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 Dear
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my home. Yes the home is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the home now that we are not around. Myself and my wife just travelled to Harrisburg ,Pennsylvania, for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM), you can view the link for more info: (redacted).
We will be away for 3 to 4 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my home for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. However, my initial plan was to sell the home but it was not successful because the Realtor raised the price which made it difficult for me to sell before leaving the States so never mind if you see the for sale sign in front of the home, It has already been taken off the market as for sale so there is no need to contact any Realtor.
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 home 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, Master Bedroom, Playground, Car Park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.
Rental Price: $500 per month and security Deposit is $300 (Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent.
Pets are Welcome.
Here is the address to the Home:
Bedroom:1
Bathroom:1
Living Building Square Footage: 2,257
I may not be returning to the home because we plan buying another home 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 :__________?
Are you a section 8 applicant
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. May GOD bless you and your family and if you are finding it
Regards.
MR & MRS MATT ROGER
Also this listing was for a studio apartment and the address showed a shotgun duplex. If the property is inconsistent with the description, it’s a red flag, along with their not being able to show you the place in person.
I like to do research, and I often go to the county’s assessor’s page. Often a lot of info can be found there, like who owns the property. Today I got an email from a scammer. Too bad too, because that place would have been ideal. It’s for sale, and I have no way to buy it. The house is held in trust, and I contacted the agency managing the trust; they are the ones that informed me it was for sale not rent. I sent them the link. Since I’ve been in contact with them, I may even ask if they would be willing to rent month-to-month, until it’s sold; since it’s been on the market for a while.
I knew this was a scam because what landlord can’t show a unit for rent !?!
Thanks for your interest,My name is Richard Thomas just moved down to North Carolina, due to my job transfer as a Civil Engineer, I will be here for 2 to 3 years. My initial plan was to sell the apartment but I find it difficult to let go this adorable home, in case if you find the Property on another website,that is the old advert. I have decided to rent this to a responsible tenant who is willing to take very good care of it in our absence and also be a responsible person (With good recommendation) that can take care of it as we are not after the money.
Below are some questions I need you to answer so we can discuss further. You can only drive by the property for now to check the outside and the neighbourhood, it is available for a short and long lease. Get back to me for further discussion on how to get the keys and paperwork of the property to you if I find you suitable and decide to rent the property to you..
Details:
Rent: $1000(Monthly)
Security Deposit Fee: $450
Date Available: Asap
RENT QUESTIONNAIRE
1) Your Full Name ?
2) Present Address (where you reside now) ?
3) Phone ?
4) Age ?
5) Occupation ?
6) Rent & Deposit require before move in, do you agree ?
7) How many people will be living in the property ?
8) When do you intend to move in ?
9) Do you have a pet ?
10) Do you smoke ?
11) How long do you want to stay?
12) Occupant Picture?
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 property and the neighbourhood from the outside and get back to me if you really like it for more information.you can reach me at my cell phone number or text me at any time (704) 565-0303. Please respond ASAP.
Best Regards.
I received a similar email as well.
Hello Mate,
Thanks for your interest in my house, i am Wright Alan Thomas
work as Site Machine operator and the owner of the apartment,I have
really decided to give out the house as a result of my transfer to a
NEW Joint Company in China/Turkey/philippines under Cinocheim Group
Ltd with the whole family due to my New contract which takes 3
years.My Father is ill and his presently in Germany for surgery The
house is available for long term and the
building is in a great location situated in the quiet and safe area
and offers secure access. internet, cable, laundry in-suite, storage
facilities, heat, water, electric and parking is included in the rent
and pet are allowed. i am going to be back in the country in 3 years time.
The money is not the actual reason for the rent, but the need for
someone to occupy the flat so as to maintain the facilities in the apartment,
we need a clean and tidy tenant who will be hygienic and in best place to make
the apartment always maintained, because we would feel very bad
if the house is used roughly,The apartment has its personal laundry
with a washing and drying machine.
