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Monday, May 24, 2010
Craigslist Apartment Rental Scam
I posted to the Apartments Wanted board of my local Craigslist. I got the following response today, which I'm pretty sure is a scam:
Why do I think it's a scam?
1. It came from nlsnbe543@gmail.com, but the reply went to rykardted@gmail.com.
2. No details from my message referenced. In fact, I am looking for a 1-BR, which I made clear in my post.
3. Degree in London: a good commonwealth reference that can be used in many different contexts.
4. Generic apartment details with no actual address.
5. Who the hell leases an apartment after they've moved halfway across the world?
My response:
Because I replied, my guess is that the scammer will now look up my Craigslist post and find an address in the area where I am looking and say they need me to wire them a deposit.
Ok, just got the following response from "Rose":
$500 for a two-bedroom? In Orange County? $1500 would be closer to credible. "looking forward to read from you"? You're supposed to be a university student, dipshit. "Cheers"? You're supposed to be an American, idiot. They don't say "cheers." I smell a Nigerian.
It includes 4 photos, which I'm sure I've seen in another Craigslist ad. Here's one:
My response:
Another email from Rose is a Rose is a Rose:
And my reply:
Who will spring his trap first? Stay tuned...
Ok, more back and forth:
Notice they're too lazy to even bother to address me by name:
My reply:
Latest from Rose:
So we approach the moment of maximum tension. I need a Money Transfer Control Number. Maybe the /r/ board can help.
On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Rose Craig wrote:
** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html
--
Am offering you this delightful two bedroom apartment furnished to a very high standard.The apartment consists of a large living area with open plan fully fitted kitchen.The two bedroom has limestone ensuite and limestone bathroom.The apartment has access to internet connection.This recently completed contemporary apartment benefits from leisure facilities. Am looking for a reliable person that can take good care of this apartment on my behalf because i have left the country to pursue my master degree at the Kingston University in London.You can contact me for more information and photo details.
------------------------------------------------------------------
this message was remailed to you via: hous-arw4j-1754XXXXXX@craigslist.org
------------------------------------------------------------------
** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html
--
Am offering you this delightful two bedroom apartment furnished to a very high standard.The apartment consists of a large living area with open plan fully fitted kitchen.The two bedroom has limestone ensuite and limestone bathroom.The apartment has access to internet connection.This recently completed contemporary apartment benefits from leisure facilities. Am looking for a reliable person that can take good care of this apartment on my behalf because i have left the country to pursue my master degree at the Kingston University in London.You can contact me for more information and photo details.
------------------------------------------------------------------
this message was remailed to you via: hous-arw4j-1754XXXXXX@craigslist.org
------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do I think it's a scam?
1. It came from nlsnbe543@gmail.com, but the reply went to rykardted@gmail.com.
2. No details from my message referenced. In fact, I am looking for a 1-BR, which I made clear in my post.
3. Degree in London: a good commonwealth reference that can be used in many different contexts.
4. Generic apartment details with no actual address.
5. Who the hell leases an apartment after they've moved halfway across the world?
My response:
Sounds great. What's the location and the rent?
Regards,
Tomohiro
Regards,
Tomohiro
Because I replied, my guess is that the scammer will now look up my Craigslist post and find an address in the area where I am looking and say they need me to wire them a deposit.
Update (Mon, May 24, 4:18pm)
Ok, just got the following response from "Rose":
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rose Craig
Date: Mon, May 24, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Subject: Re: APARTMENT IN ORANGE COUNTY
Hello ,
The apartment is well furnished two bedroom apartment which has the
following facilities .
* living and dinnig room
* 2 bedrooms
* 1 bathroom
* Open kitchen
* Toilet
* Air conditioner
* Central Heating
* Microwave
* Washing Machine
*internet facility
The apartment is located in the following address.
483,N Flower Street Orange, CA 92868, USA
The rental fee of the apartment is $500 per month including all utility bills .I have attached the photo of the apartment to this mail. kindly notify me if you are satisfied with the apartment in other for us to discuss on the payment process and how you will get the apartment keys and documents.
looking forward to read from you .
Cheers
From: Rose Craig
Date: Mon, May 24, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Subject: Re: APARTMENT IN ORANGE COUNTY
Hello ,
The apartment is well furnished two bedroom apartment which has the
following facilities .
