by the house and get back to me Asap. I wish you could know the type of person I am, I can NEVER tarnish my name all because of money,never.I dont have anybody there like i told you earlier am here with my (wife)I wish i could show the house myself or ship the keys before you pay to me,for you to know that am the legitimate owner of this home and send you the keys, but i will need to pay the shipping agent here and some other travelling documents fee,before they can proceed with the keys shippment to you, because i will be the one that will take the keys along to the airport shipping desk by myself,not the money you are sending that am after but someone to trust. You will surely get keys in safe hands.Also I want you to know that the keys will be coming with some other packages(entrance papers,full description and full address with pictures).So once you get the keys to my home i advice you to go inside and move in your belongings and if you like it you send me my balance and if you don’t like it i refund your money back immediately and you send me back my keys. I want you to understand that the money is not a problem to me all i want is a good tenant and someone to keep my home very clean because i spent alot putting that my home.So please get back to me if you are still interested with the remt application form, filled because i will be with my shipping agent when i get to office tommorrow morning.Await your response ASAP.

     NB:So payments will be made via western union money transfer.You are going to send the refundable deposit fee $500 so the keys will get to your doorstep, And I want you to be rest assured as i promised and you dont have anything to worry about.
     Thanks and God bless

     FROM ME,
     To: “Charles Ellis”
     Charles:
     I will disregard any sign at the property, and with your permission will go have a look at it. Also, your add didnt mention if the house was furnished or not. And am I to understand the house is ready for move in? Awaiting your reply. J.C.

     THERE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER RESPONSE!!! But you should read on to find out how it was that I avoided getting myself ripped off!!!!:

     this was my next e-mail to him—

     I hope that you are not offended by my scrutiny in regards to you/your property or intentions thereof. I am not in the position to be able risk any type of monetary transaction without some type of real proof or assurance that I can trust you. I too am married and have three children, two of which are still living at home, the youngest being just seven years old. I am the one that my family puts their trust in to protect them and provide for them. I have to do all that is necessary to satisfy myself in this position. I do not know you or anything about you other than what you have related to me through our emails.
     You have stated that the money isn’t as important to you as finding someone you can trust. I realize that you are going to need a certain,shall we say feeling? when it comes to allowing a complete stranger to occupy and care for an investment as important as their home. But at this point in my life, with the economy the way that it is and all of the fraud going on in American society, my families money, even one dollar, means more to me than the trust of a complete stranger who lives in another country, even though I do need you to trust me at a certain level.
     I apologize for being so long with all this but as I have now had a chance to physically check the property, please bear with me.
     Here are a few more reasons for my cautiousness, other than the most important ones stated previously. 1. I have no way of ever recovering any money from you if you chose not to refund it to me. 2. You do not want any third party involvement in this affair. 3. You stated that the house was ready for immediate occupancy although when I was at the house, there was furniture inside along with items such as food packages and dishes on a dining table just inside the sliding door.
     Now, I talked with a couple neighbors and they said that there are people living in your house. Nobody answered the door when I knocked or rang the bell but as I stood at the front door, someone inside used the water because I heard it start running through the water main right there at the side of the front door. Strange from what I had believed at this point. Sir, I do think that your property would suit us just fine. If the home is supposed to be vacant then you do need a representative on your behalf to deal with unauthorized guests. If you are interested in having me handle this issue for you, I would be happy to fill out your form and set out to deal with those who are occupying your house, in a legal manner of course, and in-so doing possibly earn your trust enough for you to ship the keys and relevant items to me, at which time I will make a money transfer as you instructed previous. And if there comes a time when you feel that I have done something less than honorable, you can always call the local authorities and file a report and they will always do their job in protecting your personal property. A benefit of which I do not have. I can assure you that although I am not a wealthy man I am a man of integrity. The decision is yours Mr. Ellis. I shall be awaiting your response.
     Very Truly, J.C.

     STILL NO REPLY ON THIS ONE….THEN…

     THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST REPLY TO THE SAME SCAMMER(His reply to my property info request was a word-for-word copy)

     To: “Philip Cordova” <j.house42@yahoo.com

     HELLO PHILLIP CORDOVA AKA CHARLES ELLIS AKA ??? AKA ???
     I THINK YOU REALIZE THAT PEOPLE OF YOUR TYPE ARE THE SCUM OF THE EARTH. BOTTOMFEEDER, SPINELESS, YELLOWBELLIED COWARDS. YOU ARE TOO CHICKENSHIT TO ROB A MAN FACE TO FACE, AS YOU HIDE OUT IN CYBOR-AFRICA AND I AM SURE THAT SENDING THIS EMAIL IS A WASTE OF OUR TIME. BUT JUST IN CASE YOU READ THE REST OF THIS, WHEN YOU DO GET CAUGHT FOR THIS AND ANY OTHER SCAMS YOU ARE RUNNING, YOU BETTER PRAY TO GOD OR ALA OR WHOEVER THAT YOU DONT END UP IN THE CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM. YOU PUNKASS BITCH. THEY SODOMISE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

     WISH I COULD HELPED ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY ABOUT THESE SCAMS. I AM TOO POOR TO THROW ANY MONEY AWAY, EVEN IN DESPERATION. I GUESS THATS WHAT MY LUCK IS BASED ON!!!!!

Add a Response