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.
Its well furnished and all amenities are Included. Such as :
Dishwasher,Gas cooker, Fridge , Microwave , Washer/Dryer ,Cable
Television , Electricity , Heat , Parking Water/Sewer
Bathroom,Hardwood,Internet Access , Internet access and many more
that’s the only property we have left in the Country.
Minimum lease time is one Month ( 1 Month ) and maximize depends on
how longer you would like to stay.
We are renting it out since we need someone to take good care of the
property on my absent.I have 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 there
commission is not fair.i know its going to be difficult handling this
but all i need is trust from Tenant to Landlord.
Rental fee of $200/weekly includes Water, Cables tv, Internet wi-fi
and Electricity bills with a washing and drying machine,fridge,
kitchen set, full set electronics and heater is also in the apartment.
Apartment Details
Address: 126 Mounts Bay Road Perth WA 6000
Rent is $ 200 Weekly
$ 800 Monthly + Bond $800 Refundable at the End of your stay.
Kindly fill out the rent application form to this email if you are interested.
*********RENT APPLICATION FORM********
(Private and Confidential)
Also, Please let me get answer to the application below :-
1)Your Full Name ?
2)Your Full Address Where You Reside Right Now ?
3)Reachable Mobile Phone Number ?
4)Age ?
5) Sex ?
6)Are You Married ?
7)How many people will be living in the apartment?
8)Do You have a Pet ?
9)Do You have a Car ?
10)Occupation ?
11) Citizen Of Which Country ?
12)How Long Did You Want To Stay ?
13)What Is Your Moving In Date ?
14) When Did You Please On Moving Out ?
15) How Many Month Rent Are You Willing To Pay ( First 1 month rent +
bond) or If You Pay ( First 2 month rent + bond And Get 1 Month
Free)…So which one do you prefer ?
16) Scan copy of your international passport for a prove of identity.
Thanks and God bless you more as you do this.
I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.
Regards.
Wright Alan Thomas
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, he sent the passport for me as a proof, and the following email.
Thanks for the understanding,i don’t want you to be doubting me your
money is well safe,If you are thinking that I just wanted to take your
money for nothing.When I known how people worked and earn their money,
I will never think of taking some advantages over you and your money,
please take that out of your mind, that is really awful thing on the
earth that I will never think about doing. Please understand me
better, I was not trying to lure you into this, everything about me is
100% real ok, i can never tarnish my name and image all because of
money and i wouldn’t do such a thing when i have
blood running through my vein. i will never tarnish my imagine all
because of money all necessary documents including the rent receipt as
been included in the package.i have to send you a prove of Delivery since
i am a also a honest person so put your worry aside am so happy here
to rent out my apartment for you and am sure you surely like the place
when you received the package.
Kindly find a copy of my identity of whom you are speaking with and i
hope you know what it takes sending my identity to you,kindly handle
with care, you should find your self lucky and Appreciating we
Accepting you as our Tenant and i hope you know what it takes at this
point by not letting us down.
i know its going to be difficult handling this but all i need is trust
from Tenant to Landlord.
Its well furnished and all amenities are Included. Such as :
Dishwasher,Gas cooker, Fridge , Microwave , Washer/Dryer ,Cable
Television , Electricity , Heat , Parking , Water/Sewer
Bathroom,Internet Access and many more.
the facilities in the apartment. Like i said,i am emphasizing on is
your ability to take good care of the apartment for us because that’s
the only property we have left in the Country.
please am giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to
stick to your words, am putting everything into Gods hand, so please
do not let me down.
i am having 100% trust in you and like i told you am humble and a
honest man, i am really not after the money but a good and neat
person i know the apartment is like giving it out… its going to be
my 1st time posting my apartment on the Net.
i strongly believe that everything is going to work out fine as
planed.please put your worry aside, you will surly receive what you
pay for.