* living and dinnig room
* 2 bedrooms
* 1 bathroom
* Open kitchen
* Toilet
* Air conditioner
* Central Heating
* Microwave
* Washing Machine
*internet facility
The apartment is located in the following address.
483,N Flower Street Orange, CA 92868, USA
The rental fee of the apartment is $500 per month including all utility bills .I have attached the photo of the apartment to this mail. kindly notify me if you are satisfied with the apartment in other for us to discuss on the payment process and how you will get the apartment keys and documents.
looking forward to read from you .
Cheers
$500 for a two-bedroom? In Orange County? $1500 would be closer to credible. "looking forward to read from you"? You're supposed to be a university student, dipshit. "Cheers"? You're supposed to be an American, idiot. They don't say "cheers." I smell a Nigerian.
It includes 4 photos, which I'm sure I've seen in another Craigslist ad. Here's one:
My response:
Hi Rose,
Yes, yes! I'm definitely interested. I'm ready to put down a deposit. It's actually very close to where I'm living right now. Is it possible for somebody to show me the place?
Please let me know. Thanks,
Tomohiro
Yes, yes! I'm definitely interested. I'm ready to put down a deposit. It's actually very close to where I'm living right now. Is it possible for somebody to show me the place?
Please let me know. Thanks,
Tomohiro
Update (Tue, May 25, 7:21pm)
Another email from Rose is a Rose is a Rose:
From: Rose Craig
Date: Tue, May 25, 2010 at 12:48 AM
Subject: Apartment
Hello
Good to hear from you.I am presently in London, the apartment keys and documents is here with me here in London.I will need to send you the keys and documents by a shipping agent. Actually am not after the rental fee but what i need is someone that will take good care of the apartment for me. This is the reason why am offering the apartment at that rate. I hope you shall be promising me that you will take good care of the apartment. I want you to stick to your words. In this manner i will want you give me the below information before you can be eligible to rent the apartment.I want you to be fast in this process in other for me to be able to send you the keys and documents before you will be visiting the apartment.Infact i will like to meet me you when am coming to visit you soonest.
RENT APPLICATION FORM
1)Your Full Name
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
3)Are you married?
4)How many people will be living in the house?
5)Do you have a pet?
6)Do you have a car?
7)Occupation?
8)Rent Duration?
Looking forward to read from you with all this details. so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt and contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how you will get the apartment keys and documents. please am giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that we have not seen each other yet and am only putting everything into Gods hands.This is my phone number +447024053878 here in London.
Looking forward to read from you.
Cheers
Date: Tue, May 25, 2010 at 12:48 AM
Subject: Apartment
Hello
Good to hear from you.I am presently in London, the apartment keys and documents is here with me here in London.I will need to send you the keys and documents by a shipping agent. Actually am not after the rental fee but what i need is someone that will take good care of the apartment for me. This is the reason why am offering the apartment at that rate. I hope you shall be promising me that you will take good care of the apartment. I want you to stick to your words. In this manner i will want you give me the below information before you can be eligible to rent the apartment.I want you to be fast in this process in other for me to be able to send you the keys and documents before you will be visiting the apartment.Infact i will like to meet me you when am coming to visit you soonest.
RENT APPLICATION FORM
1)Your Full Name
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
3)Are you married?
4)How many people will be living in the house?
5)Do you have a pet?
6)Do you have a car?
7)Occupation?
8)Rent Duration?
Looking forward to read from you with all this details. so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt and contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how you will get the apartment keys and documents. please am giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that we have not seen each other yet and am only putting everything into Gods hands.This is my phone number +447024053878 here in London.
Looking forward to read from you.
Cheers
And my reply:
Hi Rose,
Thanks for emailing me. I'm really excited about the apartment. And I am greatly reassured by your expressions of religious faith. God bless you and your studies.
So here is my information:
1)Your Full Name
Tomohiro Oscar de la Maria Idokoro
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
1313 Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
3)Are you married?
Single
4)How many people will be living in the house?
Just me.
5)Do you have a pet?
Yes, one cat. Lord Bosie.
6)Do you have a car?
Yes
7)Occupation?
Social Engineer
8)Rent Duration?
