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Classified Ad Scams: Renting a Room Advertised on Craigslist
Scams and scammers using these names: Selena Johnson, Gina Adams, Jessica Richardson, Becky Lora, Jullian
Williams and many others, from Canada, Spain, Benin, Ireland, the UK, etc.,
abroad, a professional woman, returning to the US
"US Cashiers Check or Money Order to you, overpayment, then Western Union the
excess"
Are you looking to Renting a Room Advertised on Craigslist?
Did "Selena Johnson, Gina Adams, Jessica Richardson, Becky Lora, Jullian Williams" claiming to be from abroad, a professional woman, returning to the US, contact you?
This one almost-victim (we'll call her, Anna) sent these 5 replies she received
on Craig's List. Note that
they will all want to send a check and have money wired via Western Union!
That's a clue to a scam right there!
Here are the clues that this is a scam?
- First, you will notice the syntax and grammar. Often, is it
not pathetically bad, it's just plain strange. It looks like it was written by
someone who is not a native English-speaker, and writes very rarely in
English. This is very typical of scammers, who largely are in Nigeria and
have little formal education and probably none in English.
- Next, he wants to write a check in excess of the required amount. Why?
That makes no sense at all. If he hasn't got a bank account, he could always
pay in cash or get a money order.
- Then, he wants the "excess" from the check sent BACK to him or
to other individuals, often in many different locations, and always by Western
Union or Money Gram! Alarm bells should be going off by now. Western Union
wires and Moneygrams are not only untraceable, they're irretrievable. Once the
recipient picks them up (which can be done at ANY Western Union office in
the world), the money is gone, gone, gone!
- And then there are the little clues; signs like the strange name changes.
Maybe, first he's "David Rapheal", then he's suddenly Shawn Nickolas, supposedly in
England, yet the first name has an American spelling and the last name is
spelled more like an Eastern European or Germanic origin.
- The scammers typically ramble on about issues ("US Cashiers Check or Money Order to you, but note that he will be making out an overpayment, payment including my arrival. So i will like you to do this favour for me, as soon as you get the payment, you will kindly deduct your rent fee and pls help me send the remaining balance to the travel agent") that are irrelevant
to such a sale or rental; such as, how they are doing this for charity, or
recently moved to the UK, or are traveling in Africa right now. You as
a seller / landlord, don't and shouldn't care about these issues: you are
trying to find a legitimate buyer or renter for your item at a fair market
price. The scammer knows this and is merely trying to cloud the issue
and provide excuses for not complying with the basic requirements of a sale.
He's also trying to engender trust; one of the key elements of any con game.
- Look at the huge number of misspellings, weird use of capital letters, poor punctuation and made-up
words. Again, this is typical of the scammer filth
who live and operate in Nigeria.
An actual email that illustrate this type of CraigsList scam:
Any highlighted passages below
are to draw your attention to typical scam clues:
Email - from the victim:
Identity Theft -- PLEASE BE ALERT-
Especially or those who have Room Renting advertised
on craigslist.org website.
Scammers want to advance some money, by Cashier
Check or Money Order, to you so that you can reserve the room for them, by
having you send them your EXACT full name, address, phone home, and cell
number, so that the "payment" will come "directly" to you. and tell you very
sincerely in the email that they want the room to be reserved for them.
Listed below are 5 different names of scammers that
sent me emails, wanted my information sent to them, so that they can send me
a check to reserve the room for them.
All 5 of them tricked you into believing that they
are "female professionals", as advertised, with contracts working overseas
and coming back to the states for their further educations, and that they
needed a room to be in place, reserved for them. ...
So now I invite you to Please read on...and RAISE
your flags, not to become a victim. So instead of comply to their requests,
I emailed them back and asked for their Identification (ID's), proof of
employment to secure the interest and future payments. I did not receive any
other emails back from them afterwards.
Emails - from the scammers:
Scammer#1: "Selena Johnson" 1 of the 5 that replied
to an advertisement of renting a room in craigslist.org, wants your
information: "exact" name, address, phone number so she can "advance" the
money to you. She also emailed to
lacopper36547@yahoo.com!
from selena johnson <selenajohnson@hotmail.com>
hide details Mar 23 (5 days ago)
to
lacopper36547@yahoo.com
date Mar 23, 2008 4:25 PM
subject willing to rent you room/roommate
mailed-by hotmail.com
Hello my name is Selena Johnson and i am 27 years i
am looking for a room/roommate and i was so lucky to find your id on
criagslist.I will be glad if you can reply me and tell me about the room.Am
sending you this email if the room is still available. Tell me the total
cost of the room. I will be waiting for your reply.
