Have you come across a Craigslist rental scam lately? Here are my tips to avoid Craigslist scams and real estate scams so that you can stay safe.
Over the past few weeks, we have been searching for the perfect rental home for us to move into, but sadly we have come across many Craigslist rental scams. We found many great homes, and actually signed a lease the other day on one (more information on that to come soon).
Even though we found a rental home, we came across many Craigslist scams and Craigslist rental scams firsthand. It led to us wondering “How do I avoid Craigslist rental scams?”
I only received around 10 emails back from potential landlords and three of those I knew were definitely scammers. There might have been others as well.
Due to this, I knew I had to create a post on the topic of rental scams for people who are looking for apartments and houses on Craigslist for rent.
You can find rental scams everywhere (Craigslist, Zillow, and more), and many people are duped every single day out of hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars due to fake listings on this platform.
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How do Craigslist rental scams work? How do rental scams work on Craigslist?
There are cases where the person might not actually be a scammer, but you should be on high alert if you decide to continue through with a potential rental that you are unsure about.
Hopefully with my advice on renting on Craigslist tips below, you’ll be able to find a REAL rental.
Some scams that you may come across include:
- Craigslist rental scams
- Craigslist apartment scams
- Craigslist housing scams
- Craigslist vacation rental scams
- Fake house ads on Craigslist
- Rent to own scams on craigslist
If you’re wondering if Craigslist rentals are legit – yes, they are! But, you need to be careful. So, before you hand over a check, your credit card, or your driver’s license, please make sure that it is not a Craigslist home scammer that you are dealing with.
Below, you’ll learn how to spot a scammer on Craigslist.
Related: What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House
What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?
If you get scammed on Craigslist, they may be taking your rent money, security deposit, or even your personal information. Plus, they may waste your valuable time, and you may even be thinking that you are truly moving into the rental property.
This can be heartbreaking, and you definitely do not want this to happen to you.
How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?
There are a few ways to tell if you are dealing with a Craigslist rental poster. Here’s how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist.
1. The “landlord” is showing you the home, but do they actually own it?
One of the many Craigslist rental scams I have been hearing about a lot lately is when a scammer seems legitimate and even shows you around the rental. You might believe they are the landlord since they somehow got into the rental, but that isn’t always the case.
Sometimes scammers will break into a back window or even steal the key from the actual landlord so they can show the rental to unsuspecting potential tenants. This can be a huge disaster, as many people will believe the scammer since they are pretending to be the landlord.
Another Craigslist scam I have heard about that is related to this is when a renter moves into a home, pays the deposit, rent, etc., only to find out weeks or months later that the actual owner is at their door. The owner might have been on a long vacation or they might have just let the home sit vacant while trying to sell it, and thieves noticed their absence only to take advantage of the situation. This can be bad as you will have to vacate immediately and you will be out of money, such as the refundable deposit you may have given to the scammer.
My Craigslist rental search tip: Always make sure the person renting out the home is the owner or the property manager. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist. You can usually do a simple search on who owns the property by looking up city records. You also may be able to call the building’s manager (if there is one) and ask if the apartment is for rent and who is renting it.
2. A rental that seems too good to be true is often one of the many Craigslist rental scams.
This is how some rental scammers try to lure you in and an easy way to know how to spot a scammer on Craigslist. They will create a listing, make the rental sound amazing, offer it at a very low price, not require money upfront, many luxurious amenities for a low price, and so on.
Also, if it says something like smoking and pets are allowed, I would be a little cautious as well. I haven’t seen very many rentals that would just say that upfront unless they were really desperate for a renter.
This is a clue that you might be the victim of a Craigslist scam. If the landlord makes it too easy for you to live in their rental, then you need to be very careful. Scammers are often hoping that someone will be caught up in a “great deal” and come running to them with cash.
My rental search tip: Always do your research before you give anyone money. You should check other listings in the area to see if the rental is comparable and you should also see if the place is actually for rent. In most cases, it is not.
Here’s one Craigslist scam email I received (I actually received this response for two different rentals I inquired about):
3. A scammer wants your information or money before you view the home.
If you are asked to fill out a rental application before you view a home, then you might be in the middle of one of the many Craigslist rental scams. The scammer is hoping that you will give them personal information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or something else. They will then disappear once they receive all of this information. This is a bad situation because you basically just gave your identity away.
Also, if you are asked to give money before you are allowed to view a home or see the interior, then something is not right. This is most definitely a scam and you should avoid it. You should never have to pay loads of money in order to just view a home.
My rental search tip: You should always do your research, view the home, and more before you give out any extremely personal information. Occasionally, you may have to give your ID to the landlord, but other than that they should not need anything personal from you just to show you the rental house or apartment. Now, many times the Craigslist rental does for your email address, so that they can contact you. That is fine, simply be safe!
Here’s another Craigslist rental scam e-mail I received. This person sent me two e-mails so I just copied and pasted both e-mails into one so that you can easily read them both:
4. The landlord’s email has been compromised – Big Craigslist housing scams!
One scary Craigslist rental scam I recently heard about is when all of the information in a rental listing is correct. The home is actually for rent, the e-mail and phone number are real, and more.
However, when you e-mail the landlord you believe you are actually talking to them. It turns out that you are actually talking to someone who hacked into their e-mail. This can be a scary Craigslist scam as it can be hard to detect.
My rental search tip: Even though this Craigslist rental scam seems difficult, it can be easy to overcome. You should contact the landlord via the phone number that is listed on the real listing and talk to a real person. Then, you should verify everything that was discussed in the e-mails. Most of the time, landlords have no idea that their e-mail address was even hacked.
