var json_comments = new Array("

$\"user-pic\"$

humphrmi

September 24, 2008 1:11 AM

Moderate | Flag for review

So what's the scam, anyway?

Be careful with scammers. As 419eaters points out, many of these people are dangerous. Don't forget that unless you're anonymizing your email (i.e. [www.anonymizer.com] , amongst others) the email headers probably carry your IP address, which (depending on your ISP) can lead someone to the neighborhood you live in (RCN, my ISP does this - the reverse DNS lookup of my IP address shows a lot about where I am connected to their POP).

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 1:19 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@humphrmi: I've added some samples of the scammer's emails so readers can see what was going on.

Good point on anonymizing--I will add that to the post.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

agnamus

September 24, 2008 1:26 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Hahaha, seriously, wire your rent payment to your land lord's bank account? Do people actually fall for this stuff?

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 2:04 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@agnamus: I like how in the 2nd letter he sticks on the $900 'US'.

So wait, I want to move in to an apartment in Minneapolis, but I have to pay in US currency? Oh sorry, count me out.

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 1:40 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

That's silly! The only thing you should use wires for is to help EXPORT millions of dollars of a deceased prince's money. Everyone knows that.. Wires are for the important things.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

illtron

September 24, 2008 1:39 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I found this listing for a very \"specious\" apartment on Craigslist a few months ago... [www.flickr.com]

3 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Copper

September 24, 2008 2:53 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@illtron: That wouldn't be crazy for where I live. I'm renting a 5 bedroom/2 bathroom house with a yard for $975/month. 2000 square feet.

$\"user-pic\"$

loquaciousmusic

September 24, 2008 12:51 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Copper: I'm paying $1,400 a month for a 1,200 sq. ft. two bedroom in Connecticut, and that's a steal.

$\"user-pic\"$

illtron

September 24, 2008 1:17 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@loquaciousmusic: @Copper: I'm sure in some places this wouldn't seem bad at all. In Washington, DC, it's an obvious scam. For reference, I pay $1,000 a month for a studio in a borderline neighborhood and people are impressed that I'm getting such a good deal.

There are dozens of these scams on the local craigslist every day. This one stands out because they come right out and say that it's specious.

[dictionary.reference.com]

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 10:22 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Copper: You're missing the point. He thinks it's \"hilarious\" because of a minor typo.

$\"user-pic\"$

illtron

September 24, 2008 1:09 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Jon Parker: If you weren't a damn simpleton, you would know why using the word \"specious\" in a scam posting makes it hilarious.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 1:49 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

[craigscrimelist.org] is a great place for fun stories like apartment scams and more...

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Yurei

September 24, 2008 1:58 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

*Scammer Sense is tingling!*

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 2:03 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Sounds like the condo ad I responded to. It was for a small loft-style condo in Georgetown for somewhere around $1000 a month. I don't remember the exact figure. I emailed the owner even though I knew it couldn't be true. She said she had just moved back to the UK so she couldn't meet me in person, but I could email her my information so she could run a background check. I moved on. Unfortunately I didn't have the foresight to report her post as a scam. I guess I assumed no one would be stupid enough to send personal info to an anonymous renter.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

pax

September 24, 2008 2:08 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I got an e-mail almost exactly like this when I was apartment-hunting a couple of months. It's so similar that I think it might even be the same scammer, though I was searching in NYC. I smelled scam right away and dropped the scammer like a hot potato, but you'd think that if this were a reasonably smart person, they'd vary their pitch a little bit.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 7:53 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@paxetaurora: Got the same one in LA too, I knew it was a scammer but I was curious to see how they tried to pull off the scam.
Moved to England, no one has keys, blah blah blah....
Wonder if they just post to ALL CLs...

","

$\"user-pic\"$

fonetek

September 24, 2008 2:50 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

When are people going to learn. Craigslist is a breeding ground for scams. It's riddled with shady people and prostitutes. Might as well look for an apartment on the bulletin board of the nearest seedy neighborhood bar.

4 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 25, 2008 3:47 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@fonetek: I also found my beautiful apartment in STL on Craigslist. Clearly if you can visit the place and meet the landlord, then it's all good. I also met with a private homeowner about an upstairs apt who i found via craigslist, and that experience was fine too.

