I have a room for rent posted on craigslist, and have gotten several emails from whoever is doing this. I was suspicious that I got three emails from women claiming to be french, with an uncle that would pay for the room, and said that they would send a check. I didn't respond to those.
I got another email recently that didn't mention the person was over seas, so I responded, and the response was strange, but I almost replied to them again. Until I noticed a phrase that I recognized from one of the french women's emails: "I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with". Not to mention that all the emails had many missing spaces, like after the commas.
This was clearly canned text. It had been customized to some degree, there were specific deatils about my posting. I googles the phone number in the email and found this post, thank you for posting!! I gave out my phone number to some of these assholes...
These are the aliases and emails used by the scammers:
(notice that the most recent, Sonia, uses three different emails during our correspondence)
Sonia Anderson <sonia.76anderson@gmail.com>, <sonia.anderson.1980@hotmail.com>, (roommatelink@yahoo.com)
kimberly sullin <skimberly2386@gmail.com>
Susan T. Graham <suzygraham9@googlemail.com>
Kristin Adams(kristinadams76@live.com)
Allan Barclay(allanbarclay@gmail.com)Here's the full text of the emails I've gotten:
*******************************************************************From: Sonia Anderson <
sonia.anderson.1980@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 24, 2009 10:29 am
To: <xxx>
Hi Joe,
How are you?Sorry for the late reply,i have been very busy with
sick mother in the hospital and other things.Thanks so much for the reply.Am sorry, i would have liked to call you on phone to discuss this rental issue but my phone service provider wont let me make international call at the moment.You can call me on phone
+447024039255 at home today or tomorrow but i always have full access to my emails.you can reach me 7.pm my time as i guess that will be six hours behind your time.If am not at home,my flatmate,Jim,will be. You can add me on Yahoo messenger if you care to chat(
roommatelink@yahoo.com)
I'll be happy if you can rent out the place to me for 6-12 months term lease, as i'll love to get a place before my arrival.
More about me,I am half Brit from dad and half Asian from mum,a science laboratory worker,mostly spend my time in the laboratory experimenting,divorced female of 29yrs,i am educated(undergraduate and post graduate degree), am very active in sport (ski, surf,swimming),a good Christian,very low key and relaxed to live with. I DON'T smoke nor drink and i DON'T mind if flat mates do, I DON'T have a pet also. Presently staying at
10 Marlborough Road, London, E7 8,GB .Tel:+44-702-403-9255 I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I'm 5'7' straight. I always love to go on date but seldom party. I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis. I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can't see it before my arrival .i will also need to see the pictures...Attached is my picture ,just to give you a clue of who you are renting to.I hope you like it,i am not a picture loving person though.
I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them?
I don't have a job lined up for me there yet but will look for upon my arrival.
My Uncle will be responsible for my rent until i get a good Job,Please understand.
Moreover,Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over as i plan to arrive by October 15th,2009/My Arrival date is flexible.
Please,feel free to ask me any more question as i am very happy to join you and more so, i will love to always get email from you on how the event unfold till my arrival.
For references reason,kindly contact below:
Former landlord :
Kristin Adams(kristinadams76@live.com) Roommate:
Allan Barclay(allanbarclay@gmail.com)For easy communication ,you can IM me at
(roommatelink@yahoo.com) we can chat anytime.
Thanks,I will appreciate every of your effort to assist me in this traveling plans as i will be very happy to know you more than just roommates when i get there.Am very friendly and generous.
Again,Thanks and best regards
Sonia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: xxx
To:
sonia.76anderson@gmail.comSubject: RE: Move in date 15th Oct...
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:55:47 -0700
Hi Sonia,
Thanks for replying. The room I have available is 633/mo and with utilities shouldn't be much more than 750/mo. There is off street parking for all the roommates. If you would like to come see the apartment and meet myself and my roommate that would be great. I am, however, looking for someone that can commit to Oct 1 for a move-in date, as I am currently paying 2/3 of the rent since the room is empty, and I can't afford to keep doing so. Its fine if you want to move in Oct 15, but you would have to start paying the rent as of Oct 1 to secure the room.