Thanks
Selena
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from selena johnson <selenajohnson@hotmail.com>
date Mar 25, 2008 9:54 AM
subject Get back to me
Hello,
Thanks for your email. I understand its content. I
am going to pay the asking price you mentioned. First i will tell you
little about my self. My father is from Peru while my mother is from
Spain,but i grew up in UK and US so i think i have tasted both side. I am
the only child in my family. However,i want to UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, The
state university of New York,where i studied physical therapy, and for 2
years i got a job with UNICEF,I also have two jobs and right now but
Basically working with UNICEF as a research technologist and presently i am
working on a contract for the organization. Meanwhile I am currently in
London coming to US for vacation that was why i am renting the room. I am
extremely clean,neat and understanding. i cook and i do my thing the way i
want it. I love hanging out with people and love meeting with new people. I
always love to laid back and have fun. I don't smoke but a social drinker.
Since i am not in US right now and i am so much busy with my contract i
don't know how i am going to come over and meet with you to look at the
room,I rely wish i could have the time. If you have any picks of the room
you can send it to me. And if you are going to rent the room to me please
get back to me.
Thanks.
Selena
------------------------------------------------------------------------
from selena johnson <selenajohnson@hotmail.com>
subject Six month ....Starting from April
mailed-by hotmail.com
Hello Anna,
Thanks for your reply.I understand your last email.I
will be glad to rent the room.I have seen the images and i like it.Please i
will be glad to rent of the room.I will be renting the room for six months
and starting from March I hope that is ok.But for me to be sure that i am
going to get the room i will want to make the payment in advance so that you
are going to hold the room for me.I will want to pay in Advance so i will
want you to get back to me with your full name and your address so the
payment will be sent to you.Please if this is Ok with you .Kindly get back
to me ASAP.
Thanks.
Selena
Scammer #2: "Gina adams" 2 of the 5 that replied to
an advertisement of renting a room in craigslist.org and phishing for
information about the place, "wanting to know everything about the place..."
from Gina Adams <gina_adams1980@yahoo.com>
hide details Mar 25 (3 days ago)
reply-to
ginaadams1980@yahoo.com
to Ha Trinh <annahbtrinh@gmail.com>
date Mar 25, 2008 7:51 AM
subject Need a place
signed-by yahoo.com
mailed-by yahoo.com
I am Gina adams 28 yrs and coming back home for my
masters degree. I was born in Madrid spain .My dad is a spanish man and my
mom is a native of american.Am in on research artwork and design at
cotonu,Benin republic ,and am almost done with that cuz its part of my
prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology. i would have loved to call u
but i cant get thru cuz i believe its the long distance call issue.Am really
interested in renting from you and will really want to know everything about
the place .I do really love pets but i don't have any at the moment. I would
have loved to see it but am very far . I will also like you to tell me more
about you and if u have pets.I would describe my self as a dedicated
individual , who is totally committed to human development; friendly, and
does value cordial relationship above anything. I love travelling,sporting
and enjoy meeting people. I'm a non smoker, but do not really a fuss if
people around me smokes,Pls let me know the total Cost of the place and more
over,i will send your email to my dad for him to email you later cuz he is
the one that will be paying the bills.I will wait for your email to know if
the place is still very much available cuz i want to make a complete
arrangement and want to also have your words that you will have it reserved
for me cuz i will be coming soon
take care and write me soonest
Gina
Scammer #3: "Jessica Richardson" 3 of the 5 that
replied to an advertisement of renting a room in craigslist.org. In this
header, there is also an email address of "victorrcp@aol.com"
that Jessica cc to.
from Jessica Richardson <jessysmile777@hotmail.com>
hide details Mar 22 (6 days ago)
to
victorrcp@aol.com
date Mar 22, 2008 8:49 AM
subject Roommate
Hi,
How are you doing? Guess fine I presume. Am writing
you in regards to your advert on Craigslist.com and I'm interested in your
room apartment, Am from canada and I will be having some seminars coming up
soon in US. Right now am working for a Non Government Organization on a
program on children with orphans and heart related probs.
My next program/seminars will be in US and I will
need a room to stay for these seminars, so I want to secure a room before my
arrival to the states. I can't wait to arrive to US cause I've heard a lot
about US.Moreso I will be staying for the period of 12-13 months, Pls do get
back to me with the room description, move in rent fees for the first month,
Utilities and deposit if included. And if any picture of the room is
available, kindly attach it with your reply please.