Related: Phone Scams: The Best Tips To Avoid Becoming A Victim
5. They give you a sob story.
Some rental scammers will give you a sob story in order to make you feel bad for them. But, think about it: why would a landlord need to tell you this at all in the first place?
It’s a business for them.
If they give you some sort of sad story, then it is most likely a scam. Lots of Craigslist rental scammers will give you a sob story such as having to move to take care of family, being forced to move due to the military, or something else.
Don’t believe it.
6. Lots of typos are a red flag
If the email or the paperwork has a lot of typos, then this is usually a sign that you are dealing with a Craigslist rental scam.
So, as you are reading their emails, the home rental application, and more, check to see if there are a lot of glaring mistakes. While the grammar and everything may not be perfect, if there are a lot of obvious errors then I would be a little cautious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craigslist Rental Scams
Below are answers to common questions about Craigslist rental scams.
How do I verify a rental on Craigslist? How can you tell a scam on Craigslist?
You may be wondering “How do you know if a rental is legit?” or “How do I make sure a Craigslist rental is real?”
There are many different things to be aware of when looking for a rental online. Here are my general tips before falling for Craigslist housing scams or Craigslist apartment scams:
- Always make sure the person showing the home is the landlord or property manager.
- If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
- If the landlord is trying to push a lot of urgency your way, then I would be wary. For example, if they say that they need someone to move in tomorrow because they are flying overseas, and that’s why they have such a good deal, then they may be a con artist.
- Be careful with your personal information, so that you are not the victim of identity theft.
- If anyone ever asks you to wire money, you should not. Most scammers will ask for money to be wired and this should be your first red flag that something is not right. Keep in mind that if you wire money, you CANNOT get it back. Too many people think you can get wired money back.
- Does the listing and/or e-mail communication with the “landlord” have many misspellings? Does the e-mail refer to you as Sir or Madam? Do they say they are out of the country and cannot show you the home until you pay? Do they claim to be a missionary or a reverend? If any of these are true, then this is usually the sign of a scammer.
- Does the person never want to meet in person? If you never meet the landlord, then it is most likely a Craigslist rental listing scam. The landlord or their property manager will want to meet you, not avoid you.
- Do they only want you to peak through the windows in order to view the rental? This is a huge red flag if they never want to meet you and instead want you to only look through the windows. Legitimate landlords will want to meet you and rental ads that state otherwise are most likely fake.
- Does the Craigslist home for rent seem like a really great deal? If so, you may want to ask yourself why they are offering such a great deal. Real owners don’t think you are doing them a favor. Instead, they see it as a way to make money.
- Do they mention Western Union or receiving funds via money order? If so, then it may be a scam as scammers love to mention Western Union. You simply want to be careful if they ask for either of these.
- Are they letting you skip any type of background check? Sometimes there are credit checks, background checks, and so on. If it is too easy to get the rental, then it is probably a scam.
- Always trust your gut instinct as there are always other places to rent in the world.
As you can see, there are many ways to learn how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist, so you want to be careful.
Are Craigslist rentals legit? How do I know if a rental is legitimate?
Yes, Craigslist rentals cans be legitimate. I have personally found Craigslist houses to rent (and lived in it) through Craigslist.
Below, you will see how to tell if a Craigslist rental is legitimate or if it is a fake Craigslist ad, and how to spot red flags.
Are Craigslist rentals safe? Is renting from Craigslist safe?
Yes, Craigslist rentals can be safe. You simply need to follow the tips in this article so that you can stay away from Craigslist rental scams and find legitimate home rentals.
Why do people post fake rentals on Craigslist?
People post fake rental ads on Craigslist because they are scammers and are looking for easy money. Plus, some potential renters who may be looking for a new home may be a little desperate as well, because everyone needs a place to live in, of course.
Is it safe to rent a room from Craigslist?
Yes, it can be safe to rent a room from Craigslist. Follow the tips here, and make sure you get along with your potential future roommates.
You also want to be safe on Facebook Marketplace, and anywhere else where you may be looking at potential homes to rent.
What can a Craigslist scammer do with my phone number?
A scammer can use the phone number that you give them to scam others, through Google Voice. I recommend being careful with giving your phone number out.
Someone posted my house for rent on Craigslist, what do I do?
If you have a realtor or real estate agent and your house or condo are currently for sale, I highly recommend contacting them and seeing what you can do. This is because many times homes that are for sale will be listed for rent on Craigslist through a fake ad.
You should also report the fraudulent Craigslist ad to Craigslist. Doing this will help to curb Craigslist rental frauds and help anyone who may fall for the Craigslist rental scam.
You also will want to go to your local police department and attorney general to see what they can do for you as well.
How do I protect myself from Craigslist rental scams? How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?
Don’t give money or any of your personal information (such as your bank account number, social security number, and so on) until you are 100% sure that it is a real rental on Craigslist.
Also, if the person requests money or your personal info from you before you even view the rental property, then I would be careful as well.
You will want to make sure you do your research before you give the person cashier’s checks, a PayPal account, or even Venmoing or sending a Zelle payment to them. Whatever way that they ask for payment, you simply want to be careful and spend your time to make sure that you are not dealing with a Craigslist scammer.
Unfortunately, there are many Craigslist rental scams on the internet which are scamming potential renters.
