More Craig's List Fraud

I seem to be on Craig's List just long enough to find all the scams.  It is really sad that a great utility is marred by cheats, crooks and even murderers.  For those doing searches to see if you are being scammed, here is another one.

Scenario - Looking for a place to rent via Craig's List

What is happening - An unbelievably great deal is posted.  You respond to get more information.  The poster sends you a long email explaining an intricate situation and why he is outside of the country at the time.  He lets you know how much the deposit will be and sends along questions to fill out for the application.  I imagine for those who continue forward, the next step would be to wire his bank account with the money for the deposit. 

This happened to me twice by apparently the same person.  He pulled some rental listings off another person's website and posted them on Craig's List for an unbelievable price.  When I inquired about the properties he responded with the emails below.  The sad thing is that he even used the property owner's name.  Here are two of the fraud responses sent to me.

Hello,
 
   Please excuse my late reply but I couldn't respond earlier. I'm using 4  years in West africa ,so I'm not giving it out for month alone but for  years and will be relocating else where when i am back from my trip.I and my wife had an accident when we were in state,and i lost her during the accident,And also i almost lost my hearing along the inccident so please if you know you are going to rent my house kindly take good care of it... The House has 5bedrooms. The rent is $1000 /month and it includes the utilities.my name is Mr Ted.Slathar.I am the owner of the House, Now I live in West africa  and I came to West Africa under (WHO) World Health Organisation(WHO). WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on globalhealth matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical
support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.Visit our website for more information if you also want to make an impact to
the world. http://www.who.int/about/en/. I hope you will promise me to take very good care of the House. The House is very big and nice and it is in a nice area I have received many proposals today for my property, if you wish to rent the House you must cover rent deposit which is $600 will be paid at the beginning of the contract and you will begin to pay the rent normally from the 2nd month of your staying.

So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. Hope you are okay with the price of $1000 with utilities. I look forward to hearing from you ASAP so that we discuss on how to get the house for rent, also are you ready to rent it now or when? I appreciate your expression.

  i want you go and view house and get back to me.
thanks and God bless.here is the Address of the house:<address removed>
go and view the house And get back to me and  fill out the rental application form below.
                          RENTAL APLICATION FORM
FULL NAME?
CURRENT ADDRESS?
MARITAL STATUS?
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE LIVING IN THE HOUSE?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND TO MOVE IN?
HOW MANY YEARS DO YOU INTEND TO LIVE THERE?
HOME PHONE?
WORK PHONE?
CELL PHONE?
OCCUPATION?
AGE        ?
Await your response so as to further our  discussion.
 
Here is my contact number...(+2348021235547...)
Thanks God Bless You.
Ted.Slathar.

Number 2

Greeting! And thanks for contacting me in respect of my advert published on craigslist.com
 
I am Smith Slathar, A nationality of United States of America, a Project Manager To Abuja Community Development Based on Urban development previously credited for the great work done in the Federal capital (ABUJA) for the re-construction of a mega-city now working on the same project in Republic of Kogi under the supervision and provision of the World Bank .The project which due date was supposed to be in July 2009 was expanded with extra works in two other states such as Ibadan and Ogun states neighboring states this will last for a period of Four Years, I have been in Abuja since January 2009 and my last visit to the State in March was awesome but I was not happy with the condition I met my house in and my colleague gave me a good advice which he is also rendering he told me that while we are in Abuja we can rent out our house in order for good maintenance and caring from the tenant this is the reason while I published my house for rent on the website popularly known in the state for any interested person to contact me, The home you are request for is a 5 Bedroom 5 Bathroom, Locate at 26370 Arbour Creek Ln, Shorewood, MN, 55331. Sq. Footage: 5000. Close To: Block Away From Lake Minnetonka (boat Slip Available) Rent Includes: Water and sewer  Garbage pickup, Rental Features: Refrigerator  Washer and dryer. Monthly Rent: $1800 and a Damage Security Deposit of $1000, total amount requested is ($2800) for you to secure this home and move in!
 