Let me know if you are still interested, and we can set up a time to meet. My phone number is xxx.
Thanks,
Joe
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Move in date 15th Oct...
From: Sonia Anderson <
sonia.76anderson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, September 23, 2009 9:49 am
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Hi,
I read your advert on craigslist but i want to know more thats why i am writing you this email..I am looking for a room to share or townhouse to share with roommates,i am pet-friendly but i don't have any pet and i require a parking space, available Oct. 15th Ideally no more than $950/month. A 6 - 12 months lease would be perfect. Let me know if you have anything....Thanks!
Sonia Anderson.
*******************************************************************HI
Thanks so much for replying my email,I really do appreciate it,. I would
have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have alot of
things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the
place and you,as
my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but
really want to hold a place down..More about me again i am a nurse..I am the
neat type,
I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while
I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and
easy going person to live with. I'm 5"7' straight.,28 years i like tourising
and,i don't keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but
i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in france as there was where i had
my university education and stays with my uncle there!!
I lived all my life way in paris before coming down to SD(south dakota),,I
grew up with my uncle 15 years old...I ve also wanted to be in the medical
way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have
involved in projects that includes orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases
in children betweeen the ages of 4-10yrs .and Work:I was looking to move
over to your state because i understand that i'll be doing good overthere as
i ve been told by my uncle's friend who ones live overthere..And i will be
working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that
now...Am sure You 'll really like the person that i am ,because i will also
do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also
like sharing y thoughts also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as
i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends.... Right now.I ve
the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn't be bothered
about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable
with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival
so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can't see it before
my arrival but the pictures...
I also will want you to know that i have my
car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furnitures,please let
me know if there will be room for them.. With all that i ve said above,I
have told you more about me and a picture of mine will be attach in the next
email,Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my
arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and
let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure
the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i
am looking to move in As soon as possible so pls get back me.
Thanks..
Kimberly
On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 8:38 AM, <xxx@xxx.com> wrote:
Hi Kimberly,
The room is still available, but I do have two other people interested, they will ebe coming to look at the room tomorrow.
The neighborhood is a great location. The house is on a busy street, so there is always the sound of traffic, but the place is walking distance to a CVS, convenience store, some restaurants (pizza, burgers, etc.). There is a grocery store and gym about 1/4 mile away (2 min drive), a shopping center with Target, Best Buy, clothing, Home Depot, etc only 5 min away, bars, and there is a nice park we go to frequently to grill and throw a ball around. There is also access to a bike/running path that goes all the way into Boston, if you are into running or biking. All in all it's got all the essentials.
My phone number is xxx, if you want to call and chat and find out more. What is your situation? Are you moving up here for work? I will be around tomorrow night, that would be the best time to call if you would like to.
Thanks,
Joe
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: xxx (map)
From: kimberly sullin <skimberly2386@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, September 08, 2009 4:56 pm
To: xxx
** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html--
Hi there
I am KImberly I'm replying to your ad on craigslist and I'd like to know if the place is still available.Also let me know the neighboourhood and the utilities included in the place A liittle about my personalty. I am 28 year old,5"7' straight,single and nice,I'll love to live with clean,caring and responsible people.I am presently in south-Dakota,I will love to move in as soon as possible, but it all depends on the availability of the room.Just so you know,I am french but I do speak english the best way i can so pls pardon my mistakes I am serious about renting and I would like to move in before or by the end of this month depending on the avalability of the room I will try as much as possible to pay my rent before due.
I would wait impatiently for your next email.
Thank You...Aviour
KImberly
*******************************************************************Hello,
I'm
Susan T. Graham by name from United Kingdom,I will like to know if i can share an apartment or a roommate for the whole year because i will be coming to the state by the end of the Month or the beginning of next month. and i will want you to get back to me with the update of the room and the deposit fees ...Can't wait to read from you
Regards.