P.S. There are over 200 comments below (you may have to click “« Older Comments” to see all of them), and many of you have been sharing your Craigslist rental scam stories and screenshots of exact emails. This is a great way to learn how to catch a rental scammer on Craigslist. Let’s continue to help one another out, thank you!
How to spot Craigslist housing scams? How to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist?
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find Craigslist rental scams. There are definitely many fake ads out there, but do not let a Craigslist scammer deter you. There are ways to learn how to avoid rental scams on Craigslist so that you don’t get scammed.
Instead, I recommend doing your research and being careful before you hand over money or start a wire transfer. You may want to ask locals about a specific rental property, search anything you can on Google to see if the rental pops up for you (such as if you can see any complaints for that specific address), reaching out to a property management company, and more. This is so that you can make sure you are talking to the true owner of the property or whoever works for them.
After all, you don’t want to give scam artists a security deposit, Moneygram, first month’s rent, application fee, cashier’s checks, Venmo, Zelle, or whatever else they want without some verification that it is all real.
And, if a landlord asks you to send over gift cards as a form of payment, it is most likely fake and you are dealing with a Craigslist scammer. I have never, never heard of a landlord asking for a gift card as payment. It can be easy to fall for a rental scam, especially in today’s rental market where there is no rental inventory, which can lead to a lot of desperation.
Also, please be careful and watch out for Craigslist sublet scams. You can use many of the same Craigslist rental scam tips above to avoid Craigslist sublet scams.
But, there are legitimate rentals on Craigslist, you simply need to be careful. This may mean making sure to meet the property owner face-to-face, doing some research on the contact information that you are given, and more before you give a personal check and last month’s rent.
I, personally, have found a home rental on Craigslist and it was a great home. You can find Craigslist apartment rentals, Craigslist house rentals, and more that are legitimate – you just have to be careful.
What Craigslist rental scams and Craigslist apartment scams have you seen or heard about? Have you wondered how Craigslist rental scams work? Have you ever been the victim of any type of scam?
Leave a Reply
Hello,
I think I Might be getting Scammed. The man who is supposedly renting his home told me to deposit the deposit into a wells fargo account which is his attorney account. We went to the house to look at it and it had a lock box he had me read the numbers on it to him and he sent me the code. I told him I want something in my hands before I give money. He said he will have his attorney draw up the contract before the deposit is made. Are Scammers able to find out lock box codes by the numbers on it? I need to move like ASAP I don’t know how to know if this is a scam or not. Any help?
I almost fell for a scam from a guy who said he was Edward Joseph McGourty and gave me an address here in Ottawa ON Canada. I was warned through this article and found a phone number for the rental superintendent for the site and he was very helpful. No such person has ever lived there.
The scammer has way too much information about me but at least I sent no money.
The same thing happened to me. Fortunately we sent no money to him.
Most recent one!!
From:
Date: Sat, Jun 30, 2018 at 4:02 PM
Subject: Re: One Bedroom fully furnished condo
Hello
Thanks for the interest in my Apartment that was posted for rent,This Unit belong to me bought it some years back reason why the Apartment is up for Rent is because i have been transferred for work and i have no reason locking it up because am going to be here for a while, and i decided not to leave it in care of an agent because some of them are cunning and not straight forward and wont want anyone to mis-manage my property while am away…I had wanted to Put this up for sale until my wife disagree to that notion for the reason being we are still coming back to town thou it may be for awhile.I want someone that is Clean,Reliable,Respectable,doesn’t smoke nor do drugs,Honest and a Trustworthy person that would take very good care of the Unit for me…I work with the Missionary and have been doing that for awhile now and it has taken me to so many countries,Right now am in the United States of America been here for like a month or two came here with my wife,we are yet to have any children we have been together for 20 years…Enough of my Rambling i hope you will be able to take good care of this Unit if i decide to let it to you,get back to me on your past experience in Renting and also if you have any references..The rent fee is included and all the Utilities,there is parking lot and the apartment is ready right away for the right person..We can do month to month basis and also a long term lease..Looking forward hearing back from you ASAP so that i can forward you the RENTAL APPLICATION FORM to fill out so that we can iron out the details…Thanks once again for the interest and i look forward in letting this Unit out to you..
Your Potential Landlord
God! so glad that I came across this post. A friend of mine was looking for a rental apartment and I referred Craigslist to him just a few days ago. Will be sure to make him aware of these scams now. Thanks for the post!
I gave the “owner” my personal informations like address, name, phone no. and photo of Drivers License but when I talked him over the phone, I just realized his voice is kinda weird and he is not a missionary for sure.
Subject: Re: Stunning 1 bedroom condo &Gas Range & Dishwasher, &Washer & Drye
8
Hello,
Thanks for your email. I’m John Taylor, the owner of the Apartment you are renting. Actually I resided in the apartment with my family for some months and we moved away due to my transfer from my working place, my apartment is still available for rent for $800 per month including the utilities like washer and security, it is furnished. Right now I’m in West Africa for a crusade and I would like you to get in touch with my wife in the United states for more discussion as she is with the keys and the documents to the apartment. Please I want you to note that, I am a kind and honest man and also I spent a lot on my property, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and I want you to treat it as your own. I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that I will be glad to see it neat when I come for a check up, I do that once in a while. I want to have trust in you as I always stand by my words. Let us know how soon you are willing to move in. Email my wife Marie { keyaptss501@gmail.com } and she will attend to you better.
ADDRESS TO THE APARTMENT: 355 S Arroyo Dr,San Gabriel, CA 91776
Thanks for your interest.
