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 Post subject: craig's list reply - seems fishy...
PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:26 pm 
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Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:20 pm
Posts: 4
hi everyone,

i've tried to find other posts about this person's email but haven't been able to...but yet something still seems fishy. he was the first person who responded to an ad i placed for a room for rent. here it is:

Hi roomie,

I saw your ad on craigslist and I am interested in taking your place. My name is Dennis, 28 years old. I live in Georgia and I work as a software engineer. I am coming over to Denver and I am looking for 6-12 months. firstly, I need to know when the room will be ready and if I can secure the room before I arrive? I am ok with the month rent and ready to move in ASAP. I can make deposit/full payment to secure the room and if there are papers to sign, I will do that when I arrive in person.

Also, may I know how close is the house to major places like the banks, grocery stores, shopping malls and church. I would be glad if I get this place ready prior to my arrival so that I'll be stress free and will be rest assured that I have secured a place down. I usually get along with everyone and I'm a very patient, laid back person. I don't let much get to me. I'm not harsh (or an a$$hole) but if you ask me a question I will give you an honest answer. I also enjoy the outdoors but am just as content to hang out inside. I can't live without music or movies, they are my therapy. I have learned to appreciate all genres of both.

In my free time I enjoy watching sports, hanging out at home, going to festivals, restaurants, malls. barbecuing, playing pool and being active in the outdoors . I drink socially but I am not a partier. Also, i am very reliable, very independent, responsible, considerate and loyal. I can be a hermit and be sociable depending on my mood . I am an ideal roommate because I am clean, responsible and financially stable. I have no intentions of cleaning up after another person. I figure we are old enough now that we should be responsible for ourselves. I hope you agree. I feel like I've written you a novel, but I feel I should tell you all about myself. I have a good sense of humor and drive like a maniac, but for the most part I think I'm pretty normal.

if you're interested please e-mail me and let me know a little bit more about yourself as well as any other questions you may have.

Thanks and good luck!
Dennis
----

it sounded fairly legit so i replied. i also am new to the world of being scammed when posting a roommate ad - sheesh! so anyway, there are some key things that i think he would be asking if he were really looking for a room that he didn't (and that i didn't put in my ad). also, it makes no sense to me that someone would move somewhere new to just work from home. it's all strange. so here's his follow-up to my reply...and it is interesting because he doesn't make mention of anything i did in my email.

Hello Lauren,

Thanks you for getting back to me with the information that I have requested from you. I like the place and ready to move in, but I won't be coming until March 30. I am looking for a room I can secure down so that I can send over my stuffs before hand and room will be ready upon my arrival. If you are ok with this, you can provide me with your full name and contact address, a check will be sent to you in order to secure the room, which will take few business days to deliver. I work as a software engineer and most of my work is on contract basis, so most work will be done from home.

More so, I map quested the location and I could see that its close to major places I will be needing, like the gas stations and the supermarkets. Its a very conducive environment I think ...I like it already with the way you have described it. I mind my own business and don't like to bug people. I am also responsible enough to pay my month rent on time with no worries. I respect other people's property so I think I deserve the same.

About the room, that's if you have agreed renting the room to me, I will be sending my desktop computer and my car before hand, so I need not bring much things when I am coming over. Are there any car parking space or its just street parking? I hope there are places around that I can get TV and some electronics ?

And lastly, as for the details, I am ok with the month rent and bills. like I have said, paying my month rent and bills will not be a problem. I think we would get very much along and be good roommates. If you have some pics you can send over, that would be great...its always nice to put a face with a name

Let me know your thoughts !

Warmest Regards
Dennis
----

the second email seemed to be much more foreign-sounding than the first.

scam or no scam? i'd prefer to think i'm just overly skeptical but somehow i don't think so. :(


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 Post subject: Re: craig's list reply - seems fishy...
PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:17 am 
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Site Admin/Co-Founder

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
Posts: 2921
SCAM!