All Documentation/Agreement would be attached to the Parcel due
to security reason over the internet.
Kindly Note i would never cheat on you, this is a New Year and
i also consider you as a hard working Human to Earn a living.
Since I rent from overseas and cannot have a look before renting, should I trust him?
I receive similar too, not sure if it’s real ?
So I’m wondering if I can get scammed if I’m trying to rent? I’m actually renting out the back part of my house and for some reason I have 2 inquiries almost exactly the same. They are out of town but urgent to rent and send money (from 3rd party in the US) to secure move. The 3rd party is their father.. he will send cashiers check to secure rent due to them being out the of the country right now. Both potential tenants are coming to finish their schooling. One is coming for their masters in geology and the other their bachelor in something else. One is deaf so she can’t talk on the phone for an interview. They’re both asking my full name & address within the 1msg. Is this normal? Someone so eager to rent without seeing the place, willing to send payment straight away? 😐
This sounds like a scam to me.
This was a scam that almost got my husband and I. Thanks be God we weren’t further harmed.
Good morning and thanks for your mail with also the warm response. I was in well receipt of your filled rental application form with also the lovely details about yourself which i must confess that we both did find it very very satisfactory and believe you to be the best occupant for our home. Myself and my fiancee are very exited and willing to let you move into our home as soon as possible as we have concluded on accepting you to move in as soon as you are ready. So as we shall be renting our unit to you, please we want you to take very good care of the unit because i had spend a lot of money on the property so we might be glad when coming by sometime this year to see how neat you’ve been keeping the place. Hope everything about this process is fine with you? However, if you are ready to rent our home now, that will not be a problem but i will advice you due to you are a responsible and reliable person, a refundable Security Deposit will be made before moving in and also i would like to send the following document to you via FedEx Courier Service to the address you’ve provided to me in the rental application form and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can track the shipment and know when it arrives London. Once again, we are giving you this based on trust and do not disappoint us as we promise that you would love our home as i believe you must have seen how well organized and maintained it is from the pictures compared to the 100% comfort you would be deriving from it been an occupant. The package containing the (Keys, Home Documentary Files, Letter Of Access And The Hard Copy Of The Tenancy Lease Agreement) will be delivered withing 24 hours to you.
NB: I want you to know that we would be sending you the package via FedEx courier company as soon as you make the payments for the refundable deposit which is $400. Please do get back to me immediately as soon as you get this as i would love to instruct you on how best to send the funds so i can get the home keys and all necessary documents arranged then sent to you before hand.
I await your soonest response and do have a lovely day ahead.
Best Regards,
Thomas.
This is the initial email they sent me. The ad was asking for someone to take good care of the home because they had disrespectful renters previously and wanted to ensure their investment wasn’t further harmed and wanted to handle the rental of this apartment themselves.
Hello,
Good morning and thanks for your interest in my home which my fiancee and i are looking to lease out, and it’s still very much available for rent. I am a Geologist and my work can be quite tedious because it involves mineral researches, I’m an easy going person and also very friendly. I like music and have deep interests in traveling. I respect every religion and also love to hang around with people and i am definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I just moved to Los Angeles, CA now due to my new research and also to be close to my fiancee as we are about getting married in few weeks time. The unit is located in a safe and secured neighborhood which i think is the most important thing for one to know before relocating. You are free to drive or walk by so you can tour the exterior of the building if you wish. Unit Address: (272 Dundas St, London, ON N6B 1T6) Rent: $750 Damage Deposit: $400.Only well behaved pets are welcomed, utilities included (Heat, Water, Electricity and Internet/Cable). The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 1 years with also possibility of extension. I and my fiancee decided to handle the rental process ourselves due to our past experience with estate agents and tenant because all they care about is their own commission instead of taking time to verify applicants application and do a proper background check before leasing to such individual, the last tenant that rented from us through an estate agent destroyed most of our valuable home appliances. I know how much i spent to replace the things that was destroyed in the home, a whole lot of people have contacted me regarding the home but not just sure of who to accept due to the horrible experience we had with the last tenant. All we want is a very responsible, trustworthy and caring person that will take care of the home like his/her own and if you can assure me that the unit will be in good hands, i would be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish. Fill out the rental application form below and send it back to me as soon as you can if you are still very much interested in renting my unit. I would be happy to give you a call once this is done, because it is always best we speak over the phone.