John Taylor
Hey Alice,
We should chat. It’s very possible we were both conned by the same person (or group) in the LA housing market. I responded to a listing back in May (2018) for a below-market-value unit in Mar Vista, sent a rental App (which included by SSN and Employer Info) … and later wound up speaking to the individual over the phone. I realized pretty much immediately that it was a scam — and the person was using a fake accent, or just really didn’t speak english.
A few weeks back, the Identity Theft hit (and it hit hard). Bank accounts, my USPS mailing address, tons of crap. It’s been terrible. I’ve been in contract with the LAPD + their financial crims dept. — and have a similar Gmail thread with the fraudulent listing owner. I’m convinced they’ve hit several people in the LA market.
If you’d like to chat — let me know. Thanks!
-Mark
Mark,
I’m sorry to hear that….
Fortunately I didn’t give them SSN but only the photo of Driver’s License.
Hope there’s no way to use my infos… 🙁
I received the same John Taylor email and it seemed fishy so I googled, found this post, and am glad I haven’t filled anything out yet! Thanks!
Hi Alice,
I encountered the same kind of scammer in the bay area, I didn’t have a chance to give them my info yet as I just responded to a craigslist ad.I knew it was fishy when in the response to my initial email the respondent did not include the original ad, which was taken down from craigslist. So it’s a good idea to periodically check the ad to see if it was taken down for being spam. The email went as follows:
“Hello,
Thanks for your email. I’m John Taylor, the owner of the Apartment you are renting. Actually I resided in the apartment with my family for some months and we moved away due to my transfer from my working place, my apartment is still available for rent for $815 per month including the utilities like washer and security, it is furnished. Right now I’m in Mississippi for construction work and I would like you to get in touch with my wife in the United states at the moment too, for more discussion as she is with the keys and the documents to the apartment. Please I want you to note that, I am a kind and honest man and also I spent a lot on my property, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and I want you to treat it as your own. I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that I will be glad to see it neat when I come for a check up, I do that once in a while. I want to have trust in you as I always stand by my words. Let us know how soon you are willing to move in. Email my wife Marie { keyaptss501@gmail.com} and she will attend to you better.
ADDRESS TO THE APARTMENT: 2004 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Thanks for your interest.
John Taylor”
On the plus side, everyone, @ least he’s using the same name! In Washington, where I’ve reported several, unless you’ve actually been out $, you report it to a website affiliated w/ the FBI, so the FBI actually investigates it, which makes me feel like every scam, especially those that really lead you on, is worth reporting on that website. Not sure if it’s the same in Cali. But, regardless, I’m sure it’s easier to connect scams, & hopefully prosecute scammers, if the scammers use the same name(s). I hope your property hunts all ended successfully! We’re still looking. & still coming across a lot of scams, but being really proactive about avoiding them.
After reading this article I know for sure I have been scam for my information. The email sent to me is very similar.
We appreciate your interest and inquiries about our house…Am sorry for late response i was so busy with work i hope you understand..Yes the house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are out of town..We just moved to Ohio for a program called Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and I’m here with the house keys and documents..Before we left, i tried to look for an Agent/Management but i couldn’t get any in time..The program is taking place in three major countries in Switzerland, Singapore and the state we are right now in Ohio…We will be here for 5 to 6 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whoever that will take good care of it…Let me start by introducing myself My name is Charles Brown,.I am hearing impaired and I must confess I am very new in this landlord business. However, I own the house located at (235 Coronado Ave APT 4, Long Beach, CA 90803 ), the initial plan was to sell the house but sometimes the Realtor inflates the price and it takes longer to sell,because of this reason we have decided to rent out the house to a responsible tenant in a affordable rent that can take very good care of the property as we are not after the money, we want it to be clean and tidy at all time. Pets are allowed as long as they are not destructive..
Also how long do you intend to stay?
How soon do you intend to move in?
DETAILS ABOUT THE HOUSE
Address:235 Coronado Ave APT 4, Long Beach, CA 90803
Numbers of bedrooms: 1
Number of bathrooms: 1
Monthly Rent: $1,075
Security Deposit: $600
Total move in cost: $1,675
Pet: Acceptable with no pet deposit in as much as they are not destructive
Utilities are included in the rent.
You can drive-by to view the outside and neighborhood of the house and get
back to me asap and If you are really interested in renting my home then
answer the rental application..I attached it along with the pics of the
house. You can get back to me to my number (669) 209-6837
Regards,
Charles
My name is John.
Very much the same situation in the Virginia beach area. Email follows:
Hello,
This is my private email…. My name is David Raymond, regarding the house for rent (721 N Great Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454)… Number of Bedrooms:3…Number of baths:2, Rent:$750…Refundable security Deposit:$550…Total move in :$1300, Pets are welcome!!!. I decided to rent the house because we are going to spend more time here in (Phoenix, AZ) . My family and I will be here for about 5 years due the nature of my job.
I initially had it up for sale but had a change of mind in leasing it out ourselves because the agent that was in charge of our rental property was asking too much of an agent fee and also making it difficult for people who cannot afford the rent. Am willing to lease it out to person/family who is willing to assure us of taking absolute care of our home and pay their rent on time.
Fill out the below so that my wife and i will take a proper look at your form.(You can call or text me on (937) 756-1566 after filling out rental questionnaire.).
RENT APPLICATION FORM AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOU
1) Your Full Name ?
2A) Home Phone ?
2B) Cell Phone Number?
3) Your Full Address ?
04) How old are you ?
