# Ok, so this apartment listing is some sort of scam...but to what end? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429 "2010-04-08T17:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/1 "2010-04-08T17:07:11Z")
I’m the in the process of looking for an apartment (now THERE’s a subject I could write a pit thread about…) and amidst all the people woh never respond back, ones who say they’re showing an apartment and never do, etc…there is the occasional scam. Twice now I’ve gotten emails back that have tried to get me to fill out some form online. One as a “credit history” the landlord wanted, and the other was odd, because the only things it wanted me to fill in were my email and phone number…I guess that one was just a website to collect info for spamers and telemarketers? But the one I got back today is baffling…here it is, with a few details removed (address, their name (on the very _very,_ _ **very** _ slim chance it’s real)) > [@fishy spammer](#): > > Hi, > How are you doing today?Thank you very much for taking your time to > email **me.lt** is my sincere pleasure to write you back, and to let you > know that the 950sq.ft one bedroom,1bath apartment you are making > inquiry of is still available for move in.The apartment is > furnished,but can be rented unfurnished if tenant wishes to use > his/her own furniture. > > Utilities Included:Heat,Gas,Water,Electricity,Sewer,Internet/Cable,off > street parking and a secured parking space. Pets allowed Available > from now, security deposit $600, first month rent $700 will be > required upon move in.Apartment address (74 Street, City, State) > > Let me quickly introduce myself to you.My name is Dolly and my > husband’s name is Mark.My husband is the owner of the apartment you > are making inquiry,but right now he’s in West Africa for a charity > programme.l was suppose to travel with him,but few days before he > traveled,l had a very serious car accident,that affected my spinal > cord and brain,which led to my disability today.l am always on a wheel > chair,and l find it very difficult to talk.But l can easily > communicate through any means of writing.Currently l am staying with > my mother in Ohio,who is also suffering from lungs cancer. > > Actually my husband and l both resided in our apartment before he > traveled to West Africa,so we both agreed to rent our apartment to > somebody that will take utmost care of it, as if it were his/ her > own.Due our past experience with realtor and tenant we want to be very > careful with whom we accept as our new tenant this time.To be honest > with you,l have been receiving a whole lot of response regarding our > apartment,but l am not sure of who to accept,because of our horrible > experience with our last tenant,we’re really taking our time to look > for a responsible person that we can trust in.My husband is always > very busy,due to the nature of his job in West Africa,but you can > easily communicate with me via email anytime if you have any > question.He said if l finds a responsible person,that promise to take > care of our aptrtment,l should let him know. > > Like l said earlier,we don’t ever want to take the risk of putting our > apartment in care of an realtor again, because he was the one that > leased our apartment to somebody that destroyed most of our valuable > home appliances.My husband spent a lot of money to replace the things > that was destroyed in our apartment.lf you can assure me that you will > take absolute care of our apartment as if it where your own if we > accept you as our new tenant,we will be glad to let you rent from us > for as long as you intend to.Thank very much.l look forward to read > from you soon,so that l can provide you with more details regarding > our apartment > > Yours Sincerely > Dolly Mark The bolded part (me.It) is a hyperlink in the email…but not a real one. It goes to “me.It”…just the same as what the text is (no, I didn’t go to the website, I just hovered my mouse over it and read where it went to in the status bar.) So no website to put in info, no number to call…all I can think is that if I wereto send a follow-up email, they would ak for more information from me, but it seems like another pointles step for them to go through. Why not just put that in the first email? I’m less likely to “catch on” that it’s a scam that way. The posting has already been flagged for removal on craiglist (no surprise,) but it actually wasn’t that fishy (aside from te price…a $700 one bedroom in this city is laughably cheap, espeically with 950 sq. feet! At best, $700 will get you a TINY one-bedroom or studio, and most likely no utilities, not ALL utilities) But the ad didn’t mention that, it just had the price, the location, and that it was a 1-bed/1-bath. Weird… ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/2 "2010-04-08T17:35:44Z")
