Following is a copy of an e-mail sent to an inquiry for a home to rent posted on Criagslist. The scammer copied one of my listings, pictures, description and all, and has posted it on Craigslist as a rental. They claim they are now out of the country. They use a Yahoo e-mail address and use the first and last name of the owner for the e-mail address.
Of course we cam guess what the next step will be. Send the security deposit and one month rent to them via a bank wire.
You can report these scams directly to the FBI on the Internet site:
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
Thank you very much for the reply and interest in my home. I am the owner of the home you are making inquiry of. Actually I resided in the home with my wife before and presently we had packed out of the home due to my recent transfer from our company and now situated in the united kingdom.I am a welder under ship building,I worked with Nassco ship building Company,but I have a job appointment with BVT Surface Fleet Limited you can view site at www.bvtsurfacefleet.com . And presently we want to give out our house for rent to a clean and tidy person.
Our home is available now for rent at $950 with a security deposit of $950 including all the Utilities like electricity, warmer, Gas, internet connection etc. I want to let you know that money is not our problem but what we are looking for is absolute care of the home when you pack into the home. We are looking out for someone that can always keep the home clean and tidy.So please I want you to stand on the agreement you will make with us.
We are kind and honest people,we don't like disappointing people and we don't want anyone to disappoint me.We spent alot on our house that we want to give to you for rent.It is very close to Parks and Shopping.
What really happened is this, we are not giving the home out for rent just because of money but because of our recent work to uk.So we will solicit for your absolute maintenance of our house. We want you to treat it as yours when you move in, I hope this is very clear to you? I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that we will be glad to see it neat and clean whenever we visit the country.
I want to let you know that there is no one there in the state to show you the inside of the house as the keys and all documents of the house are here with us and we shall get it shipped to you via FEDEX or DHL Courier Service as soon as you are ready to move in
You can go check out the house and the neighbourhood from the outside and get back to me if you really like it for more information.I will also send some of the pictures to you in my next email.The physical Address:XXXX Milwaukee, WI 53XXX
Below are the final question that you must answer to qualify for the rent of our house.
FIRST NAME: __________________
MIDDLE NAME: __________________
LAST NAME: __________________
PROFESSION: ________________
PHONE (____) __________ (CELL)
PHONE (____) __________ (WORK)
PHONE (____) __________ (HOME)
MARITAL STATUS: _________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: ___________________________
CITY: _______________
STATE: ______________
ZIPCODE: ____________
HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? ______________________________
_________________________________________
CURRENT RENT: _______
PREVIOUS ADDRESS: ___________________________
CITY: ________________
STATE: _______________
ZIPCODE: _____________
HOW LONG? ____________ IF RENTING,HOUSE.
WHY DID YOU LEAVE?
_______________________________________________________________________
PREVIOUS RENT: _______
IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
PERSONAL REFERENCES
(LIST 3 PERSONS, OTHER THAN YOUR RELATIVES, THAT WE CAN CONTACT TO
VERIFY YOUR CHARACTER.)
FIRST PERSON
FIRST NAME: _______________
MIDDLE NAME: ______________
LAST NAME: ________________
RELATIONSHIP______________
PHONE (___) ________________
SECOND PERSON
FIRST NAME: _______________
MIDDLE NAME: ______________
LAST NAME: ________________
RELATIONSHIP______________
PHONE (___) ________________
THIRD PERSON
FIRST NAME: _______________
MIDDLE NAME: ______________
LAST NAME: ________________
RELATIONSHIP______________
PHONE (___)________________
EMERGENCY
(IN AN EMERGENCY, LIST 2 PERSONS THAT CAN BE CONTACTED STARTING WITH
NEAREST RELATIVES)
Thanks and God bless you.
Best Regards
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