5a) Are you married ?
5b) How many people will be living in the house?
6a) Do you have a pet?
7a) Do you have a car?
8) Occupation ?
9) Do you smoke ?
10) Do you Drink ?
11) Do you work at Night ?
12) What is your monthly income?
13) When do you intend Moving in?
14) private email ?
15)How Many Months are you willing to rent?
16) How many months rent can you pay upfront? Minimum ( 1month OR 2 months )
17) When can you pay for your deposit to secure or move in ?
18) Let me know the amount you have right now to pay?
Please feel free to ask any questions you do not understand and I will be looking forward to receiving your email as soon as possible. As I am not in town to show the inside, you can go check out the house and the neighborhood from the outside and get back to me if you really like it for more information. Respond as soon as you can so we can get this process started.
Looking forward to hearing back from you with all this details so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you.
Regards and remain Bless.
Mr & Mrs David and Family.
Then he asked me to wire money to his wife
Saundra Kaye Torres in Las Vegas Nevada and then I would get the keys In the mail by fed ex
I got this same email for a different property in Norfolk, almost word for word, but from a David Maxwell!!!!!!
This literally just happened to me today. I would not send money without picture of title or mortgage statement in his name. After he wouldn’t send, THEN I started looking online. 🙁 Chandler, AZ
One of the emails I receieved. I knew about this scam before hand and googled the address. The home is for sale and I have already contacted a realitor. This is a similar format to 2 other homes I am intrested in.
Good Morning,
I hope this finds you happy, healthy and well today. I personally own the house, I want my property to be well taken good care of, and there are some rules and regulation in which I do give out to tenant willing to rent my house so please don’t disrespect my order, But if you are still capable of renting my house the rules and regulation goes this way, You must keep my house clean including the surrounding, you must know the way in which you use the stove so as to avoid fire outbreak, you must not disturb the neighbor. I decided to rent out the property due to my transfer to ( Cincinnati, OH ), with (WHO) World Health Organization(WHO)… WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. Don’t be a surprise if you find the home with another site and deference price, I have the plan to rent it through Real estate before, but they are not serious simply because they have a lot of house to lease out And they added some money to the rent while their commission is not fair.
Have this in mind you must know the kind of person that I’m nevertheless I am giving you this rules because of what corresponded between me and my last tenant. the keys and documents are with us here in ( Cincinnati, OH ). So I will need to ship them to you before you can occupy the house But you can drive by the house any time to take a look at the area and surrounding, You can also peek through the windows if you don’t mind. For now, we are looking for 3 or 4 years lease or rather lets us know how long you wish to stay. All included in the monthly rent, as I am in a governmental programmer that sponsors my utilities on a monthly basis etc. Please note that we are a kind and honest family, that spent a lot on property that is available for rent, so in one accord, we are soliciting for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own. We want you to keep it tidy all the time so that we shall be glad to see it whenever we are around on a visit.
Home Address: 703 Saint Anne Ave, Christmas, FL 32709
Rent: $700
Refundable security Deposit:$700
Total move in $1400
Pets are welcome!!!
All Utilities are included in the rent
Dishwasher, Dryer, Electric Stove
Fridge, Washer, Air Condition
Sewage, Trash
Text or call 775-468-3473
RENT APPLICATION
——————————————————-
1)Your Full Name______________________________
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number______________________________
3)Marital Status?___________________________________________
4)How many people will be living in the house_________________________
5)Do you have a pet______________________________
6)Do you have a car______________________________
7)Occupation______________________________
8)When will you like to move in?_____________________________
9)How long are you willing to stay in the property________________
10)Picture of the occupant If Available____________________________
11)When are you ready to Move In?________________
12)How Many Months are you willing to rent?________________
13) How many months rent can you pay upfront? Minimum ( 1month +
SECURITY DEPOSIT ) or ( 2 months + SECURITY DEPOSIT ), so which option
do you prefer ??? ________________
14)EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE OF DEPOSIT PAYMENT:______
Looking forward to hearing back from you with all these details so that I can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated so that we can discuss how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services.
May GOD bless you and your family.
Yours Sincerely.
Crazy mine is similar (Thanks for getting back to me regarding my house,It gives me great joy to know that you are interested in my lovely house,I am Rev. Sean Mcclelland, the owner of the house you are making inquiry of. Presently my house is still available for rent and ready for immediately occupancy for just $1200 (rent already includes utilities).. I am sure you would be asking yourself why my rent is low, that’s because I am not too keen about the amount in renting the place out but to whom I am renting the house out to take great care of it and I have put the house up for sale before now but had to change my mind as my wife is not OK with us selling the house so my intention is to rent my house to someone that is responsible and be ready to take great care of the house as if it were his or her own, that is why the rent is low. and I plan to rent it through Real estate, but they are not serious simply because they have a lot of property to lease out and they also put our house in a higher rate while there commission is not fair. I am very certain that you would love the comfy of the house. The house is available for 3 years for now but you can live there to the period of time you wish and you can also move out as long as you can, you just need to inform me a month before you live so that I can look for another tenant like you do.
I would like you to know that I am giving this house out for rent because I have been transferred to EAST AFRICA on a Missionary Work by my church. My wife came here to join me with my kids after some months I was transfer because My Father is ill and my brother’s have take him to Argentina for surgery. and if not because of this, I wouldn’t have been renting the house out because me and my family resides in the house and we love it so much. I would like you to complete the tenant application form below and please be honest with the details to enable us choose the right tenant. I can be reach here and you can call or text anytime (970)984-8602.
