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Craigslist Scam vs Diligent Young Lady

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Van Blake-Coleman Realty, St. Thomas/www.talk-to-Tanya.com 1-16940-1B

 

At Van Blake-Coleman  Realty we  have  used Craigslist for years to market rentals. Today I became aware that a property we represent, for sale, was being advertised by a scammer on Craigslist for rent. It was called to my attention by a young lady who was hoping to find a deal but was smart enough to recognize when a deal was too good to be true. 

 

What disgusted me most was the unconscionable manner in which the scammer tried to lure their victims using: realgracerent@givingheartmission.com, really?!!! Targeting those who are religiously orientated.  Scum of the earth is the only way I can describe this low life, person. 

 

This person advertised a three bedroom two bathroom home for rent for $850 a month, not likely to  happen on St. Thomas. Many people have been displaced by the hurricanes and faced with rebuilding their own homes, they are looking for inexpensive rentals. 

Further this scammer claimed to be hearing impared so could not be contacted by phone but if you sent funds he would make arrangement for you to get the keys.  Never do this.

This particularly bright young lady, did her research and found our listing of this home for sale and gave me a call. 

Please be aware, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Unfortunately, some people are taken in by these scams. The scammer has been reported to Craigslist. 

I did not reach out to these people, yet they contacted my e-mail with the message below. So they are also scrapping people's information who view the post.  Again they are using God as a means of connection (securing that special place in Hell for them)  As, well as gathering a lot of personal information.

Hello,

 Thanks for your inquiry about my house, I own the house (4Kb-3 Fortuna We, Saint Thomas, VI 00802, 3 beds 2 baths 1,800 sqft, and it is currently available for rent, The monthly rent is $850 but the total move-in cost is $1700 which include the refundable security deposit of  $850, only in the first month.. The house is in a perfect condition with recent updates so you would have no regret renting it. I am looking for a responsible tenant who would take proper care of the house, pets are allow as long as they are not destructive, also Utilities are included in the rent.

I have decided to rent the house because my family and Myself just traveled to Louisa, KY on an evangelical mission involving in several projects basically helping the less privileged youths, deaf and dumb in reshaping their world for a better living., we are going to spend a period of 3 to 4 years here., I am hearing impaired and I must confess I am very new in this landlord business. Pets are allowed as long as they are not destructive and also Utilities such as Water, Trash Collection and Internet and Cable TV have all been included in the monthly rent. You will only be responsible for Electricity as the case may be..  I am a very busy person  and would prefer text but i can call you back if needed (509) 262-5911 and i also check my email often. Feel free to contact me via email or text for further inquiries.

You can drive-by to view the outside and neighborhood of the house and If you are really interested in renting my home then answer the rental application questions below and get back to me as soon as you fill the application. I can guarantee you that this is a great House so looking forward to a future  collaboration and friendship. Please note that you will only be able to drive by the House for now but can't have a look at the interior until I have sent the keys and documents of the House to you.

They are also scrapping from the ad, I did not attempt to contact them they sent the following information to my e-mail address. 
                              RENT QUESTIONNAIRE

FIRST NAME:__________
MIDDLE NAME:__________
LAST NAME:__________
SEX:__________
AGE:__________
PROFESSION:__________
MONTHLY INCOME:_________
(CELL)PHONE__________
(HOME)PHONE__________
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION CURRENT EMPLOYER__________
EMPLOYER ADDRESS__________
(WORK)PHONE__________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY:________
DO YOU HAVE A CAR____(YES/NO), HOW MANY:________
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING IN THE HOUSE:__________
PRESENT ADDRESS:_____________________
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING YOUR PRESENT HOME:__________
CURRENT LANDLORD NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:__________________
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:____
DO YOU AGREE TO PAY DEPOSIT TO SHIP OUT THE KEYS TO YOU:______________
WHEN DO YOU WANT THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS OF THE HOUSE SENT TO YOU:____________
REFERENCES:

 Looking forward to hearing back from you with all this details so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you. May GOD bless you and your family.

Regards
Mr And Mrs Maynard

 

 

 

Comments (18)

Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Morning,  I hate this kind of scam and had it happen a number of times over the years in our market.  

Nov 29, 2017 07:47 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Tanya, these type of scams are definitely disturbing. I happened to me once a few years ago. Ever since then, I post a note on the inside of any vacant homes I list stating that this home is not for rent and if anyone has any questions, to conact me. 

Nov 30, 2017 04:52 PM
Anonymous
Juliana

Saw a scam same email address website on craigslist in Honolulu

Dec 05, 2017 11:54 AM
#3
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Tanya

There seems to be a new scam everyday. Sad . . . .

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Dec 06, 2017 07:40 PM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Tanya Thanks for sharing this.Surely alerting us.  Those type of scams are discusting and it looks like it is everywhere now.  

Dec 07, 2017 08:30 AM
Tanya Van Blake-Coleman
Van Blake-Coleman Realty, St. Thomas/www.talk-to-Tanya.com - St Thomas, VI
Improving the Quality of Your Life

Thanks for all of your support.

 

 

The house is not being shown by anyone representing that they are legitimately renting it. Nor is it empty.  The home is owner occupied.

 

The scammers simply took the photo and put it on a Craigslist ad; convencing people to send their money to them without ever having seen the property as there is a shortage of decent, affordable housing due to the two hurricanes. 

I am sad to say, today I was informed one person actually sent them $1700, dispite this post, posting on a Facebook page called, What's Going on St. Thomas,  and communicating with Craigslist.  

Dec 12, 2017 09:05 PM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

I've been there. Thankfully people are getting wise to these people. If they can figure out how to pull of a scam like they why can they just get a job??

Jan 25, 2018 05:20 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I'm glad you caught this scam and pointed it out to us Tanya.

Feb 12, 2018 09:35 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Tanya, most REALTORS around here do not use Craigslist anymore, for this very reason! 

Feb 17, 2018 07:06 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Even if you don't have it listed on Craigslist, they will snag your photos from Realtor.com or Zillow and post there - it drives me nuts, Tanya! I only wish we could report them to someone who could do something about it. Our Secretary of State has heard from many of us and they can't do a thing about it. 

Hopefully online security will imporve soon!

Mar 01, 2018 10:52 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I'm glad you were alerted to this scammer and stopped it.

Mar 07, 2018 05:33 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Tanya, sad to see these type of scams are still working, and damaging people.

Mar 18, 2018 06:50 AM
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

Tanya, maybe leaving out the address would make a difference. Listing homes would be a good idea to not mention the address. 

Mar 27, 2018 09:45 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Tanya Van Blake-Coleman This is truly sad for renters. I just posted a survey about How Renters are being scammed yesterday. I stopped advertising my properties on Craig's List for this very reason. We all have to be on the look out for these scams these days. 

Aug 23, 2018 09:14 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

A client of mine received a very similar email from another Craigslist ad. Fortunately she was suspicious and sent it to me. She had already given the scammer certain information about herself but I told her to stop immediately! There are horror stories out there and the scammers don't care who they hurt.

Nov 09, 2018 11:39 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Yes, that aspect of scammers trading on religion incenses me too.

Feb 25, 2019 12:18 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

It's such a shame that scammers have to be so slimy and use listings for their scams.  Good thing you  were notified.

Feb 26, 2019 05:15 PM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Tanya, I don't understand people. That's just terrible!

Apr 10, 2019 05:00 AM