I prefer month-to-month or a 6-mo lease.
How long will it take to ship the keys? I am eager to move in as soon as possible and to make good on the trust you have placed in me. You will not regret your decision.
God bless,
Tomohiro
P.S. I am planning to visit London in the fall. Perhaps we can meet up then. Can you send me a photo? :)
Thanks for emailing me. I'm really excited about the apartment. And I am greatly reassured by your expressions of religious faith. God bless you and your studies.
So here is my information:
1)Your Full Name
Tomohiro Oscar de la Maria Idokoro
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
1313 Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
3)Are you married?
Single
4)How many people will be living in the house?
Just me.
5)Do you have a pet?
Yes, one cat. Lord Bosie.
6)Do you have a car?
Yes
7)Occupation?
Social Engineer
8)Rent Duration?
I prefer month-to-month or a 6-mo lease.
How long will it take to ship the keys? I am eager to move in as soon as possible and to make good on the trust you have placed in me. You will not regret your decision.
God bless,
Tomohiro
P.S. I am planning to visit London in the fall. Perhaps we can meet up then. Can you send me a photo? :)
Who will spring his trap first? Stay tuned...
Update (Fri, May 28, 7:45pm)
Ok, more back and forth:
Notice they're too lazy to even bother to address me by name:
From: Rose Craig
Date: Wed, May 26, 2010 at 6:12 AM
Subject: Apartment Keys and Documents
Hello
Good to hear from you.Am satisfied with your information and am willing to offer you the apartment.As i have said earlier that i am presently in London and the apartment keys and documents are with me here in London which will be shipped to you by a shipping agent.Concerning the shipment of the apartment keys and documents,it will be shipped to you by FEDEX shipping agent,they use one or two days to deliver package any where in the world. In this manner i will suggest you will have to make a month deposit of $500 before i can release the apartment keys and documents for you in other to ensure a secure transaction.The reason is that there are people who are not ready to rent apartment but only have interest in vacant apartment address and thereby use the apartment address to scam people.Once you are able to make the deposit,the apartment keys and documents will be shipped to you as soon as possible.I will be looking forward to read from you in other for me to give you the western union money transfer details you will use in making the deposit.Also i will want you to give me the Name and Address you want me to use in sending you the apartment keys and the documents in other for me to start the shipment process as soon as you send the deposit.
Looking forward to read from you .
Cheers
Date: Wed, May 26, 2010 at 6:12 AM
Subject: Apartment Keys and Documents
Hello
Good to hear from you.Am satisfied with your information and am willing to offer you the apartment.As i have said earlier that i am presently in London and the apartment keys and documents are with me here in London which will be shipped to you by a shipping agent.Concerning the shipment of the apartment keys and documents,it will be shipped to you by FEDEX shipping agent,they use one or two days to deliver package any where in the world. In this manner i will suggest you will have to make a month deposit of $500 before i can release the apartment keys and documents for you in other to ensure a secure transaction.The reason is that there are people who are not ready to rent apartment but only have interest in vacant apartment address and thereby use the apartment address to scam people.Once you are able to make the deposit,the apartment keys and documents will be shipped to you as soon as possible.I will be looking forward to read from you in other for me to give you the western union money transfer details you will use in making the deposit.Also i will want you to give me the Name and Address you want me to use in sending you the apartment keys and the documents in other for me to start the shipment process as soon as you send the deposit.
Looking forward to read from you .
Cheers
My reply:
Date: Thu, May 27, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: Apartment Keys and Documents
To: Rose Craig
Hi Rose,
Yes, please let's try to expedite this as much as possible. My current roommate has completely flaked on me and I need to be out by the first week in June. So I really need this apartment as soon as possible.
I understand your fear about scammers. My grandmother was scammed over the phone recently and it made me furious. I wasted days trying to recover her money. Unfortunately, we never got it back. But you can trust me.
Also, can you please email me at this address from now on? The first email address is just a made-up name I use when I post things on Craigslist.
Anyway, I hope to hear from you very soon. Regards,
Tom
Subject: Re: Apartment Keys and Documents
To: Rose Craig
Hi Rose,
Yes, please let's try to expedite this as much as possible. My current roommate has completely flaked on me and I need to be out by the first week in June. So I really need this apartment as soon as possible.
