Renting a Room Advertised on Craigslist Scams - Selena Johnson, Gina Adams, Jessica Richardson, Becky Lora, Jullian Williams, from Canada, Spain, Benin, Ireland, the UK, etc.

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?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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:

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.