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62 Responses to “Craigslist Scam: Homes for Rent”

1. 

   jmarhol 24 February 2010 at 9:28 am Permalink

   Yep… just got the same email…

   Hello,

   Thanks for your response regarding your interest in having my house for rent. The house is much available for now and it is a 3 bedroom home…I want you to know that i am the owner of this building situated at 410 103rd Ave SE Lake Stevens, WA 98258… 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 $700 and the refundable security deposit of $700. 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: ______________
   ZIP CODE: ____________
   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? ______________
   WHEN DO YOU INTEND SENDING ME THE DEPOSIT___________________________
   WHEN DO YOU INTEND RECEIVING THE KEYS AND DOCUMENT OF THE HOUSE___________________________

   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 can contact me on +234-802-444-6958 or 011-234-802-444-6958..

   Regards.
2. 

   stacy 24 February 2010 at 7:55 pm Permalink

   Glad to know I just got the same email I to thought the wording and everything seemed fishy Think I might stop by and let the real home owners know what is going on
3. 

   milagros 24 February 2010 at 9:09 pm Permalink

   Thanks for your email and interest in renting my house..I am Susan Powell.the owner of the house you are making enquiry of…Actually I resided in the house with my wife and i before and presently we have moved out due to my transfer from my work now in Warsaw , Poland . Presently my house is still available for rent for $700 USD…Deposit is $400 USD(rent already includes utilities).Moreso Now, i’m currently in (West Africa) Benin , Nigeria for an international Christian follower’s crusade.

   Pls i want you to note that,we are a kind, honest and trustworthy family and also I spent a lot on my property that i want to give to you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own, It is not the money that is 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……….I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.It has a Lovely home in a nice neighborhood,is known for excellent schools.. Conveniently located with nearby shopping centers, hospitals, free ways and public transportation. This is a must see. Amenities W/D Hookups Central Heat & A/C Granite Tiled Fireplace Ceiling Fans Vaulted Ceilings Cable Available Broadband Available Custom Drapes in Living Room, Dining Room, & Master Bedroom Blinds.

   Address: 95 Heritage Court City: Towaco State: NJ

   I will like you to drive by the property first before geting back to me for more information

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

   RENT APPLICATION FORM
   FIRST NAME:__________?
   MIDDLE NAME:__________?
   LAST NAME:__________?
   PROFESSION:__________?
   PHONE:
   (CELL)PHONE__________?
   (WORK)PHONE__________?
   (HOME)PHONE__________?
   KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY________
   PRESENT ADDRESS:_____________________
   CITY:_______________
   STATE:______________
   ZIP CODE:____________
   HOW LONG?___________IF RENTING
   WHY ARE YOU LEAVING__________?
   IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
   HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING?____________?
   WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________?
   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 hearing from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you…Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you,please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words,you know that we have not seen yet and only putting everything into Gods hands,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this…I can be reach on this number’s +234-709-230-5387 OR +011-813-723-0362.

   Susan Powell.
4. 

   jessica films 24 February 2010 at 10:49 pm Permalink

   And this is the message that follows apon approval of the house .

   You are going to send the Deposit payment of $700, so that you can have the keys and document in your possession via FedEx,and below is the information to send the payment through Western Union Outlet.

   Below is the payment information.

   Receiver’s Name: THIE TROY
   Address : 92 ST VICTORIA ISLAND RD,
   CITY: LAGOS ,
   COUNTRY: NIGERIA
   ZIP CODE:23401
   TEXT QUESTION : WHO MADE YOU?
   ANSWER : GOD.

   As soon as you send the payment from the Western Union Money Transfer Outlet, you would be given some information. You would have to get back to me with following information:

   1. Full Sender’s Name And Address Including Zip Code:
   2. MTCN #:
   3. Amount Sent:

   I await your reply ASAP. Regard and God bless you!!!
5. 

   momo 26 February 2010 at 9:45 am Permalink

   yup i got the same email. the address is legit so i am thinking of going down there and telling teh people living there or owners about someone using their property information for scam
6. 