This is the address of the house (5160 Nestle Ave,Tarzana, CA 91356)
It has a dramatic entry foyer with ceramic floor. Extremely spacious rooms throughout. Nice and light! Very quiet, low traffic area. I believe its absolutely a perfect place for you and your family. Utilities include Electric, Water, Trash,Sewer, Gas Etc….
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms:3
2,000 sqft
Pets are welcome!!!
SO COMPLETE THE TENANT RENTAL APPLICATION FORM BELOW IF YOU REALLY INTERESTED IN RENTING:)
This was before he ask me to money Gram him 2200 deposit before receiving paperwork or keys
(Thanks for getting back to me regarding my house,It gives me great joy to know that you are interested in my lovely house,I am Rev. Sean Mcclelland, the owner of the house you are making inquiry of. Presently my house is still available for rent and ready for immediately occupancy for just $1200 (rent already includes utilities).. I am sure you would be asking yourself why my rent is low, that’s because I am not too keen about the amount in renting the place out but to whom I am renting the house out to take great care of it and I have put the house up for sale before now but had to change my mind as my wife is not OK with us selling the house so my intention is to rent my house to someone that is responsible and be ready to take great care of the house as if it were his or her own, that is why the rent is low. and I plan to rent it through Real estate, but they are not serious simply because they have a lot of property to lease out and they also put our house in a higher rate while there commission is not fair. I am very certain that you would love the comfy of the house. The house is available for 3 years for now but you can live there to the period of time you wish and you can also move out as long as you can, you just need to inform me a month before you live so that I can look for another tenant like you do.
I would like you to know that I am giving this house out for rent because I have been transferred to EAST AFRICA on a Missionary Work by my church. My wife came here to join me with my kids after some months I was transfer because My Father is ill and my brother’s have take him to Argentina for surgery. and if not because of this, I wouldn’t have been renting the house out because me and my family resides in the house and we love it so much. I would like you to complete the tenant application form below and please be honest with the details to enable us choose the right tenant. I can be reach here and you can call or text anytime (970)984-8602.
This is the address of the house (5160 Nestle Ave,Tarzana, CA 91356)
It has a dramatic entry foyer with ceramic floor. Extremely spacious rooms throughout. Nice and light! Very quiet, low traffic area. I believe its absolutely a perfect place for you and your family. Utilities include Electric, Water, Trash,Sewer, Gas Etc….
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms:3
2,000 sqft
Pets are welcome!!!
SO COMPLETE THE TENANT RENTAL APPLICATION FORM BELOW IF YOU REALLY INTERESTED IN RENTING:))
I got this email today. The rent price is too good to be true, so I googled rent scam in my area and I found this article.
Thank you so much for the info. So glad I found it before giving out my personal info.
This is in Virginia Beach, VA.
APPLICATION FORM
1.) Your full Name?______________________________
2.) Your full address & mobile number / home #?______________________________
3.) Marital Status / DOB?___________________________________________
4.) How many people will be living in the house and Names of people moving in with you?
_________________________
5.) Length of previous tenancy and occupation of each person move in with you?
______________________________
6.) Do you have a car / Do you have a pet? Please describe Breed, size______________________________
7.) Are you a section 8 applicant?__________________
8.) Do you run a business from home, If so what kind of business?___________________
9.) How often do you do your current house cleaning?___________________
10.) When will you like to move in?_____________________________
11.) How long are you willing to stay in the property?________________
12.) When are you ready to Move In, please write exact move in date?________________
13.) How many months rent can you pay upfront? Minimum ( 1 month +
SECURITY DEPOSIT ) or ( 2 months + SECURITY DEPOSIT ), so which option
do you prefer ??________________
14.) Earliest possible date of deposit?_____________
15.) Can we trust you and our house safe keeping in your hand?_______________________
16.) If you are ask to make a down payment to secure the house today and take it off market, How much will you be able to pay:__________?
17.) Do you work late night and do you smoke and drink? (We just wanna know don’t get it twisted) no hard feelings.
18.) REFERENCE?__________________Scan a copy of your passport and Driver License
=================
19.) Applicant Comment:
=================
Looking forward to hear from you and Please have this in mind that you are talking to a very nice and God fearing family, if you find any of our question inconvenience please don’t be offended but answer it because we want and like to know the kind of family that will be living in our house from day one so nothing from them will be strange to us again.
thank you
I must have emails from the same crook, as the numbers are exactly the same. They’re getting slick, finding an address and matching the actual property owners name to that address. I smelled something fishy by the 2nd email, and the second “they” put a telephone number on one of the emails I Google searched that too because the number was weird and did not match any area code here for someone who may have lived here as long as he claimed. What’s funny is all I Google as the number they gave me to call or text, and in my search I noticed the exact same words from the last email he sent, with the same improper grammar. This is the “rental application” sent to me:
___________________________________
Thanks for your response. I will look forward to working with you and I hope you become the right tenant for us as we need responsible people to take good care of the house. We also need serious applicants so we can move forward with the rental process.
I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:
RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone # : __________?
E-mail : __________?
Best time to call : __________?
How many proposed occupants : __________?
List of all occupants with approximate age : __________?
Present Address : __________?
City/State : __________?
Will you have pets : __________?
Please describe breed, size : __________?
Personality of pet : __________?
Preferred move in date : __________?
Intended length of lease: __________?
How much deposit can you put down today to secure the home for yourself: __________?
Length of previous tenancy : __________?