$\"user-pic\"$

sponica

September 24, 2008 1:20 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@fonetek: I've used Craigslist to find both of the apts I've lived in in NYC. I would in no way pass a credit check a broker would do, because I'm a student paying my rent with my loan money. CL is basically the only option. But you use common sense. I mean if you want to live in a decent neighborhood in Brooklyn it's going to be around 800 dollars a month at least, particularly if you want to be near Manhattan. Never meet alone, if you can. And like those fake job offers that get emailed to me, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

$\"user-pic\"$

mizike

September 24, 2008 6:10 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Actually I've had great experiences renting over craigslist. The last two apartments I've lived in were found on craigslist and kijiji. Sure you run into scams, but they're pretty easy to spot and avoid with some common sense (ie., not sending a money order overseas and waiting for the keys to arrive in the mail). The fact is, if you're moving to a different city, it's almost impossible to find a place without either a) going there in person, b) using a rental broker or c) using craigslist / kijiji. If you're poor you can basically rule out the first two...

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 10:15 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@mizike: Ditto. I found my current place on Craigslist, and I couldn't be happier.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

12-Inch Idongivafuck Sandwich

September 24, 2008 2:53 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I understand the language and the low price give it away. But what's the scam? It seems to say that you get to see the apt before paying (obviously a poorly written statement by the scammer)?

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 3:21 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@12-Inch Idongivafuck Sandwich: It appears the scammer wanted to mail keys to the would be victim rather than checking out the apartment. Therefore the scam is that they keys are useless and the scammer is probably trying to collect first and last months rent payments.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

bones11

September 24, 2008 3:35 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

The scam is there is no apt./house. The 'landlord' mails a fake set of keys and you wire the money. You take the keys to that address and turns out someone else not only owns that house but they are living there too. The scammer got the picture off the internet via a realestate website or possibly Google Maps.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 3:59 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

You might want to forward your emails to HOME Line, a Minneapolis-based tenant hotline. They might be interested in tracking these scams, or have some insight on what you can do (although I don't think they would help with scambaiting).

If you can get enough information, you might even be able to get the police involved.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 4:03 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

2800 W 44th St is an apartment building that's gone condo... you might want to contact the condo association and notify them that someone is trying to scam off a unit.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 11:24 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@cabinaero: Not only that but if they are claiming it's tax free, you can probably get them in a heap of trouble with the local Minneapolis government for not having proper licenses to rent out their living space. Not only that but big brother IRS probably would want a chunk out of it too. Without a proper contract I would probably steer clear of any sort of \"mail me the money and i'll give you the keys.\"

","

$\"user-pic\"$

hills

September 24, 2008 4:32 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

same scam being used with pics of my building in portland, OR - nearly word for word emails about being in the UK etc... no more have popped up in the last several weeks for my building since I told them to bugger off....

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 6:24 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I own a duplex and early this year when I put an ad up to rent it on Craigslist I got no less than THREE scam attempts. I didn't buy any of them because I'm fully aware of western union scams AND I would never rent to someone I hadn't met and fully vetted, but I did send them a few emails to waste their time and see what the scam was. They were all pretty much the same story, just a few different details such as names and locations.

It goes like this:

1. Potential tenant wants to rent from me.
2. They are moving to the country because of a job change and so want to take the place sight unseen.
3. They are willing to pay 6 to 12 months rent in advance.
4. They want to fed-ex me a check immediately to secure the apartment.
5. Oh.. and by the way.. their accountant is going to be sending the check -- it's money from a commission they just received. Would I be so kind as to cash the check, keep the rent money and wire them back the balance? They are going to be traveling around a bit before coming to the states and need some cash for their holiday. It'd be a big favor for them and please keep an extra $200 for your troubles. Oh and please don't scam me, I'm going to trust you, I'm sure you are a good person. God be with you.

Of course it was written in very poor English. I can't believe anyone would fall for this, but I'm sure the allure of 6-12 months rent upfront might be tempting to some people. It'd be very easy to also scam someone looking for a roommate this way.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Quirked_Eyebrow

September 24, 2008 7:26 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Ummmm... Thanks for the promo of my blog. :) (I went out for pizza leaving behind a quiet hum and came back to find out my stats counter had exploded ~ gosh!)