My take on it is that they just want to set the stage. They want to get your sympathy, so she tells you she’s she’s sick, and so is mom. They also had bad luck with a previous tenant, so they are skittish about who they lend to. Then they praise you, saying that they want someone who will “take absolute care of our apartment as if it where your own”. A little flattery will make most people think, “That’s ME they’re talking about there. I’m JUST like that!” Once all of this happens, and you think that this is a doddering old lady who will bring you milk and cookies every day when you come home from work, you’re supposed to trust them. I have no experience with scammers like this other than what I read online, but I suspect the next e-mail would ask for basic information - name, phone number, occupation, rental history maybe. Maybe eventually they would get around to saying that it’s hard for them to meet you, so can you just make a wire transfer, and send your bank account number so they know that the transfer is from you, and not a mistake. Then you’ll hear a loud sucking sound signifying your bank account has been wiped out, followed by a call from your bank, telling you that your checks are bouncing. ---
**Author:** ![Silmandil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Silmandil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silmandil)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/3 "2010-04-08T17:40:15Z")
Sounds like a set up for Con artist rents an apartment he has no authorization to lease. They insist on money before you can see the place. > **[Rental Scam](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rental-scam/)** > > Con artist rents out a property he has no authorization to lease. But hey, maybe her husband really doesn’t like her and left her behind after she nearly died, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/4 "2010-04-08T17:41:18Z")
I have also heard of scams where people “rent out” apartments that aren’t theirs. The not being present and not using a realtor is possibly an explanation for why they are unable to show you the apartment in person. Just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/5 "2010-04-08T17:45:37Z")
[Relevant link on Craigslist apartment scams.](http://www.fraudguides.com/tips/august7.asp) Sounds like they may be hoping that you’ll be desperate for such a nice place and offer, and blind-mail them the deposit and first rent check, and oh, surprise, that’s not their property to rent! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/6 "2010-04-08T17:50:02Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Sounds like they may be hoping that you’ll be desperate for such a nice place and offer, and blind-mail them the deposit and first rent check, and oh, surprise, that’s not their property to rent! Wow…it surprises me that there are people that this works on. If everyone was a little less naive, and a little less trusting, I’d have less scams to filter through. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/7 "2010-04-08T17:50:21Z")
It should be fairly obvious it’s a Nigerian or non-native English speaker that’s writing this as English is obviously not their first language. It’s a basic Nigerian style scam. At some point you will be required to wire money to “West Africa” or cash some large check and wire the remainder to West Africa etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/8 "2010-04-08T17:51:45Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Wow…it surprises me that there are people that this works on. If everyone was a little less naive, and a little less trusting, I’d have less scams to filter through. 😛 It’s astounding how many people are still taken by these things. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/9 "2010-04-08T18:25:54Z")
It’s absolutely legitamate! I can vouch for these people! In fact, you can send your $700 to me right now and I’ll make sure it gets to them! > [@bouv](#): > > The bolded part (me.It) is a hyperlink in the email…but not a real one. It goes to “me.It”…just the same as what the text is (no, I didn’t go to the website, I just hovered my mouse over it and read where it went to in the status bar.) I think that’s just a fault of yoru email program, automatically parsing anythign that may look like a website or an email address into something that can be easily clicked, saving you copying and pasting - since .it is a valid ccTLD, and they didn’t put spaces between the end period and the next word (It), it’s inevitable. > [@RalfCoder](#): > > Then you’ll hear a loud sucking sound signifying your bank account has been wiped out, followed by a call from your bank, telling you that your checks are bouncing. Bah, I get those calls all the time and I’ve never been a scam victim yet.. (Hmmm, maybe I should reply to a scam, can’t get blood from a stone, eh?) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/10 "2010-04-08T18:38:34Z")
_Why_ in the world would a landlord ever send an email like this to someone they’re not even renting to yet?! Who gives a shit what their (potential) landlord’s story is?! The moment they start telling stories and mentioning “West Africa” you know it’s some kind of scam. 1st 2 paragraphs- exactly what you’d expect. The remaining 3 paragraphs of prose, **GIANT RED FLAG**. Like **bouv** and **astro** said, it’s pretty shocking these things are still happening. Are there really people who don’t know what a 419 scam is by now? ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/11 "2010-04-08T18:54:25Z")
I still want to know if there’s anyone who would really put in a deposit for an apartment they’ve never even seen? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/12 "2010-04-08T19:01:59Z")