Present occupation : __________?
Do you run a business from home : __________?
If so what kind of business : __________?
Do you work late night : __________?
Do you smoke : __________?
Do you drink : __________?
CALL OR TEXT ME ON THIS NUMBER (775) 468-3473
Please feel free to ask any questions you do not understand and I will be looking forward to receiving your email as soon as possible. As I am not around to show the inside, you can go check out the house and the neighborhood from the outside and get back to me
___________________________________
Did you call the person? If so what accent do they have? I have the same email for a property in WA.
Got the exact same.email for a property in Pennsylvania. Looked up the property on several sites and it wasn’t even on the market
Hey guys,
Coming from New England here in the expensive, tax-ridden state of Massachusetts! My spouse and I actually had two craigslist scammers contact us in the same pity-party/sob story that seems to be popular amongst many of us here (one was actually this morning). One scammer claimed to work for a Catholic ministry in a different state, and the other a Christian who was working with this benign Christian organization we’ve never heard about — we are Christians ourselves and typically know what organizations there are out there. I contacted the Catholic one (didn’t bother with the Christian since I knew it was weird anyways) and told the scammer. Next thing I know, the posting was removed. Just this past morning, I told the “Christian” scammer I was flagging him — then gave some appropriate two cents of my own… in the Christian way, of course lol Immediately, the posting was removed. Both scammers, however, requested my regular email address and would not send any information if they did not have my email. But, they obviously had my email since I used it to reply to them…? That was off-putting. I figured they wanted an alternate email just so they would not be tracked with their craigslist email if they got caught. Then they got back to me with an email from another server… figures.
What astounds me is the fact they use the same type of pattern to try and lure you and from many different locations, it seems — I mean, good for us. But it is unfortunate that it can be so easily dismissed by many.
Just wanted to chime in and share!
Kati
Hi all,
I’ve seen replies that say that they have been victims and some have been warned not to do anything. I, for one, has become a recent victim and I am worried that they are going to use my personal information (as well as my mother’s/sisters’) to do whatever they want.
What are the next steps other than getting identity theft protection and informing Craigslist that this particular ad is a scam? Do I inform my local police dept., my credit reporting agencies (or is this communication only after I’ve been hacked?), etc.?
Please advise on how to move forward from here is greatly appreciated.
Mercedes
Got this, and i figured it was too good to be true. They keep hitting me up every day asking if im still interested.
“Hello,
This beautiful home is still available for rent and ready to move in 260 Clearwood Ave, Riverside, CA 92506 4 beds 2 baths 2,037 sqft rent $1700 security deposit $1500 pets allowed.
You need to drive by the home,sorry just moved closer to wife due she was diagnose calvical cancer in Los Angeles,CA you can go by to view the house and and get back to me, am at the hospital right, she is battling cancer, pls say prayers for her.All appliances are included
How many adults,kids and pets will be moving in? how long do you plan living in the house? i don’t want moving in and moving out, i want long term stay a least start
with 1 year lease with an option to renew it.
This home located in safe and quiet area good to raise the kids,do you have good credit,rental history,pay-stub and reference?i do have the keys her with me, if
everything work out for both of us i can overnight the keys and papers to you.
Norma L Platt “
Wow, I can’t believe human beings would go that low to scam someone. I got almost exactly the same e-mai almost two years after you did:
“I just moved closer to wife because she’s diagnose with cancer. I’m at the hospital right now, she is battling with cancer, please say prayers for her. You can take a drive by today to see the outside of the house so you can get a better view of the house and also see what the neighborhood is like because am not available to walk you through the house. If you are still interested in my house after driving by, you can go ahead and fill out the Rental Application Form below and to continue with my rental process. Pets are welcome!
Stay blessed
John Jo Marino”
Crazy how similar they are this email was sent as a reply to property I inquired about on Craigslist ….
((Thanks for getting back to me regarding my house,It gives me great joy to know that you are interested in my lovely house,I am Rev. Sean Mcclelland, the owner of the house you are making inquiry of. Presently my house is still available for rent and ready for immediately occupancy for just $1200 (rent already includes utilities).. I am sure you would be asking yourself why my rent is low, that’s because I am not too keen about the amount in renting the place out but to whom I am renting the house out to take great care of it and I have put the house up for sale before now but had to change my mind as my wife is not OK with us selling the house so my intention is to rent my house to someone that is responsible and be ready to take great care of the house as if it were his or her own, that is why the rent is low. and I plan to rent it through Real estate, but they are not serious simply because they have a lot of property to lease out and they also put our house in a higher rate while there commission is not fair. I am very certain that you would love the comfy of the house. The house is available for 3 years for now but you can live there to the period of time you wish and you can also move out as long as you can, you just need to inform me a month before you live so that I can look for another tenant like you do.
I would like you to know that I am giving this house out for rent because I have been transferred to EAST AFRICA on a Missionary Work by my church. My wife came here to join me with my kids after some months I was transfer because My Father is ill and my brother’s have take him to Argentina for surgery. and if not because of this, I wouldn’t have been renting the house out because me and my family resides in the house and we love it so much. I would like you to complete the tenant application form below and please be honest with the details to enable us choose the right tenant. I can be reach here and you can call or text anytime (970)984-8602.
This is the address of the house (5160 Nestle Ave,Tarzana, CA 91356)
It has a dramatic entry foyer with ceramic floor. Extremely spacious rooms throughout. Nice and light! Very quiet, low traffic area. I believe its absolutely a perfect place for you and your family. Utilities include Electric, Water, Trash,Sewer, Gas Etc….