Yes ~ if people want to forward information re scammers, we'll be glad to post the info (no attachments please!). The info doesn't have to be from Craigslist ads ~ many scammers cross post to other free rental sites or even twiddle with other scams (puppy peddling is a biggie).

No ~ we don't have *the* definitive list of scammails; just a really healthy sampling and we do try to stay fairly current.

Thanks for all those who dropped by and remember ~ please be careful out there!

","

$\"user-pic\"$

nacoran

September 24, 2008 7:38 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I've been running into a local con artist who seems to be working out of one of my local haunts. I've tried to spook his marks, but he won't leave them alone long enough for me to warn them.

","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

ltlbbynthn

September 24, 2008 10:34 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

this kind of makes me wonder how easy it would be to run a scam with proper grammar and spelling.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 4:04 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@ltlbbynthn: I just had the exact same thought. Surely someone in Nigeria has a good grasp of the English language.

$\"user-pic\"$

Optimistic Prime

September 24, 2008 11:00 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@ltlbbynthn: I've come to the conclusion 80% of the population has horrible grammar and spelling skills. From my co-workers to my own family, I find it hard to figure out what they are trying to tell me.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 11:00 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

This scam is big here in Central Florida, with so many homes and condos available for rent. I was checking out Craigslist when I was apartment hunting a few months ago, and I came across a ton of these fake ads. I flagged as many as I could, but these folks never stop.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

quail

September 24, 2008 12:30 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If I ever saw the need for people to learn proper English grammar this is it. First tip it's a scam: poor use of English. With the Y Generation coming along and their easy acceptance of bad writing and grammar I can see more people falling for poorly written scams.

3 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Carl3000

September 24, 2008 2:01 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Those lousy kids and their no good grammar! In my day, we used apostrophes yessiree.

PS What's the deal with text messages amirite

$\"user-pic\"$

ARP

September 24, 2008 1:36 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@quail: That's just it- the txting genr8shun translates that poor grammar into a perfectly coherent and well written paragraph. It sounds stupid, but as our grammar and writing skills wane, our ability to spot scammers and genuinely stupid people decreases.

$\"user-pic\"$

Rectilinear Propagation

September 24, 2008 3:15 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@ARP: That makes me sad.

One of the reasons I like this web site is because the people writing comments here do use proper grammar and spell words correctly. Sure, there might be a WTF or a LOL but there aren't 500 word comments consisting solely of acronyms or people consistently using \"your\" instead of \"you're\".

","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Doofio

September 24, 2008 1:25 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

So what's stopping someone from receiving the keys, checking out the place...THEN wiring the money if everything checks out?

If I read this right, and someone is dumb enough to send money before even physically going to the apartment to find out if it's legit...I'm sorry to say but they deserve to get scammed as a lesson in stupidity.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 1:52 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Doofio:
A variation on this is where the scammer does have access to an empty apartment. Renters visit, like the place, put down a deposit, and find out weeks later on moving day that 10 other people are also trying to move into \"their\" apartment.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Saboth

September 24, 2008 1:27 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I have a 401k where I work, and recently I got a notice of 0 balance. About a week before, I had a balance of 8.5k Everyone at work was upset the following day, and come to find out the company that holds the funds sold off everyone's 401k and put the money in a new fund (without notifying anyone). Everyone incurred substantial losses on the sale. Not sure how that is legal...

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Saboth

September 24, 2008 1:30 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

argh, meant to put that in the USAA thread!

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

East_Coast_Midwesterner

September 24, 2008 1:53 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

This scam is very common on craigslist. The #1 flag is the @gmail.com or @yahoo.com email they list on the contact field.

I love CL, but half the flippin' rental brokers are pulling a bait and switch also.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Jevia

September 24, 2008 7:04 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@East_Coast_Midwesterner: Are you saying that nearly anyone that posts on craigslist with a gmail or yahoo email address is automatically a scammer? those are the only two I have (besides my work-purposes only email) because comcast kept could never get my account right, tho i've now cancelled with them.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 2:20 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Wiring money for an apartment with the *promise* getting keys...

lolwut?

