eBay and Classified Ad Scams:
Scammers Posing as Potential Tenants or Renters
Craig's List, Room for Rent
Scams and scammers using these names: Bibiana Fernandez,
Debbie Johnson, Janet Scott, Ray Bella, etc.
"take the check to your bank immediatly and withdraw the require fee for my
fligth ticket which is $1950"
Are you looking to rent or lease a room or flat (apt)
Did "Bibiana Fernandez" claiming to be American, but temporarily out of the
country, contact you? Note that this person says:
"take the check to your bank immediatly and withdraw
the require fee for my fligth ticket which is $1950".
That's a clue to a scam right there!
Here are the clues that this is a scam:
- The renter claims that he or she is not currently in your country.
- They want to pay by check or money order
- They want to include extra money in the check
- The potential tenant wants you to send the extra money from the check by Western
Union to someone else. 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!
- The renter is willing to rent without even seeing the property.
- Often, the writing is poor, also. 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.
- Scammers also often babble on about irrelevant issues(their mother,
their family, their life history, their hobbies, their religous fervor, a
sob story about being an orphan or having survived abuse or a terrible
disease) none of which have any significant bearing in the business
transaction. Why they do this, we can't say. Perhaps in their sick
little Third World minds, this engenders more trust. It is a clue,
though since westerners (rational, educated ones) rarely do this.
- Their name does not match their culture or native country - for example,
how many Spanish women do you know, named "Sandra"; or Africans named
"Fred", etc. It's another attempt to sound familiar, to "con".
Actual emails that illustrate this type of CraigsList scam:
Notice the many errors common to scammers, starting with pathetically bad
spelling, grammar and syntax. Not only are scammers too dumb and lazy to work an
honest job, they also are too dumb and lazy to use a spell checker. They almost
always have a sob story, notice the tales of woe, being born struggling orphans,
fearing god, blah, blah, blah... Mother Teresa would have a hard time keeping up
with the acts of selfish devotion to helping others that these "saints" claim to
have done.
Another claims to be from the U.S., but spells words like, program in the
foreign English way (programme)
Notice how the facts don't add up: one scammer claims to being born and
raised in Arizona, but he speaks pigeon English. He also claims a BS in
Computer Science, but refers to "soft wares", rather than "software" (which is
both singular and plural, and without a s space). He also claims to be in
Spain at the moment, but he is using a Yahoo email address from the UK.
Heard enough yet?
Any highlighted passages below
are to draw your attention to typical scam clues:
Below are a series of emails that the would be victim "Jennifer" received
from a number of scammers, in response to her advertisement on Craig's List,
offering a room to rent.
Email 1 - from the scammer:
from debbie johnson <debbiejohnson16@live.com> Dec 4
reply-to
debbiejohnson116@yahoo.com
date Dec 4, 2008 8:55 PM
subject Room/Shared
mailed-by live.com
Hello,
I read your ad on craigslist.com,and this is why i
am getting back to you, i am interested in knowing the availability of the
place and i will also want to know more about the neighboourhood ,the place
and the utilities included...?
My name is Debbie Johnson,I am
a Nurse with
humanitarian assistance,I will be 28 by the 25th of next month,i love to
live with clean people,caring,responsible,neat type. I'm 5"7' straight,i am
presently in south Dakota(U.s) now ,I will love to move in as soon as
possible, but it all depends on the availability of the room,I speaks French
and English, so you have the chance to learn french ,i am an interesting
person to live with,I'll let You know more about me if i am to rent the
particular room that you have to offer
I will be anxiously waiting for your email and i
want you to know that i really need the room now and i am the serious type
paying rent as long as i am okay with the place and people that i'll be
living with.
Kind Regards,
Debbie.
And
from Debbie Johnson <debbiejohnson116@yahoo.com>
hide details Dec 5
reply-to
debbiejohnson116@yahoo.com
to JENNIFER SMITH <victimsemailaddress@yahoo.com>
date Dec 5, 2008 3:46 AM
subject Room Availability...
Hi ,
Thanks so much for replying my email,I really do
appreciate it,. I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i
really have alot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell
me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to
go see him,but really want to hold a place down...
More about me again:
I am a nurse..I am the neat type,I like
honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike
lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going
person to live with. I'm 5"7' straight. i like
tourising and,i don't keep
late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you
do,I was born and bread in france as there was where i had
my university
education and stays with my uncle there!! I lived all my life way in paris
before coming down to SD,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my
dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died...I ve also
wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red
Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes
orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children betweeen the ages of
4-10yrs .