Interested leaser/renter should kindly write me back with these requested information for proper record and documentation such
 
Rental/Lease First Name :
Rental/Lease  Last Name:
Rental/Lease  Spouse Full Names:
Rental/Lease  Kids Full Names:
Rental/Lease Relatives or Friends Full Name:
Rental/Lease Mobile/Cell Number:
Rent al/Lease  Telephone Number:
Rental/Lease Present House Address:
Rental/Lease Present Work place name and Address:
Rental/Lease Present work Tel. Number:
Rental/Lease Numbers of Cars:
Rental/Lease  Pet type:
Rental/Lease proposed date of Move in:
Rental/Lease months budget to deposit before move in:
Rental/Lease Reference contact info:
Rental/Lease present Landlord Contact Info:
==============================
Rental/Lease comment:
==============================
Please only providers of these information I will lease/rent my house, and then forward I will forward a copy of C of O, Lease contract by email and other paper works by parcel delivery for authentic signatory and of the leaser/renter.
Please get back to me if you can comply with these conditions mentioned above.
 
Thank you.

 

Smith Slathar

Fax:- +1206-888-2297
Cell:- +23470-6589-4437
Website:- www.devex.com//project 

What should you do?

• DO NOT provide any personal or bank account information
• Flag the posting in Craig's List so these scam artist can't continue ripping people off
• Respond directly to the person letting them know that you flagged them and reported them to the authorities for investigation.  I did this and have not heard anything else back.
• If you can, find the listing owner and let them know that their rentals were being used by a thief to swindle money from people on Craig's List.  While they can't stop anyone from doing this, they can be more aware and potentially flag fraudulent listings too!

Comments

[Nikki]

WOW - thanks for posting this. I got response #1, as if anyone would fall for it, but the house, of course, is beautiful and that is a steal of a price, if only it worked that way. Very sad that people do use Craigs List as an avenue to commit crimes.

[SONDRA]

YES THANK U FOR POSTING THIS I REPLIED 2 HIM YESTERDAY HE RESPONDED BACK WITH THE 2ND SCAM LETTER AND I TOLD HIM THIS SOUNDS LIKE A CL MONEY SCAM I FLAGGED HIM 5TIMES THE HOUSE IS ON SALE NOT RENT.

[ris]

I also recieved the second response the house is in adifferent city and state though now I can not find the listing on craigslist today

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Greeting! And thanks for contacting me in respect of my advert published on craigslist.com

I am Dolores C Martinez, A nationality of United States of America, a Project Manager To Abuja Community Development Based on Urban development previously credited for the great work done in the Federal capital (ABUJA) for the re-construction of a mega-city now working on the same project in Republic of Kogi under the supervision and provision of the World Bank .The project which due date was supposed to be in November 2009 was expanded with extra works in two other states such as Ibadan and Ogun states neighboring states this will last for a period of Four Years, I have been in Abuja since March 2009 and my last visit to the State in April was awesome but I was not happy with the condition I met my house in and my colleague gave me a good advice which he is also rendering he told me that while we are in Abuja we can rent out our house in order for good maintenance and caring from the tenant this is the reason while I published my house for rent on the website popularly known in the state for any interested person to contact me, The home you are request for is a 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom, Locate at 5201 Pinetree Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33140. Rent Includes: Water and sewer Garbage pickup, Rental Features: Refrigerator Washer and dryer. Monthly Rent: $1000 and a Damage Security Deposit of $600, total amount requested is ($1600) for you to secure this home and move in!

Interested leaser/renter should kindly write me back with these requested information for proper record and documentation such

Rental/Lease First Name :
Rental/Lease Last Name:
Rental/Lease Spouse Full Names:
Rental/Lease Kids Full Names:
Rental/Lease Relatives or Friends Full Name:
Rental/Lease Mobile/Cell Number:
Rent al/Lease Telephone Number:
Rental/Lease Present House Address:
Rental/Lease Present Work place name and Address:
Rental/Lease Present work Tel. Number:
Rental/Lease Numbers of Cars:
Rental/Lease Pet type:
Rental/Lease proposed date of Move in:
Rental/Lease months budget to deposit before move in:
Rental/Lease Reference contact info:
Rental/Lease present Landlord Contact Info:
==============================
Rental/Lease comment:
==============================
Please only providers of these information I will lease/rent my house, and then forward I will forward a copy of C of O, Lease contract by email and other paper works by parcel delivery for authentic signatory and of the leaser/renter.
Please get back to me if you can comply with these conditions mentioned above.

Thank you.
Dolores C Martinez
Cell # +234-812-161-4783 or 011-234-812-161-4783

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That's Crazy :(

[ebony hannor]

omg thanks soooo much. i just saw his ad on craigslist for a town home saying he works over seas and my dad told me to look the property up first and i did. come to find out he doesnt even own the property. he is definitely getting reported!!!!

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