BEWARE OF THIS SCAM TARGETING REAL ESTATE

General Real Estate Investing
1

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but i have had 2 of my students find an ad and get this response and fall for it. The response will read something like this:

Hello…and how are you doing today

Its been pretty cool out here and all is just almost same as back there…lol…just that i loose the comfort of our weather and some other few things as well…, although we will not be moving back to the house when we get back next year, because we will be getting a newer place so we need a clean family or person to live in it so it does not get worn out, so we would not have to spend money on renovations when we get back… I am sorry i did not reply to your email so quickly, that’s because the connection has been too busy lately, so i could not read my email.

I have just gotten a contract for the preperation of the 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER GAME coming up soon in Victoria Island (SA) and i and my group would have to make sure there is no problem with power and street lights through out the game , because that is where countries all over the world will come together to play…The home is very clean and we don’t want our home to be used unkept, and that is one of the reasons why i took the keys and paperworks to the game, so i will be mailling the keys and papers for move in to you directly from here and it will be delivered to you by express parcel delivery, i heard it is the best service from here and also offers home delivery via next day delivery service…I will not be moving back into the house because we will be moving into a new place when we get back, The rent price is as i have listed per month or craigslist and includes Electricity , Garbage removal, and Water the damage deposit is $800 and it will be refundable after 1 year of rent, the security deposit is the payment to receive the keys and some papers for move in and also full house plan (the damage deposit will basically help in the mailling of the keys, customs charges and quarantine charges too will be paid from it), …then you will pay the rent as soon as you move into the house and the rent goes on month to month, unless you want it another way like six months, or so…you can also let me know… the informations below is to lets us know where the keys and papers for move in will be sent to…because it will be a next day delivery service…so we hope to hear back from you as soon as possible…

                                                          PLEASE FILL THE INFORMATION BELOW SO I CAN KNOW WHERE TO MAIL THE KEYS AND and also what to fill into the APLLICATION & LEASE FORM...

Full Name-------
Address to receive Keys-------
city-------------------------
state------------------------
zipcode----------------------
phone number 1---------------
phone number 2---------------
how many people will be staying in the house-------
do you have a pet----------
how long will you like to rent--------------
are you married-----------------
when are you planing on moving into the house---------
want the house furnished or not------------
do you agree to pay security dep to get keys and 1 months rent as soon as you move in----

you can reach us at our cell number 0112347026049249 or you can also dail like this +2347026049249 i dont really know how you can dail it from over there

NB: The reason why you wouldn’t be able to see inside our home is because we discharged our house keeper and we could not quickly arrange for an agent or look for some one to immediately hand over the keys to…you know you can not just give anybody keys to your home and also to help you rent it out…that is not done so easily this days so i was advised to come down here with it since it would be very easy to mail back to any person who wants to rent…So i need you to see reasons with us…

Thanks

Once again I am sorry if this is in the wrong area but I am also posting this in the Carlton Sheets forum just so no one else loses there money.

Wendy

2

Nigerian scam through and through.

3

I recieved something very similar from a craigslist ad I responded to, here it is,

Hello,

In regard to the house you are interested in, You are free to view the property outside view anytime today… For the keys I will make an arrangement on how you will get the keys that will able you to view the inside. I will love to show you myself but my work won’t allow me as a National Geographical Travelers.

I work with National Geographic as a Worldwide Research Expert Groups. We are currently on Food of the world program that required us to travel across the world. You can get more information about food of the world at our website on http://www.nationalgeographicfood.com/

I want you to get back to with your address where you wishes to receive the keys, but before then I want you to get back to me with the application filled to able me send those keys.

                                                       RENTAL APPLICATION

  1. Your Full Name

  2. Your Full Address & Phone Number

  3. How old are you?

  4. Are you married?

  5. How many people will be living in the house?

  6. Do you have a pet?

  7. Do you have a car?

  8. Occupation?

  9. Where may we reach you to discuss this application?

Day Phone # ( ) Night Phone # ( )______

Regards,

National Geographical
Woldwide Research Expert Groups.

4

And one more, Beware.

I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business…However, My name is Daivd William,I own the house located at (3500 Fleet Street, Baltimore, MD). Due to my job as a missionary 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 weare going to stay in Africa that I decided to rent out the house. However,the initial plan was to sale out the apt.which I tried, but some times the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this in case if you find the house on another website, that is the old advert. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person (With good credit) that can take very good care of it as we arenot after the money , but want it to be clean and for you to take ofit as if it were yours
The rent is $600 and 400 for Security Deposit
For this 3BR/2BAth/ 1800-1800 sq. ft. Air ConditionerDishwasher Walk-in Closet Refrigerator Vaulted Ceilings Washer/Dryer Cable
Below is my phone numbers
+2347041507174
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
FULL CONTACT NAME?
OCCUPATION?
RESIDENTIAL HOME ADDRESS?
YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER?
YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER?
YOUR WORKPLACE NUMBER?
WHAT TIME IS THE` BEST TIME TO REACH YOU?
AGE & MARITAL STATUS?
OWN A PET?
OWN A CAR?
HOW MANY PEOPLE SHALL RESIDE IN THE PREMISES?
ANTICIPATED MOVE IN DATE?
REFERENCE?
============================== =======
Application Comment
============================== =======
Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your applications.I know you would want to see the house before making any kind of rental payment , which is understandable.We can make arrangement for the keys and documentation including an Authorization letter to be shipped to you,this will give you the opportunity to view house.
Regards,
Daivd William
My cell phone number is +2347041507174

5

Oh, and by the way, I checked the tax record for 3500 Fleet Street and Daivd William doesn’t own this property, may scammers rot in hell.