I understand your fear about scammers. My grandmother was scammed over the phone recently and it made me furious. I wasted days trying to recover her money. Unfortunately, we never got it back. But you can trust me.
Also, can you please email me at this address from now on? The first email address is just a made-up name I use when I post things on Craigslist.
Anyway, I hope to hear from you very soon. Regards,
Tom
Latest from Rose:
From: Rose Craig
Date: Fri, May 28, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Subject: Transfer Details
Hello
Good to hear from you.I quite reason with you that there are a lot of scams on the internet but you need to understand is not everybody that deals in such devilish work,in this manner you do not need to be afraid of anything the apartment keys and documents will be shipped to you as soon as you send the deposit.Here is the western union money transfer details you will use in sending the deposit.
Receiver's Name; Rose Craig
Address ; 46,Kingly Street,
London W1B,
United Kingdom.
Kindly give me the below information which you will be giving after sending the money.
Sender's Name?
Sender's Address?
Money Transfer Control Number?
Amount sent?
Also i will want you to give me the Name and Address you want me to use in sending you the apartment keys and documents in other for me to start the shipment process of the keys and documents as soon as you send the deposit.
I will be looking forward to read from you .
Cheers
Date: Fri, May 28, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Subject: Transfer Details
Hello
Good to hear from you.I quite reason with you that there are a lot of scams on the internet but you need to understand is not everybody that deals in such devilish work,in this manner you do not need to be afraid of anything the apartment keys and documents will be shipped to you as soon as you send the deposit.Here is the western union money transfer details you will use in sending the deposit.
Receiver's Name; Rose Craig
Address ; 46,Kingly Street,
London W1B,
United Kingdom.
Kindly give me the below information which you will be giving after sending the money.
Sender's Name?
Sender's Address?
Money Transfer Control Number?
Amount sent?
Also i will want you to give me the Name and Address you want me to use in sending you the apartment keys and documents in other for me to start the shipment process of the keys and documents as soon as you send the deposit.
I will be looking forward to read from you .
Cheers
So we approach the moment of maximum tension. I need a Money Transfer Control Number. Maybe the /r/ board can help.
Unknown comments:yea thats scam , hate them priks . would like to kick them in the head for that !
ubernatural comments:Thanks for that. I found the same guy posting in Rotterdam. Using your post, I responded after email #2 with this:
Hello,
Good to hear from you. Am satisfied with details of apartment and am willing to offer you my relevant details. Concerning those details, it is customary in North America before releasing details of this nature to request an information security deposit. In this manner i will suggest you will have to make an information security deposit of $750 before i can release my personal details. The reason is that there are people who are try to rent apartment but only have interest in scamming people. Once you are able to make the deposit, the personal information will be emailed to you as soon as possible. I will be looking forward to read from you in other for me to give you the western union money transfer details you will use in making the deposit. After you send me the information security deposit I will send you the Name and Address where you can send the apartment keys and the documents.
Looking forward to read from you too.
Hello,
Good to hear from you. Am satisfied with details of apartment and am willing to offer you my relevant details. Concerning those details, it is customary in North America before releasing details of this nature to request an information security deposit. In this manner i will suggest you will have to make an information security deposit of $750 before i can release my personal details. The reason is that there are people who are try to rent apartment but only have interest in scamming people. Once you are able to make the deposit, the personal information will be emailed to you as soon as possible. I will be looking forward to read from you in other for me to give you the western union money transfer details you will use in making the deposit. After you send me the information security deposit I will send you the Name and Address where you can send the apartment keys and the documents.
Looking forward to read from you too.
Szilveszter comments:Indeed, I got the exact same letter for a flat in Rotterdam, exact same pictures for 500 Euros...
Was starting to get suspicious, but good thing I found this site, at least I won't waste any more time on this option...
Was starting to get suspicious, but good thing I found this site, at least I won't waste any more time on this option...
Unknown comments:The fecking baaastard is doing the same over here in Ireland, he posted it on gumtree "city centre newly refurbished apt, 700e per month for a two bed, which is dirt cheap for Dublin city centre!!! Guna keep emailing him see if i can get something and then trace the fucker down!!! In the words on Liam Neeson
I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you stop scamming now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”
I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you stop scamming now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”
