How to Spot and Avoid a Rental Scam

One of the places that many people use to advertise a real estate rental is Craig's List. Another Venue is Backpage. These are two places where a Landlord can advertise for free. Scammers treat lists like these as if it was their job. A number of different persons or sometimes the same person using different names and email addresses contacts as many people as they can find who are advertising to bait them into a scam.

Say for an example that you have a place available to rent. The trickster will contact you and say that they are interested in renting. They will tell you a little about themselves then follow up with questions for you about the accommodation. When a potential landlord is robbed it is not funny. The introductions however once recognized can be very comical.

A common set of factors are the person being from England, working in Africa and planning to move to the United States. Another common factor is strange ways of spelling English names as well as overall poor spelling and grammar. Often too much information is offered and an assumption is made that the person has already been accepted to move in.

Names often seem to be backwards with last names as first names or spelled oddly. Some of the names I have come across were Hope Mikel, Wright Colins, Roland Kate, Temmy Tony and Jennifer Mertinez. Here are a few portions of unedited notes that I have received:

"Blossom Dickinson from London, United Kingdom, 27 years old lady from a Christian background. Working with Total Oil & Gas in UK as a Geologist,presently on an assignment to an Oil field"

Blossom Dickenson

"I am in london as at now where i just finished my degree programme and relocating.kindly email me again with the below details so we can proceed and have some things done concerning the Rent."

Kathie Stewart

"I am Edner Daniels,i am 29 years old.I am originaly from Uk but presently in africa ,i hold a degree in BUSINESS AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT FROM THE METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY IN LONDON U.K,i worked for two years in UK before leaving for West Africa where i am at present with my mum who is on a missionary project here. Consequent to this and in order to make arramgment in easier and quicker i am searching for Timeshare early and i saw your ad on the web and i want to make a reservation for your timeshare."

Edner Daniels

"My name is Devina Malcom,i saw your (place) advert at craigslist,.... Unfortunatelly i will not be available to come and have a look at the place.Cuz Am a human right activist presently in West Africa for the european Union Summit on war against terrorism and its ending soon. I and the rest of my collegues will be coming to U.S.A (United State of America) for another program on World Terrorism which will last for 6 or 8 month."

Devina Malcom

"Am Lilly am a graduate of Queen's University of Belfast and work as a professional network engineer. I am currently working on contract for my company james inc. here in Africa. I am a very dedicated individual who is totally committed to human development, friendly, very trustworthy and value relationship above anything."

Natasha Mill

After introducing themselves, the scammer will follow up with a barrage of questions about the rental. The questions make no sense because the full description and requirements were already given in the ad they are replying to. If you comply and answer those questions the next step will follow. Here is one example:

Hello,

I'm Dave Smith of Smith Ventures from United Kingdom.I came across your profile for your place to be rented out.I am interested in renting your place for my niece who will be coming to the US for six months vacation . She will be staying in the place for the duration instead of an hotel due to the exhorbitant price.Please answer my following questions below:

1) I will like to know if your (place) will be available starting from September 17 to February 25

2) I will like to have the description of the (place), size, and the equipments in there to know what she will bring along when coming.

3) I will like to know the rent fee per month plus the utilities and if you require deposit.I will like to know if you accept paying the rent monthly

4) I want to know if you accept cashier check for payment so I can make an advance payment before her arrival that will stand as commitment.

5) I will like to know if the place is near to shopping mall, food stores

6) Lastly, I will like to know more about you.

I will be very glad to have all this questions answered.

Hope to hear from you soon

Best regards"

Dave Smith

If you answer everything the next set of questions will be for your banking and personal information. The scam and trap was mixed into the last set of questions. The Cashier's Check IS the scam. You will be asked to accept the check and in many cases to provide change as the check is for more than needed. An employer will send it and if you send the change it will pay for the trip to the USA!

It will take ten days or more from the time you cash the check which will remain valid until your bank discovers that the check or money order was no good. If you ever watched the movie "Catch Me If You Can" an example of this is given where forged employee checks were used to keep the main character's pockets lined. The FBI had a hard time tracing the fraud. In this case much is being done out of countries where the practice is common.

"My name is Mrs Jean Williams ,I am highly interested in making payment for the (place) you advertised for rent,I want to make the payment on behalf of my Daugther who intends to be at your location to further her education,I am currently based in the Uk.... Liverpool,but now in Liverpool ,So I would like you to let me know how much you will be charging per month. So try to get back to me as soon as you can and also I hope the environment is a quiet and peaceful place for her to concentrate and further her education? and note that your payment will be made to you via cahsiear check or money order. I look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible with the FINAL ASKING PIRCE I will anticipate ur reply soon."

Jean Williams

"...let me know if i can pay you with cheque or money-order. I like to let you know about myself. I am a non-smoker,very clean,serious,responsible, trustworthy, easy going, well behaved in terms of manners.and just a good balance between independent yet friendly at the same time.I also do cooking, eat out, and do like to do swimming for fun and really God fearing. I will be willing to tell you more about myself upon request. I will be arriving in 2 to 3 week.... and will like to secure the accomodation immediately, My sponsor has informed me that once I have agreed on price with you he will send the payment immediately.Please let me know with details what I need to pay and furnish me with your name and address for sending the payment.you will remove the total amount of the from it ,and send the rest back to my travel agent ,so i will get everything ready.. Thank you once again looking forward to meeting you and hoping to hear from you soonest."

Naomi Cole

Sometimes the scammer mass emails their scam letter. Once, a young lady on the West Coast replied to sender and sent everyone on the scammers list, her personal information. I wrote to her to warn her that she was replying to a scam and that clicking reply went to a number of receivers. She was a bit embarrassed and annoyed but thanked me for telling her. Phishing for your personal information as well as the use of Cashiers Checks and Western Union Transfers are used in a number of scams besides rentals. Employment, Lottery and Prize scams also use variations of the same theme. Craig's List has posted a warning about accepting Checks, Cashier's Checks and Western Union Transfers since the practice has become so common and frequent.

At one time Cashier's Checks, Money Orders and Western Union.were each the trusted modes of sending and receiving money. Personal Checks were the only risk. Now, once the money has gone by any method, there is no getting it back. Instead of adding the money you thought you received, your own funds end up being depleted by the amount deposited along with bounced check fees. Money sent by Western Union disappears at the other end. It's just like throwing the money out of a window on a moving train. Furthermore as if that was not bad enough, ou may have given away your personal information and be at risk for identity theft.

Several other scams will be explored in thjs series of articles including employment, inheritance, investment, pet lottery and prize scams. Have you heard from the son of the King who was killed in a coup and left money in a secret location which you can help to get out of the country yet?