*****RENTAL APPLICATION FORM****
(Private and Confidential)
FIRST NAME:
MIDDLE NAME:
LAST NAME:
(CELL)PHONE:
(OFFICE)PHONE:
BEST TIME TO CALL:
EMAIL:
KIDS : (YES/NO), HOW MANY :
PRESENT ADDRESS:
CITY:
PROVINCE:
POSTAL CODE:
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN:
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING:
HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT:
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT FEES:
DO YOU HAVE PET :
KIND OF PETS:
HABITS:
DO YOU SMOKE :
DO YOU DRINK :
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT:
REFERENCE……..
NAME:
ADDRESS:
Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your filled details will impress me the more to accept your application.
N:B: However, my initial plan was to sale out the unit which i tried but sometimes the agents inflates the price and it takes longer to sell. I am telling you this just in case if you find the unit on another website, that is the old advert. Because of this reason and more we need a rental agreement with a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money but want it to be clean and for you to take care of it as if it were yours. We would be looking forward to receiving your email as soon as possible.
Regards,
Thomas.
Actually, I used to live in a college town in Indiana and it was very normal for students to rent apartments site unseen because they were coming from another country to go to the university. A lot of students from India, Pakistan, or China. Only the wealthiest students can afford to come to the US for school, so to have their father pay the rent in advance is not unusual. I’m not saying there aren’t scammers out there, but just because they say they are coming from out of the country doesn’t automatically make them suspect.
In another vein, I’m currently looking for a rental in Roanoke, VA and have twice now answered a CL ad, only to have replies from two different people/email addresses, both saying they are the landlord. I just deleted them because it sounded completely fishy to me. I Googled around to see if fake rental ads on CL happen and found this site. Looks like lots of fakers out there.
This is a M2M rental and the final asking price is $1000 and it includes all utilities. It comes furnished as it is in the pictures. it is available to view when the current tenant moves out by Thursday 11th of July so the earliest you will be able to view will be on Friday 12th of July but it might get rented out before then as we have been getting a lot of inquiries in regards to the home and it goes to anyone that pays first to secure the rent. We will allow a drive by to view the property for someone who promise not to disturb our current tenant. We require the first month lease plus security deposit to secure move in. Let us know if you will like to proceed in securing the lease so we can send you an application form to apply for the renting of our home.
FIRST NAME:__________?
MIDDLE NAME:__________?
LAST NAME:__________?
PROFESSION:__________?
PHONE(MOBILE)__________?
(WORK)PHONE__________?
(HOME)PHONE__________?
KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY________?
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________?
CITY: _______________?
STATE:______________?
ZIP CODE: ____________?
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING ____________?
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING IN THE HOUSE:____________?
DO YOU HAVE A CAR:____________?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________?
HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS:____________? ( We are available to meeting with you on moving day and hand you the keys and make sure everything looks good for your move in.)
IF YOU HAVE A PET,
NAME OF PET: _____________?
KIND OF PETS: _____________?
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________ ?
DO YOU DRINK ______________?
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT?____?
REFERENCES; 1.
2.
3.
This is the initial email I received. She sent me the pictures of the place and it seems too good to be true. I hope there will be no more victims by the same email like this.