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 2:35 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Report the scam then move on. Continuing to engage the scammer is not really a good idea unless you have a lack of hobbies.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

emmybee

September 24, 2008 2:39 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

people pay $900/month for one bedrooms in minneapolis? i no longer feel bad about paying manhattan rent.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 2:43 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

So, the OP never said whether or not she got taken by the scam. I'm guessing/hoping no.
Also, I rented a little apt in college from landlords that lived the next state over, and I always paid my rent through a bank transfer. So that doesn't necessarily make it a scam....

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 2:44 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Also, I did meet with them in person to sign contracts and receive keys.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

madfrog

September 24, 2008 3:42 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I just moved and found alot of phoney ads on craigslist. Out of about 50 or so that I read, I would say that at least 20 were bogus. Craigslist does, however list at the top of the page ways to spot a potentially phoney ad. I also did my own search thru the newspaper and used a real estate agent that came recommended to me as well. In the end, the agent found us an absolutely beautiful apartment with plenty of space for a resonable rent in the area. It didn't cost me anything to use her since the prospective landlords were paying for her services.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 4:14 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

In New York City where the renter -not the landlord- pays for the broker, apartment scams are as common as rats in the subway tracks. A typical scam is an \"open house\" for an apartment that's well under market value. The broker asks you for a $100 non-refundable application fee, supposedly a credit check (any broker asking you more than $40 for a credit check is robbing you blind). Guess what? You won't get the apartment.

By New York State law, a broker must disclose his name in the listing (that includes Craigslist). Go to the New York Department of State Web site to check if he's legit: [appsext8.dos.state.ny.us]

Also they're required by law to carry their licence at all times and show it to you if requested.

Of course, the best thing is find a friend who knows a landlord and skip the damn broker.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 4:31 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

\"I would greatly love some expert advice on a) how to get more info from her without giving her mine (so I can report more than just an email address), and / or b) how to severely mess with what she's trying to do.\"

A higher tech way to track people you email back and forth. It see when they acess a file.

Requires some work. all you have to do is get them to open a public google doc. It is almost like a word doc. You could say it is your file they need to look at before you can proceed. then you have their ip and more info on location.

1. first create a google account - free
2. then this. this is a cached page from google

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:6poUM5_AT3MJ:www.labnol.org/internet/office/track-google-docs-visitors-know-when-document-read-opened/3397/+track+people+via+email+images&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 5:20 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

These scammers are unreal - I have heard of similar situations from friends, down to the specific word choices and syntax (\"I have available,\" \"hope that we will find a compromise,\" moving to the UK, etc) ocurring in cities all up and down the East coast.

As others have said, I wouldn't recommend baiting - report them and move on.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 24, 2008 7:01 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

You know what's sad? That's exactly how I found my room on CL, only it was 100% legit. A girl told me I could stay in her room. I cut her a check for $500 and she sent me the keys to the place. Two years later, I'm still here.

I'm sad that people take advantage of trust like that. Good thing that for the few times I've been scammed in my life (and I have) there have been numerous times when I've been treated fairly and morally.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

bbb111

September 24, 2008 8:31 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

stands2reason wrote: \"Wiring money for an apartment with the *promise* getting keys...\"

There is often a fake escrow company involved. The last e-mail from the scammer included: \"The solution is provided by a company called TNT ... which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys.\" TNT is a fake escrow company that has been discussed on many scam-watch sites.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

theczardictates

September 25, 2008 1:40 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@bbb111: TNT is also the name of a legit shipping company, so if you look it up online you could easily be duped into a false sense of security.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Jetgirly

September 24, 2008 11:29 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I was apartment-hunting in July. I came across a scam of a different variety. The landlord of a real condo that was really for rent made potential applicants go through an exhaustive application process that involved giving up almost all of your personal information. I don't think he intended to scam the renter (at least, not immediately), but I think he definitely planned to scam other applicants. I didn't apply for the apartment after I saw the application, but it included such gems as:

- a $100 application fee (sadly, this is legal here)
- emergency contacts (first, middle and last names!)
- your SIN (SSN in the US, I think)
- your banking information
- your credit card number
- AUTHORIZATION FOR THE LANDLORD TO CHARGE FUNDS TO YOUR CREDIT CARD AS THEY SAW FIT (regardless of whether or not you were the tenant!)

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

September 25, 2008 7:32 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Holy crap! I just sent $900 to my landlord's bank account in Nigeria...I wonder when I'll get the keys to NOPLACE?

");