Yet Another Rental Scam * WATERMARKING Online Photos is the KEY!~
This same thing has happened in our area with the agent's FOR LEASE sign sitting in the front yard.
WATERMARKING photos that appear online is the ONLY answer to this problem and the sooner online sites and MLS systems ELECT to have subtle watermarks is the ONLY want this can be stopped.
Yet Another Rental Property Scam
This is The Post That Was Going to Go Here from yesterday. You'll have to click that link to read about that saga, but anyway on Saturday, I was contacted by a potential renter. Apparently he had thought that he had been corresponding with me back and forth via email, but after talking with me the first time, I guess he went back and did a little research. After having done so, he called me back to alert me to a scam involving one of the units that Bham WIiRE Rentals manages and currently has listed for rent.I asked prospective tenant to send the communication to me so that I could report it to Craigslist and I suggested that he do the same.Here is the correspondence from the imposter: (My comments are in red or purple)."TAKE NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE BY AND SEE MY PLACE FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT IF YOU DRIVE BY THE HOME YOU MAY SEE A SIGN THERE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT IT BELONGS TO OUR PREVIOUS AGENT SO YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE HOME ANYMORE! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING GET THE TENANCY RENT APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO ME. ALSO YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT +2348083043005 OR +2347038114086.
Regards,
Charita H Cadenhead"Notice that the impostor actually signed off using my name.Here's another message:"Thanks for your email.. The house is still available. I decided to rent the house because we are going to spend more time here in Abuja, about 4 years.. Let me start by introducing myself. I must confess that I am very new in this landlord business..However, My name is Charita H Cadenhead. I and my wife own the house located at (address was inserted here)." (Note that the impostor uses my name (obviously a female name) and then begins the next sentence by mentioning his wife. That's clue if I ever saw one). " Due to my job as a civil engineer, I works for a German company called JULIUS BERGER CONSTRUCTION CO., and now i have been transfer to West Africa to work in a branch in West Africa.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 house. However,the initial plan was to sale out the House. which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell.The house include the utilities like Heat, A/C in wall/window, Hydro, cable, Garbage Disposal, Fireplace , Fridge, stove, Dishwasher, Dryer, Breakfast Bar, Dining Table and Sofa Set,Refrigerator,Canopied deck overlooking nature.,internet access e.t.c. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person 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. I hope you will promise me to take very good care of my home, also i will be come once in 4 months for visit to see how you are taking care of the home, and if any thing need to be repair in the home, i can fix it back!"Thank good the prospective tenant had the inclination to call the number on my yard sign after he did a drive by.Prospective tenants please be aware that no respectable company would ask you to send money without having viewed the property and Bham WIiRE Realty would not accept any money (not even an application fee) before you have seen the inside of the property.Bham WIiRE Realty is a local Birmingham, Al company and you can Google Charita H. Cadenhead or Bham WIiRE Realty and realize immediately that we have a strong internet and local Birmingham area presence.Be careful and by all means always report scams.--
Charita H. Cadenhead
Bham WIiRE Realty, LLC712 29th Street South, B2(888) 371-8221- Fax
Origin of BDAMB from Bham (The Back Door Ambassador Series)
BDAMB Gains Access Through Front Door
Charita Cadenhead, Your Metropolitan Birmingham, Alabama Real Estate Broker of Choice
Got a question about Metropolitan Birmingham real estate? Just ask Charita. Need a good Realtor(R) to help you find a new home or sell the one you already own? Just shoot me an email. In need of a rental property? Subscribe to be notified whenever we list a new rental or home for sale.
www.bhamwiire.com
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(205) 321-1200 - Office
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