6

I personally stay away from anything with that bad of English. If they were truly business professionals they would check it over or have someone else correct the language. Also when you see extra spaces between words and/or words that don’t sound right put together, it typically is an indicator that they used a spinner to generate the message. Spinners use synonyms and switch words and full sentences out to add uniqueness to the message, post, website, etc, when sending it out in masses so that it cannot be tracked by robots.

Obviously the above message had a lot of errors when spinning. It would look something like this. “{However,|Anyways,|By the way,},My name is { David William|Pete Randolf|Scott Piper}, I own…” The spinner than chooses an iteration and…

Now it comes out “However,My name is David William, I own” because of forgetting a space and having an extra space and a comma inside and outside the brackets that is hard to find before it’s generated.

Now you know how to find 90% of scams based of their words.

P.S. I know this from being a computer geek.

7

(ON CRAIGSLIST)

I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business…However, My name is Trevor Austin,I own the house located at (24654 Cordova , Dana Point, CA). Due to my job as a missionary 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 apt.which I tried, but some times the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this in case if you find the house on another website, that is the old advert. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person (With good credit) 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 of it as if it were yours The rent is $600 and 450 for Security Deposit For this 3BR/2BAth/ 1800-1800 sq. ft. Air Conditioner Dishwasher Walk-in Closet Refrigerator Vaulted Ceilings Washer/Dryer Cable
Below is my phone numbers
+2347041507174
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
FULL CONTACT NAME?
OCCUPATION?
RESIDENTIAL HOME ADDRESS?
YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER?
YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER?
YOUR WORKPLACE NUMBER?
WHAT TIME IS THE` BEST TIME TO REACH YOU?
AGE & MARITAL STATUS?
OWN A PET?
OWN A CAR?
HOW MANY PEOPLE SHALL RESIDE IN THE PREMISES?
ANTICIPATED MOVE IN DATE?
REFERENCE?
============================== =======
Application Comment
============================== =======
Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your applications.I know you would want to see the house before making any kind of rental payment , which is understandable.We can make arrangement for the keys and documentation including an Authorization letter to be shipped to you,this will give you the opportunity to view house.
Regards,
Trevor Austin

8

There are great ‘awareness’ postings. I advertise on C.L. and many other places and I cannot believe how many scammers are out there! Because of awareness postings like these, it is simple and easy to recognize these losers as they all have similar patterns.

Just send them to the trash or report them to your service provider or the advertising medium as spam and move on!

Good job to Wendy for pointing this out and raising awareness! Wendy has been a ‘Pillar in the R.E. Investment Community’ for many years…thank you, Wendy!

Rob
R.E. Investor/Mentor

9

I have had this issue selling some junk on craigslist. Basically, they said they wanted the item and that they would pay for it through paypal an have it picked up through UPS. All I needed to do was provide my name, address, phone, number, ect.

I never provide this type of info under these types of circumstances.

10

The bozos managing CL could care less. Those bozos allow everything from prostitution ads to flat out information fishing ads.

I’ve had so many Nigerians scam guys contact me that it’s actually become kinda fun messing with them.

Whenever I’m bored, I’ll answer one or two emails and lead them on thinking they’re going to land that big pay day. They’re too stupid and greedy to realize that they’re the ones being played with :banana

11

To RomeLucky’s comment, these guys can be fun to mess with if you have some free time.

This site has some pretty neat stories and tips on how to scambait :rolleyes

12

My sister was almost targeted from one of these individuals. She has been looking for a place for months and when she heard from this listing on craigslist she was so happy. After speaking to her about it I became increasingly suspicious of the information because she said that the phone number the guy gave was so long and she was waiting for their reply from e-mail. So I investigated and sure enough this is the forum I found. 10 minutes ago I sadly broke the news to her that it’s a scam. But I am truly thankful to those that posted this so that many others can investigate first before sending any money.

I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business…However, My name is Aysar R Helo, I own the house located at (27840 Pluto St, Highland, CA 92346).Due to my job as a missionary 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 and i will be here for (3-4 years)… However,the initial plan was to sale out the apt.which I tried, but some times the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this in case if you find the house on another website, that is the old advert. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person (With good credit) 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 of it as if it were yours The rent is $700 and $500 for Security Deposit For this 3BR/2BAth/ 1800-1800 sq. ft. Air Conditioner Dishwasher Walk-in Closet Refrigerator Vaulted Ceilings Washer/Dryer Cable etc…
Below is my phone numbers
+2347041507174
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
FULL CONTACT NAME?
OCCUPATION?
RESIDENTIAL HOME ADDRESS?
YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER?
YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER?
YOUR WORKPLACE NUMBER?
WHAT TIME IS THE` BEST TIME TO REACH YOU?
AGE & MARITAL STATUS?
OWN A PET?
OWN A CAR?
HOW MANY PEOPLE SHALL RESIDE IN THE PREMISES?
ANTICIPATED MOVE IN DATE?
REFERENCE?
============================== =======
Application Comment
============================== =======
Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your applications.I know you would want to see the house before making any kind of rental payment , which is understandable.We can make arrangement for the keys and documentation including an Authorization letter to be shipped to you,this will give you the opportunity to view house.
Regards
Aysar R Helo

13

You know the old adage ‘when real estate agents fail go to craigslist’. I think the 1st clue is the butchered English…