Quote:
a check will be sent to you in order to secure the room,


It will be a cashier's check . . . it will be for more than the amount agreed on and they will ask you to return the overage or forward it on to the person who will be shipping all of the stuff they mentioned in their email.

Or, they will suddenly have to back out of the deal all together and ask you to return the entire amount (minus a few hundred for your time and trouble)

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 Post subject: Re: craig's list reply - seems fishy...
PostPosted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:45 am 
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Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:20 pm
Posts: 4
i thought as much. this forum was very helpful in raising my skepticism. it was just odd, though, in that it wasn't one of the obvious scammers...at least not to start out with.

i already emailed him back and told him i needed to meet the person who was moving in before committing. i know you will be utterly shocked to know that i never heard back from him!

thanks to everyone in this forum for helping each other out to avoid getting scammed!


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 Post subject: Re: craig's list reply - seems fishy...
PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:06 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:55 pm
Posts: 2
The odd phrase, general style and clear intention to scam make me think this is the same guy - currently claiming to be in Paris.

Hello,
How are you and everything over there, hope you are having a nice
day,I am writing you in response to your advert regarding your
accommodation for rent.I am coming over to your location and in search
of a place to live within a conducive environment.

I found your accommodation interesting and okay with me so I
would like to rent the place for the period of 3 months or more
pending on what you are offering.

Kindly give me the following information.

1. A brief description of the accommodation

2.Cost for 1 Month rental and Deposit if any .

3.Locational advantage of the area

4.Pictures of the accommodation if any is available.

I will be waiting for your response so we can start all
necessary arrangement for me to secure the place, I would really love
to move in once it is available.

Await your response soon.
Regards,

Ben Brown.

__________________________________________________________________

Hello ,
Thanks so much for your email and quick response ,I will be
coming in as soon as the accommodation is ready for me and the tenancy
starts.I would like you to know that i wont be able to come over to
view the place due to my present location as i am currently not in the
state. I have gone thru the advert one more time and every things
seems okay.

A little bit about me;
I'm 27 years old, I work as a freelance journalist am
currently in Paris France. I love to make friends i am very
nice,caring,honest,kind responsible,hard-working ,clean,reliable and
social and am very passionate and i like to share ideas with others.
On the weekend I spend time with my friends, I like to go clubbing,
walking, skiing,sitting at the beach, anything out doors. I like
watching movies or going to the movies. I don't drink too often or
smoke , but I do enjoy my red wine on Friday nights after work LOL! I
also like to head out for a night of dancing with my friends down town
every once and a while.

I will have all signing of contracts,tenancy agreement and reference
checks done upon my arrival at the house before i have the keys to the
accommodation so subsequent rents will be paid monthly or weekly
depending on how you want it.

Concerning payment, I have contacted my client and he promised he
will make out payment to you,he will be paying you in excess, cos he's
taking care of my accommodation and traveling fees.

As soon as you get the check,get it deposited in your bank.When it
gets cleared,pls deduct the cost of the accommodation for a
month,bills plus any deposit and send the remaining balance,which
would be for my flight expenses and my living allowance for the short
period,The balance should be sent to my traveling agent whose
information i would give to you as soon as you receive payment.

I want you to see this as a favor you'll be willing to do for a
tenant.As soon as i get there,i will make preparations for the
remaining months,including all bills. Pls i want you to do this for me
in good faith. if you comply,do not hesitate to provide me with these
information.

1. Name,
2. Address,
3. Zip Code,
4. Telephone number...


I hope all this is okay and well understood by you,i really
appreciate your quick response and will look forward to your email
soonest.All interview,signing of contracts and reference check will be
done upon my arrival once the place has been secured for me as I will
love to pay the first month rent plus deposit so as to secure the
accommodation till my arrival.

I would be very glad if you can be of a helping hand and hope to read
back from you soonest.

Regards,

Ben Brown


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