From: Annette Day Toni
Subject:2617 College Ave Berkeley, CA 94704
I’m very sorry for the late reply have been very busy. The unit is still available and the monthly rent is $1320 including with the utilities bills.The Security deposit is $1300 and is refunded back to you the day you move out.The unit is located at 2617 College Ave Berkeley, CA 94704 . The unit Pictures is attached , Washer & dryer is in the unit and one parking spot is assign for the apartment. i just move out of the unit and staying with my husband now, how many people want to stay in the unit and do you have any pets.
If you are ready to apply and would like to be considered as the new occupant of the unit you need to go through application process and Submit a complete application for reviewed. Kindly get back if you really want to rent the unit, So that i can send you the rental application and get started with the application processing.
Thanks for your time
Mrs Annette
Oh and here is the second email from her.
Thanks for showing interest, Me and my husband we are on vacation for our 31st wedding anniversary in a resort before my husband fall down and was rush to the hospital was diagnose cancer, so he need to receive an urgent treatment and i need to be with him . my own concern is that i want to be ensure that you are a committed and neat person to rent the unit because I have been disappointed by people who are just time wasting. If you want to rent the unit you need to go through the application process and once your application is reviewed and approved,The property body cooperate will register your name as the new occupant of the unit then we can make arrangement when to meet at the unit and finalize your rent and introduce you to the authority .You can swing by and view the the unit because the unit is locked and i have the keys with me
Thanks for your time
Mrs Annette
Most recent one I’ve come acrossed:
Thank you very much for the interest in my home. l want you to know that the property you are writing me about is still available for move in but before we proceed any further.My Name is Mr Alex Coleman , I want you to know that the kind of tenant l am looking forward to have,clean,quiet,respectful and responsible someone that will treat the house with care and respect. l don’t need the partying type but if you can assure me of the safety of the house if i decided to accept you as my new tenant l will be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.I want you to know am on the missionary assignment here with m. e and my family to Magee , Mississippi United state .
I just posted a similar article about rental scams today – I was surprised to see it listed as #1 on your list of scams… it’s a new one here in Lake County, Florida. Someone posed as the property owner of a place for rent. Previously I had only heard of someone attempting to do that online or over the phone. This person was brave enough to do it in person. She advertised the property for rent, showed it multiple times, found a renter, signed a lease with them, and collected the necessary money (in cash) for the person to move-in. The person was told their move-in date and they assumed everything was fine. On the day they were to move in, the supposed owner was nowhere to be found. It turns out that the scammer was the previous tenant who knew she was being evicted! In her anger, she decided to take advantage of someone else in order to have money for her next security deposit, posing as the owner of the property. It’s amazing the depths people will go to in order to take advantage of others!
What should I do if I gave out my email and phone number and personal photo(not my drivers license id) and downloaded the pdf question document on my computer and sent it back to the scammer. The pdf was supposed to signed and scaned and sent back, but only filled it out and sent back with no signature. Am I in trouble for identy theft
LEASE PROPERTY
10:32 AM (3 hours ago)
to me
Hello,
The apartment is available for rent and the neighborhood is secured!
The address is: 1363 Plaza Pacifica Montecito, CA 93108
The month rent including utilities.
Rent: $2,100. Security Deposit: $1,500 (Refundable After Lease period, As long as there are no damages on property after inspection).
Total move-in cost will be $3,600
Living Building Square Footage: 900sqft
Number Of Bedrooms: 1
Number Of Bathrooms: 2
Lease flexible:
Furnished apartment:
Pets are allowed as long as they are not destructive.
Just to let you know before we move any further, I am currently in
Naval Air Station at the moment, i would be working here for the next few years.
I personally own the apartment and my initial plan
was to sell the apartment and buy another apartment over here but the agents
were not honest with me, they took advantage of me and the previous
tenant by getting higher rent from them and never deliver the money to
me so i have decided to handle it by myself. The Agents are like licensed deceitful thieves and this is why I am handling the Rent by myself. You deal with me directly and you have nothing to worry about.
The apartment is properly maintained and updated as 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 once you are an occupant, so i will solicit for your absolute maintainance of this apartment and would want you to treat it as your own personal home 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.