Ambition and Work :
I was looking to move over to your state because i
understand that i'll be doing good overthere as i ve been told by my uncle's
friend who ones live overthere..And i will be working with any hospital
around as i am also making enquires about that now... Am sure You 'll really
like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I
work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts
also....paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making
the rent fee before the month ends......
Right now,I ve the support of my uncle about my well
being,so you shouldn't be bothered about if i am competent of paying the
rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure
the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the
place,as i can't see it before my arrival but the pictures...I also will
want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and
little of my furnitures,please let me know if there will be room for them..
With all that i ve said above,I have told you more
about me...Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down
before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come
over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going
to secure the place with a deposit.
Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i
am looking to move in by t he first week in next month,but want to secured
it now
Thanks..
Here is a reference of my past landlord when i was
in
France....antrasana@yahoo.com
Debbie.
Email 2 - from another scammer:
from Ray Bella <anndrazninn@gmail.com>
hide details Dec 5
reply-to
raybella10@yahoo.co.uk
date Dec 5, 2008 11:50 AM
subject STILL AVAILABLE TO RENT???
Good Day
My name is Ray Bella, I came across your Advert on
craigslist.org and am extremely interested about the place for rent cos i
see you are a very well kind hearted and easygoing person to get the place
from....Please if you don't mind I will like to have answers to the
following questions below:
i)I will like to have the rent fee per month plus
the utilities
ii) I will like to have the description of the
Place, size, and the equipments in there
iii) Also I will like to know if there is any garage
or parking space cos I will have my own car come over
iv) I will also be coming with some of my
furniture,that is if it is allowed,like bed,book shelf and shoe's rank etc
v) I will also l ike to know if I can
make an
advance payment ahead my arrival that will be as a kind of commitment that I
am truly coming over and for you to hold the room down for me
vi) If the #5 questions is YES, I will like to know
the total cost for the initial move as in first month rent and if you accept
deposit
vii) I will like to know the major intersection
nearest to your neighborhood. Like shopping mall, bus line e.t.c
LASTLY:I will like to know more about you and also I
will like to have your pics as for me to know how you look like.
Here is all I can say about my self for now
I am 32 years old and I work full time, Monday
through Friday and have weekends off except for once a month.I'm from spain,
my Dad is a Spanish Man while my Mom is an American,I was born and raised in
Tucson Arizona, but presently i'm in Barcelonia, Spain on a business trip
for more than 4 months
I am a professional, A Computer Consultant and I
deal in various kinds of computer applications and
soft wares.
I graduated
in the Arizona State University (ASU) 4 years ago and I have my
B.sc in
Computer Science... I am not really a sports person, BUT I do love Hockey
Games, I am a very out going person and fun to be with. I do play the Organ
and piano, and i have both piano and Organ there at my house. I am not a
drinker and I don't smoke and I don't do drugs. I would like to go out with
you on weekends and weeknights when I am free. I like going to movies,
concerts, plays, I like camping, hiking, bike ridding, swimming, and I love
to travel
I am a very dedicated individual who is
totally
committed to human development, friendly, very trustworthy and value
relationship. I am a laid back person, I love traveling, sporting and Enjoy
meeting people around the world. I am an easy going person and look forward
to meet kind hearted, loving and caring person that is very responsible and
understanding, someone I can really get along with. I will take my time to
get you one of my pics in my next mail for you to know how I look like, I am
sure you will like me
I will be moving to back to the States fully to
live for the rest of my life and start Another space of my own business as a
Clothing Consultant ( I have my resume). I will be staying in your Place as
long as the lease is drawn
I should be arriving to the State before 15 - 20th
I need answers to my 8 questions above as soon as
possible so as to arrange for you to get the money prior for my arrival to
retain and consider the room is mine.. I will be making this advance payment
ahead my arrival so that you can be rest assured that this is real since I
am not in the state presently. If you think I will be a good applicant to
you and you are interested in renting the place to me
NOTE: Kindly address all emails to me directly to my
private email box at
raybella10@yahoo.co.uk Thanks and have a good time.
Best Regards,
Ray Bella
Email 3 - from another scammer:
from Janet Scott <janetscott002@yahoo.com>
hide details Dec 5
reply-to
janetscott002@yahoo.com
date Dec 5, 2008 8:11 AM
subject I NEED AN APT/CONDO/ROOM!!!
