This woman-if it even is a woman-posted an ad on craigslist to rent her apartment out. The apartment is in Murray Hill in Manhattan, which is not a cheap place to live. When I saw the ad, I figured it was too good to be true, but I sent an email anyway. Here was her response:
"Thank you for the information's about yourself. All I can tell you this is a great location. Like I have informed you before, the price you have to pay for one month of rent will be $1,300.00 with no extra fees you will have access to all facilities provide by the building. The utility bills are paid directly from my bank account. The price will not increase monthly; it will remain the same for the whole period that the contact will be signed for. We can start with a basic 1 year contract with the possibility of renewing it or with the period of time suitable for you.
About the payment, I would like to receive it monthly into my bank account and I hope there will be no problem for you to wire the money to it. The apartment is ready for you, you only need to receive the keys and the contract so you could check it out, and see if you like it. The apt will be furnished but it can be rented very easily without the furniture.
Since I'm London we need a way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are asking for. I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days. The solution is provided by a company called TNT which is similar to FedEx, DHL or UPS, which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys.
I have found a procedure that will allows you to pay for the rent of the apt only after you will receive the keys, and through this way you will see it and decide if you like it or not, before sending the payment. Please click on the link bellow to the TNT web site to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the web site of the company where this procedure is explained:
http://www.tnt.com/country/en_generic/s ... tical.html If you are ready to proceed with this transaction I will need to inform you with the steps on how this service works and how we can make it happen securely. You will only have to deposit to TNT Service the first month of rent $1,300.00 so they can proceed with the shipping, and you can receive the keys and the contract. Like I said, I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the Keys and the contract signed by me right away. I will explain you step by step how this will work .
1 - To start this transaction I will need to know your full shipping information, full name, full address and a phone number to proceed with this deal.
2 - I will go to the TNT Office and leave the Keys and the contract in your name as the intended receiver.
3 - TNT will check the envelope to see if everything is OK with it and also the legal papers that will come along with the Keys.
4 - TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody, in which you will be told that they have the Keys and that they checked it.
5 - At this point you will have to go to a Money Gram office Location and make a money deposit on the TNT payment agent name for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit is for the first month of rent .
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the info about the money deposit to TNT (Reference Number, sender's name and address)
7 - TNT will verify the payment information's and if everything is in order they will deliver the Keys and the contract to you .
8 - After you receive the package, you will have 2 days to inform TNT if you will rent the apt. If the place is what you are looking for the payment will be forward to me by the agent assigned for the transaction. If by any chance you don't like the place we will have to cancel the contract and you will get a full refund of your payment.
I will pay the TNT Service for the shipping and you will pay Money Gram for the Money Transfer fee. Let me know if this service is comfortable for you and if you are ready to proceed.
Thank you for your interest,
Miranda Simons"
SO...I sent a response to this reply, and guess what I got back? The exact same email!!! I'm sure that's not the person's real name, but I feel that I should call the apartment complex and let them know that someone is using their name in trying to scam people.