You can come take a look, but it depends on your viewing date because there are presently some occupants in the property for now, and will be leaving on the 20th of October so you won’t be able to view until then. However there are lot of request coming in for the property and much willing to secure ahead of date. If you wish to secure ahead of date, You go view around the neighborhood and surrounding of the property but i can’t guarantee checking out the inside of the property because we don’t invade in the privacy of our current tenant which is why i posted the pictures for the advert.
Kindly get back to me if you are satisfied viewing the surroundings of the property, so i can send over the Qustionnaire form to fill out, along with the rental agreement and bank details for payment. but you can try to secure it ahead of date because they are other occupants interested in it so let me know ASAP. I’m ready to accept either monthly or upfront mode of payment. Depending on the one you’re most Comfortable with.
IF STILL INTERESTED.I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE FOR FURTHER PROCESSING!
Thank you
I got your response and i can see your willingness in my apartment.
The apartment is properly maintained and updated and I will be glad to have you as my tenant!.
I am ready to accept either monthly or upfront mode of payment. I
just hope you will take care of the apartment just like your own personal
home. The paperwork to fill out is attached to this email, print, get
it filled and scan it back to me here as soon as possible or type
answer for each question in the provided space and forward it back to
me for proper documentation, then we can proceed on how to get the
keys and all necessary documents to you. I just hope that i can trust
you with my apartment and that you will take good care of it just like it were yours.
Once i gets these details, the contract shall be prepared,
confirming that you have reserved the apartment.
I trust i will read from you soonest with these details so that I
can put them in my file. It is mandatory that the documents attached
herein are filled by you and scanned and sent to my mail for proper
documentation…. fill in the forms and feel free ask questions.
I want you to understand that there are other interested occupants
sending emails and this may subject to a First Pay, First Served basis!
Thank you
I find a few. The houses are for sale etc.
They are using pictures from houses are for SALE!!
I do not send money to anyone before I see the property inside.
Why pay for an application before you see the property inside etc..
This needs to be share so people know what is going on.
Share Facebook etc..
This guy almost had me but I listened to my gut.
Thank you for your email, I personally own the house, I want my property to be well serviced, and there are some rules and regulations in which I give the tenant willing to rent my house so please do not fail to respect me, But if still you are able to rent my house the rules and regulations go this way, you must keep my house clean including the environment, you should not disturb the neighbor. I decided to rent the property because of my transfer to (Pennsylvania), with the World Forum Foundation to promote a global exchange of ideas about providing quality services for young children in diverse environments, so we are renting since we need someone to take good care of the property in our absentee. Do not be surprised if you find the house with another site and price deference, I have a plan to rent it through real estate before, but they are not serious, simply because they have a lot of house to rent and added some money to the rent while the commission is not fair.
Keep this in mind that you must know the type of person that I am, however I give you these rules for what corresponded between me and my last tenant. the keys and documents are here with us in (Pennsylvania). So I’ll need to send them to you before I can occupy the house. But you can drive around the house at any time to take a look at the area and surroundings, You can also look through the windows if you do not mind. For now we are looking for 3 or 4 years of lease or rather lets us know how long you want to stay.
All utilities are included in the rent :
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Master Bedroom, Playground, Car Park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY ………..
Address: {6846 Hurd Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45227}
Number of rooms: 3
Number of bathrooms: 2
Pets are welcome!
Rent: $ 700
Refundable security deposit: $ 700
Application fee $ 50
Total movement in: $ 1,450
Don’t feel bad if you feel proud and haughty, your new home is just too pretty. Don’t feel guilty if you feel like showing off a bit, the beauty of your new home is totally worth it.
**** DETAILS OF THE RENTAL APPLICATION ****
Please, if you are now ready to occupy the house kindly provide the following information for registration purposes:
1)Your Full Name ?