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms:3
2,000 sqft
Pets are welcome!!!
SO COMPLETE THE TENANT RENTAL APPLICATION FORM BELOW IF YOU REALLY INTERESTED IN RENTING:))
Then I was asked for a $2200 deposit by MoneyGram to send to Kenya before I see the property or get the keys
Yikes. I knew as soon as I got a similar email here in Orlando that it was a scam.
Thanks for your response. I will look forward to working with you and i hope you become the right tenant for us as we need responsible people to take good care of the house. We also need serious applicants so we can move forward with the rental process.
I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:
RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone # : __________?
E-mail : __________?
Best time to call : __________?
How many proposed occupants : __________?
List of all occupants with approximate age : __________?
Present Address : __________?
City/State : __________?
Will you have pets : __________?
Please describe breed, size : __________?
Personality of pet : __________?
Preferred move in date : __________?
Intended length of lease: __________?
How much deposit can you put down today to secure the home for yourself : __________?
Length of previous tenancy : __________?
Present occupation : __________?
Do you run a business from home : __________?
If so what kind of business : __________?
Do you work late night : __________?
Do you smoke : __________?
Do you drink : __________?
Please feel free to ask any questions you do not understand and I will be looking forward to receive your email as soon as possible. As I am not around to show the inside, you can go check out the house and the neighborhood from the outside and get back to me if you really like it for more information. Respond as soon as you can so we can get this process started.
You can text or call me anytime for more inquiries on 203-701-9467
Regards and remain blessed.
I got this exact same message today. Do Not Trust!!
Another thing that’s a giveaway to a scam rental posting is if there are any photos showing a realtor watermark or logo in corner. These are photos posted on the realtor sites (MLS) and are marked by the realtor board that belong to. It’s illegal to use these photos anywhere other than the MLS with this marked. If it’s a realtor listing on Craigslist you’ll see their license number and can verify it first with the local real estate board.
Below is a response email I received~and the ad had one pic with the watermark on it. I didn’t notice the watermark until I went back and looked at it after reviewing this letter. As you can see there is strange phrasing regarding dirt and in other areas of this response. Unusual “Off” grammar and phrasing another telltale indicator.
Finally- I had answered some of these questions in my first inquiry to the ad which also tells me they aren’t really reading the inquiry and just after personal info.
EMAIL:
Hello there,
Thanks for your interest in our lovely home, we want responsible adults/family who are neat and also have what it takes to take care of our house as if it were theirs.. We will be very pleased if we have the opportunity in showing you around my house, The home is currently in move in ready condition.
Property Information:
Single Family Residential House
419 East Francis Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
The monthly rent is $1650 and the refundable security deposit is $1650. Pets are allowed and utilities (water,sewer, and trash only) are also included in the rent. Pets are also allowed in the home as long as they are home broken and their shots received regularly too.
I will be very happy to find the right tenant for my home, a person who does not tolerate anything that has to do with dirt. I would love to learn more information about you, your renting experience and how long you intend to rent our home, date would you want to move in if everything goes well.
Do let me know if I should email the rental application form for you via email to fill for review and approval if you qualify as a potential our tenant for our home.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards,
Johan D & Family
Just received this email that i inquired about 3 days ago.. Good thing i did my research!
Hello Dear,
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my apartment. Yes the apartment is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the apartment now that i am not around. i just traveled to Crason city NV for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM),you can view the link for more info: (link redacted). i will be away for 3 to 5 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my apartment for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. However, my initial plan was to sell my apartment but it was not successful because the Realtor raised the price which made it difficult for me to sell before leaving , It has already been taken off the market as for sale so there is no need to contact any Realtor. My wife advice’s we take the rent low due to the fact we seek responsible occupant and we are not after the money but a proper maintenance of my property . I want you to understand that I spent a lot on my property that you have requested to rent, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and would want you to treat it as your own because cleanliness they say is next to Godliness. It is not all about the money to be paid on rent or spent; it is all about a good maintenance culture which I want you to adopt on the property. I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that I would be full of smiles whenever I come and above all, a good, strong and tight relationship between us when I come for a check up. Please one more thing, I wouldn’t like to have any benefit of trust in you because I want to stand in your words that the property would be well taken care of all the time. I believe you have seen how lovely it is if from only the pictures you saw in my posting compare to the 100% comfort to be derived from it as you are an occupant.
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat,Car park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service,Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator,Washer / Dryer.
Rental Price: $750 per month and security Deposit is $450 (Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent.
Here is the address to the:14082 Edwards St #202Westminster, CA 92683, USA
Bedroom:2
Bathroom:2
I may not be returning to the apartment because we plan buying another apartment upon arrival. For more inquiries.
SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:
RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home,cell and office line ) # :__________?
E-mail :__________?
Best time to call :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
City/State :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
Preferred move in date :__________?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
Earliest possible date of deposit payment:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?
Looking forward to hearing back from you with all this details so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services and You may drive by to view the building and its living environment. May GOD bless you and your family.Thanks
I received the same email, just wondering if the email is also the same.. does it end in 65@hotmail?
The same happen to my someone named Mac Lester with the same form in Fullerton, CA. I actually talked to the guy and he had a heavy accent and he wanted me to wire him the money without even seeing the place horrible.
I got the same email from a Ronald Webber about a listing doubt hell get back to me since my husband is the one to answer some questions. Wish I read this sooner
(970)984-8602 this is the number they are calling from