Hello,
my name is Janet scott,a young
humanitarian
officer and student from US currently based and working here in Asia. I saw
your advert online that you have a room/house/apt for rent, pls I would like
to know if the space is still available......i want to relocate to the state
for a year for my Vacation and to carry out some Research
programme..i am
26yrs of age and i want to know if the room you advertised is still
available.....also I want you to let me know your rent and your mode of
payment.....
I will be looking forward to hear from you ASAP....
please get back to me
Best Regards
Janet
Email 4 - from the scammer:
from Bibiana Fernandez <b.fernandez17@hotmail.com>
hide details Dec 18 (1 day ago)
to
victimsemailaddress@yahoo.com
date Dec 18, 2008 1:17 PM
subject PLEASE ACT FAST ON THIS TODAY
Hello
I am so glad that the payment has been delivered to
you by now because i just got the package tracked and
finds out that it has
been delivered and was being dropped at the
Delivery
Location at your front
door .
So now,what i will want you to do immediately,and i
mean today is for you to get the sum of $1950 send to the below information
whose name and address will be given to you below and then keep the rest to
yourself until i request for it okay .....
And you just have to try your possible best you
could do in order to get the money send today so that i wont loose the
contract am coming to do over at the state , please
take the check to your
bank immediatly and withdraw the require fee for my fligth ticket which is
$1950 because that $1,950 is the rest of the fee that is left for my Flight
Ticket fee to be completed the check was delivered to you it is for the
amount of $3,425.26. and i don't want to loose my fligth tommorrow that's
why i will want you to act fast on getting the money send to my travel agent
via western union money trasfer today and i know that western union will
request for the sending fee use it out of the money today and when i arrive
to state i and you will be able to seat down and talk in person just try all
your possible best to get the money send today in order for me not to loose
my fligth and my contract am coming to do in state and when my boss gave me
a call today he asked of my delay to the state and i explain the situation
of things to him he said if i dont arrive at the state by this friday there
is no other remedy for me than to loose my contract at the state , so to
avoid this you have to try your possible best in order to get the money send
today ,i will be greatful if you could do that .
And i will also want you to know that as soon as i
arrive at the state,i will be so glad if you can come pick me up at the
Airport but if you think that you wouldn't be available for that,it is okay
by me i am going to find my way okay.
And i will also want you to remember that the money
will be sent to the below name and address
Via Western Union Money Transfer Immdiately you received this message okay.
Once again here is the name and address inwhich the
money will be sent to Via Western Union Money Transfer Okay........
His name and address is as follows
okay..............
Here is all what they need at any western union
location when you want to send the money to my travel agent for the
receiver's information becuase western union did not required street address
if you want to send money
Name : Clifford Harriman
City : MILO
State: ME
Zipcode :04463
COUNTRY : Usa
And as soon as you are through with the sending of
the required money,kindly get back to me with the necessary Western Union
Informations such as the following.........
MTCN..............
SENDERS NAME............
RECEIVERS NAME........
AMOUNT SENT........
So all of the above information will be awaited from
you later today as soon as you must have been through with the transfer of
the $1950 to the above name and address okay.
I await the neccessary Western Union information in
your next mail later today
Best Wishes
Bibiana
and then:
from Bibiana Fernandez <b.fernandez17@hotmail.com>
hide details 12:27 pm (11 hours ago)
to
victimsemailaddress@yahoo.com
date Dec 19, 2008 12:27 PM
subject make sure you get the $999 send online
today and you will send the rest tommorrow
Hi, Thanx for all your elfort over me in order for
me to arrive to state by this weekend and not to loose my contract am coming
to do in state.
Well i just got the package tracked rigth now and
it was been delivered at your front door so all i will want you to do now is
to immediatly call the western union and transfer the $999 so by tommorrow
you send the rest so i can be able to arrive to state by tommorrow just make
sure you get the $999 send to my travel agent today and by tommorrow you
will send the money
Once again here is the name and address inwhich the
money will be sent to Via Western Union Money Transfer Okay........
His name and address is as follows
okay..............
Here is all what they need at any western union
location when you want to send the money to my travel agent for the
receiver's information becuase western union did not required street address
if you want to send money
Name : Clifford Harriman
City : MILO
State: ME
Zipcode :04463
COUNTRY : Usa
And as soon as you are through with the sending of
the required money,kindly get back to me with the necessary Western Union
Informations such as the following.........
MTCN..............
SENDERS NAME............
RECEIVERS NAME........
AMOUNT SENT........
So all of the above information will be awaited from
you later today as soon as you must have been through with the transfer of
the $999 to the above name and address okay.
I await the neccessary Western Union information in
your next mail later today
Best Wishes
Bibiana
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