2)Your Full Address ?
3)Cell Phone Number ?
4)Marital Status?
5)How many people will be living in the house ?
6)Do you have a pet ?
7)Do you have a car ?
8)Occupation ?
9)When will you like to move in?
10)How long are you willing to stay in the property ?
11) How many months rent can you pay upfront? Minimum ( 1month +
SECURITY DEPOSIT )
or ( 2 months + SECURITY DEPOSIT ), so which option
do you prefer ???
12)Earliest possible date of deposit?
Notice: Call me or send me a text message by filling out the application immediately. I hope to hear from you with all these details so that we can have our file in case you send the receipt and we contact you.
Call +1 (717) 447-8018
Thank you and may God bless you.
William Thoresen Bartscher
I got the same guy !!!!
Thank you for your email, I personally own the house, I want my property to be well serviced, and there are some rules and regulations in which I give the tenant willing to rent my house so please do not fail to respect me, But if still you are able to rent my house the rules and regulations go this way, you must keep my house clean including the environment, you should not disturb the neighbor. I decided to rent the property because of my transfer to (Pennsylvania), with the World Forum Foundation to promote a global exchange of ideas about providing quality services for young children in diverse environments, so we are renting since we need someone to take good care of the property in our absentee. Do not be surprised if you find the house with another site and price deference, I have a plan to rent it through real estate before, but they are not serious, simply because they have a lot of house to rent and added some money to the rent while the commission is not fair.
Keep this in mind that you must know the type of person that I am, however I give you these rules for what corresponded between me and my last tenant. the keys and documents are here with us in (Pennsylvania). So I’ll need to send them to you before I can occupy the house. But you can drive around the house at any time to take a look at the area and surroundings, You can also look through the windows if you do not mind. For now we are looking for 3 or 4 years of lease or rather lets us know how long you want to stay.
All utilities are included in the rent :
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Master Bedroom, Playground, Car Park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY ………..
Address: {3 Pauls Ct, Hauppauge, NY 11788}
Number of rooms: 3
Number of bathrooms: 2
Pets are welcome!
Rent: $ 900
Refundable security deposit: $ 900
Application fee $ 50
Total movement in: $ 1,850
Don’t feel bad if you feel proud and haughty, your new home is just too pretty. Don’t feel guilty if you feel like showing off a bit, the beauty of your new home is totally worth it.
**** DETAILS OF THE RENTAL APPLICATION ****
Please, if you are now ready to occupy the house kindly provide the following information for registration purposes:
1)Your Full Name ?
2)Your Full Address ?
3)Cell Phone Number ?
4)Marital Status?
5)How many people will be living in the house ?
6)Do you have a pet ?
7)Do you have a car ?
8)Occupation ?
9)When will you like to move in?
10)How long are you willing to stay in the property ?
11) How many months rent can you pay upfront? Minimum ( 1month +
SECURITY DEPOSIT )
or ( 2 months + SECURITY DEPOSIT ), so which option
do you prefer ???
12)Earliest possible date of deposit?
Notice: Call me or send me a text message by filling out the application immediately. I hope to hear from you with all these details so that we can have our file in case you send the receipt and we contact you.
Call +1 (717) 447-8018
Thank you and may God bless you.
William D Martins
I got the same email from William J Martins for a property in Miami, FL… unfortunately William J. Martins passed away in 2019 I believe and did live in Pennsylvania. So, the scammer may want to retire that name. He replied to me from Realtors.com… I need to find a way to report him.
I’m trying to figure out how to confirm if this guy is real or not, because he sent a photo of himself and passport… Didn’t ask for any information from me, but the issue is that he’s subletting and “out of town.” This one is almost believable. The huge red flag is that he can’t even have a friend or building staff show me the place.
I’m having the same situation. She sent me a photo of her driver’s license, but she’s on vacation “until March or May” and the landlord is out of state for work until the end of the year so nobody can show me the place.