I don’t know why, but I cracked up at the part where Dolly laments how the realtor “destroyed (her) valuable home appliances.” I can even hear the scammer saying that in a bad American accent. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/13 "2010-04-08T19:03:57Z")
I’ve heard of South Africa, but not West Africa… Scamasaurus Rex. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/14 "2010-04-08T19:09:33Z")
Does anyone else feel sorry for the one or two people in western Africa who are trying to conduct legitimate business on Craigslist? ---
**Author:** ![Pocito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@Pocito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pocito)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/15 "2010-04-08T19:12:20Z")
Our house was involved in a scam very similar to this. In fact, that’s very, very similar to the email the scammer was sending out to potential targets. I think they asked for first and last months’ rent as a deposit before they would send the keys. That was the whole scam. Here’s how they set it up: Our house was listed for sale by a real estate agent. Maybe two days later a scammer had pulled our information and pictures from the online listing and posted it all to a Craigslist ad. They had even looked up our names and phone number through our county assessor’s office to make the listing look more legit. They also set up an email address with our names through hotmail. We had people coming to our house(!) to look at it as a possible rental. I had to eventually call the cops because Craigslist wouldn’t do anything other than pull the listing after I flagged it, which would then show up again hours later. I was at home with a two-year-old and a newborn waiting for a pissed off guy with a U-Haul full of his crap to show up at my door. Grrrr! I’m still mad just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Pocito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@Pocito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pocito)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/16 "2010-04-08T19:19:51Z")
I just wanted to add this: My favorite potential renters who randomly showed up were a trio of twenty-somethings…two girls and an extremely effeminate man. Girl #1 was shocked when I told her I wasn’t renting the house and that it was a scam. Girl #2 interjects, "Wait! Is this the listing where the people live in Africa and still have this house here [in Indiana]? Effeminate Man pipes up, “Africa? You thought it was real when the guy lived in Africa?! How effing stupid are you? DAMN!” I couldn’t believe anyone under the age of 80 fell for it. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/17 "2010-04-08T19:31:01Z")
> [@Pocito](#): > > I just wanted to add this: > > My favorite potential renters who randomly showed up were a trio of twenty-somethings…two girls and an extremely effeminate man. Girl #1 was shocked when I told her I wasn’t renting the house and that it was a scam. Girl #2 interjects, "Wait! Is this the listing where the people live in Africa and still have this house here [in Indiana]? > > Effeminate Man pipes up, “Africa? You thought it was real when the guy lived in Africa?! How effing stupid are you? DAMN!” > > I couldn’t believe anyone under the age of 80 fell for it. Were their names Jack, Janet and Crissy? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/18 "2010-04-08T19:46:51Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I’ve heard of South Africa, but not West Africa… Scamasaurus Rex. Uh… I’ve certainly heard the phrase “West Africa” before. It refers to the Atlantic coast. I’ve also heard of “South”, “North”, and “East” Africa. That said, this is not on the level. Certainly, this is a scam. Best case scenario is that this person has access to the apartment through a stolen key or something, and is trying to rent it out while the real owner is out of the country, dead, in the hospital. This sort of thing can be appealing to people who are not citizens and are in the country illegally, because it keeps them off the books. But certainly this is a scam. I just can’t figure out exactly what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/19 "2010-04-08T21:23:22Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > I still want to know if there’s anyone who would really put in a deposit for an apartment they’ve never even seen? 😕 Yes, because the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in that area is X dollars a month, and the the “landlord” is offering to rent for half the average price. They think they’re getting a steal. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429/20 "2010-04-08T21:34:10Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > Were their names Jack, Janet and Crissy? > > 🙂 😃 This scam comes up a lot. You will be asked to send a security deposit in exchange for the keys, so you can check the place out. Like most scams, it preys on people’s greed (What a steal!) and their never having heard the expression ‘If it’s too good to be true…’ When it comes to renting, you’re also getting people who are stressed and exhausted from hunting, and who think they’re too desperate to me skeptical. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-this-apartment-listing-is-some-sort-of-scam-but-to-what-end/535429.md?page=2)