Hope to read from you. Have a wonderful and
productive day.
Kindest Regards.
jessy
---------------------
Scammer #4 "Becky Lora" 4 of the 5 that replied to
an advertisement of renting a room in craigslist.org. Header with various
other email addresses:
becky_lora123@yahoo.com and
dianaforhomes@gmail.com- phishing for identity.
from becky lora <samhe_brooks@yahoo.com>
hide details Mar 22 (6 days ago)
reply-to
becky_lora123@yahoo.com
to
dianaforhomes@gmail.com
date Mar 22, 2008 2:57 PM
subject Hello
Helllo,
Yes i am still intrested in the room. And
i'll want you to provide me with your payment information which includes:
Full Name
Full Home Address
City
States
Zip Code
Phone Number.
However, my corresponding agent will make out
payment by a US Cashiers Check or Money Order to you, but note that he will
be making out an overpayment, payment including my arrival. So i will like
you to do this favour for me, as soon as you get the payment, you will
kindly deduct your rent fee and pls help me send the remaining balance to
the travel agent information that will be responsible for the issue of my
travel ticket back to the state. Note that the remaining money will be use
for the issue of my travel ticket back to the state. I want you to see this
as a favour you'll be willing to do for a roomie to be ok. Pls if you
comply, do not hesitate to provide me with these information: Full Name,
Full Home Address, City, States, Zip Code & Phone Number. I will like to
know the nearest airport to my house. I will also like to know if you will
be available to come pick me up at the airport and if you think you will not
be available let me know, and show me around. I'll be so glad if you can
reserve the room for me and remove all adverts about the room. I hope this
is clear. Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Rommie,
Becky Lora
---------------------------------------------------------------------
from becky lora <samhe_brooks@yahoo.com>
hide details Mar 22 (6 days ago)
reply-to
becky_lora123@yahoo.com
to
dianaforhomes@gmail.com
date Mar 22, 2008 2:57 PM
subject Hello
signed-by yahoo.com
mailed-by yahoo.com
Hello,
How are you today? i hope all is well
with you over there, My name is Becky Lora, am from Ireland and have being
living there my whole life, my mum and dad are both from there, I am a very
pretty easy going kind of girl and with a modest sense of humour. I am 27
yrs old and i am still single. I was born and raised in Ireland. Am a model
by occupation and i mostly model cloths and other things like shoes and
more, i have been modeling ever since i was 16years but that was locally but
now i model all over the country and sometimes move out of Ireland to model
too. I have a masters degree in Computer Science. I am currently in United
Kingdom to be precise, and i am there for my contract is just a month
contract. I will be in the United State in 1 week time for my modelling
contract and i will like to stay for more than 10 months after my contract,
so cus of this i will like to have my own room. I have chosen your city for
a start to my new life in the US. I am easy to get along with and well
mannered. I registered for roommate and i saw you advertising your room that
there is vacant there, i will love to know if the room can be given to me
cus i will love to come there directly to stay when coming back to the
states. I am more interested in a long term lease, but still open to any
form of lease you want. I don't do drugs or smoke but I drink only
occasionally, I believe there will be no problems living with me as I was
raised by Christian parents. I hope this is clear. Get back to me asap.
Yours Rommie,
Becky Lora
Scammer #5: "jullian williams" 5 of 5 that replied
to advertisement -- she also sent a copy of this email to "jetyler@comcast.net"
from jullian williams <jull.williams1112005@yahoo.com>
hide details Mar 23 (5 days ago)
to
jetyler@comcast.net
date Mar 23, 2008 7:52 AM
subject Rent!!!
signed-by yahoo.com
mailed-by yahoo.com
Hello,
Thanks for your email, Well my name is Jullian and
I am 27 years old.I am a humanitarian officer involved in projects that
includes orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children betweeen the
ages of 4-10yrs.I will be staying for a minimum of 12 -13 months.I don't
drink nor smoke,no pets and no boyfriend because I am a very busy woman.I
like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike
lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much.I like the job because it
involves travelling which is one of my hobbies.i will be through with my
programme soon and will be on study leave in states, i will still be
getting paid,so paying my rents on time won't be an issue of discussion. so i want you to get back with me with the full name and the address the
payment will be send to with your contact cell number and a pics of the room
if available. i wont mind if you can please tell me about your self in
your next mail. i will be expecting to hear from you soon .
Regards.
PS I WILL BE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE TWO BUT
PREFARABLE THE ONE IN THE FRONT.
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