   Mary Jinnee P. Juan 4 March 2010 at 11:09 pm Permalink

   OMG! I was desperate to rent this place as it was beautiful and perfect for my family. The reply I got made me doubt and search for “house for rent scammers”. I’m so glad I read this site. Similar incident…Here’s the email I received.

   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 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 handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the
   house.

   First Month Rent:$900
   Refundable Security Deposit Payment:$900

   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____________________________
   HOW SOON CAN YOU HAVE THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT SENT TO ME___________________________
   HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS OF THE HOUSE___________________________
   You could give me a call as soon as possible so we could proceed asap..

   Please note than 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 $900 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..

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

   My cell phone number is:(+234-802-942-1142 OR 011-234-802-942-1142)

   Best Regards
7. 

   Laura 5 March 2010 at 6:49 am Permalink

   It seems this scam has moved to Southwest Florida….found a beautiful home in an amazing development on Craig’s List…for $600. We thought it was a typo and it should have been for $1600. Thank God for the internet and a little research to find out this was a scam. Renters, beware!
8. 

   K 6 March 2010 at 6:51 am Permalink

   I came across the same scam, for a townhouse in Towaco, NJ with Susan Powell. I filled out the “Application Form” like an idiot and got this response:

   Hello ,

   We have decided to let you live in our house. As we have found your application very setisfactry and acceptable by my family. so we would want you to go through the acceptance form and get back to us on what you feel.we would like to send the following document to you via UPS Shipping Agent to the address you sent to us and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possibly occupy our house, Please once again, we are giving you this on trust and do not dissapoint us and i promise you that, you will love the house.

   The utilities and damages are included in the monthly rent, so you dont have to worry about that okay.we are very happy for you beening our new tenant okay.If you can come up with the security deposit today by tomorrow the keys and the document will be sent to you with the tracking number as well.

   Here are the contents of the document that needs to be sent.

   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
   6) Signed Lease Agreement Form you are supposed to also sign and get it sent back to me.

   Please note that the payment made is fully refundable should in case you finally gain entrance to the house after receiving the keys and documents and feel unsatisfied or uncomfortable with the inside of the house,but i am giving you a benefit of doubt that you will love everything about this lovely home. As soon as the Security deposit has been confirmed by me via Western union at any local store around your home,l will go ahead and commence on how the House’s keys/Documents will be delivered to you via UPS on next day delivery and it will be delivered to your currnt address you have to provide..You could also indicate if you want me to instruct you on how to make the payment so we could proceed with the rental process.

   We are very happy to hear from you today and we are greatfull to God that everything will still work out between us and we will look forward to hear from you soon.

   Do have yourself a wonderful time at work and God bless us all {Amen}.
   Regards

   —
   Also, in an earlier email they sent me a link of the “Volunteer work” they were doing. (http://gmmafrica.org/) And here are the #s they said I could reach them at: +234-709-230-5387 OR +011-813-723-0362.

   My boyfriend and I became very concerned at this point so he told me to look into it. And I’m glad that I found this website! thank you! We definitely did not feel comfortable sending them money. Once they “approved” us they had never cleared up the length of the lease and I emailed back asking and have not heard back from them, it’s been 3 days.

   Does anybody know if there’s anything they can accomplish with the information I provided in the “Application Form”? Such as identity theft?
9. 

   LPineda 11 March 2010 at 2:48 pm Permalink

   I am sooo pissed off! I had filled out the application and now these people have my information!!! What can I do?
10. 

    Scriver1109@gmail.com 12 March 2010 at 9:34 am Permalink

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11. 

    Mickco 12 March 2010 at 11:56 am Permalink

    I filled out the application as well and then discovered it was a scam. I’m concerned that they have my information as well. I did find an official FBI notification and it says to report the “419″ scam (I’ve discovered that 419 is the number of the Nigerian law for this crime) to your local FBI office. I have sent an email to the Kansas City office regarding a house in Lee’s Summit, MO that was recently posted. I have also put temporary fraud alerts on my information through the three credit reporting agencies (if you report it one, they will update the other two). I’m so annoyed by the amount of time and energy I’ve had to put into this.
12. 

    Naphtalie 15 March 2010 at 6:44 pm Permalink

    I got a similar email…. Kinds scared…. Is this anything to worry about??!

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