Too good to be true? Probably.
Starting a new job often means moving to a new city, and moving to a new city means the dreaded task of finding an apartment. Craigslist is clearly the preferred method for renters and landlords to connect, and for the most part this system seems to work well. But beware the scams, the Times tells us today, as they abound these days and aren’t as easy to spot or avoid as they used to be.
One of the most pervasive scams is a keys-for-cash gambit. Carried out online where almost all rental transactions begin these days, this ploy separates would-be renters from their money before they so much as set foot inside a dwelling. In this scheme, information and pictures from legitimate rental or sales listings are lifted from other sites and reposted under another name at an eye-poppingly low rent.
The article focuses on New York, but this happens everywhere. My cousin got scammed moving to DC about a year ago by someone trying to rent an apartment that didn’t even exist and lost her deposit and first month’s rent. Casually scanning for two bedroom apartments on Craigslist not three weeks ago, I came across one of those too-good-to-be-true posts: a beautiful condo in the heart of Dupont for $1300, all utilities included. No way, I thought, must be a scam. But still, I convinced myself, sometimes amazing deals pop up—and if this was one of them, I didn’t want to miss out. So I emailed.
I got a response about a day later from “Nicole Miller,” who told a version of the story referenced in the Times article: in oddly stilted English, “Nicole” said she was the owner of the apartment but now lived in the UK working as a construction engineer. She didn’t have any way to show the apartment except to mail the keys, so I should email back and she’d fill me in on the details of how this would work. She also sent along 10 pictures of what looked to be a truly amazing apartment (one of which is above).
At this point I knew it must be a scam, but I was still intrigued to see what would happen. So I sent a very vague email back, betraying no personal information, and said I’d like to know how to proceed. “Nicole” emailed right back, telling me in lurid detail how I was to set up a “CASE ID# at eBay Company,” an account into which I was to deposit $2600, at which time she’d ship the keys and I’d be able to view the apartment at my leisure and decide whether I wanted it. If yes (and she was sure I’d want it), the lovely people at eBay Company would release my money to her. If not, the money came back to me and I was to ship the keys back to the UK. I decided it was best to cut off communication with “Nicole” at this point.
I also decided to Google her and found that she owns a very similar looking apartment in Santa Monica too.
Anyhow, no larger career message here, other than: if a career change or new job takes you to a new place and you need to find a new apartment (or you’re just looking for a new apartment in general), be careful and beware the scammers.
Hello fellow finders!
Thank you very much for your help! I of course was looking into a condo in downtown Seattle that was-of course- too good to be true. But i wanted to post the name in which Sarah Arnett used this time ALANA WILLIAMS. The paragraph which was returned to me is exactly like the many others on this page. SRSLY!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!!!
” Alana ” is in Nashville too. Thank god for you guys and thank god for google. I wonder what they try to do to actually get more than an address from you.
Just got an email from Alana – the exact same one Sarah. I knew this was way too good to be true – 1700 sq. ft. for $850 in Midtown, Atlanta is impossible. Funny thing, I actually have friends who live in this complex. Not sure what good it will do, but they’ve notified the property manager in case anyone comes by to check it out. I’ve posted the original CL post below – be careful Atlanta househunters!
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to look at my property.My name is Alana Williams,I’m 43 years old,I’m a construction engineer and I’m the owner of this condo(2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,1700 square footage).I lived in this beautiful condo for over 2 years, loved every day of it.It’s located in 805 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.The unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat, the condo come with two parking spots,a storage unit where you can deposit my furniture (if you don’t like it and you want use your furniture),there is also a linen closet, and most importantly, a new front loading stacked washer and drier.Pets allowed.I’ve moved to United Kingdom with my job (i am a construction engineer) and decided to rent it because the rent is very expensive here.The price is so low because I’m here and is very hard to find a tenant.I can rent you the condo for min. 1 month and max. 6 years(or more).I really want to find a good and responsible tenant for it, and I hope that you can send me some personal information about yourself.The rent for whole the condo for 1 month is $850 including all utilities(water,electricity, internet, cable, parking , airconditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage) and the security deposit is $850 (you’ll get the deposit back at your departure-or you can use it to pay your last month of rent) and I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account. You can move in the condo in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys and I have nobody in United States that could show you the condo. In order to check it, see if you like it(I’m sure that you’ll love it), you need to receive the keys and the contract.
If you want to rent the condo, please e-mail me back and I will explain you how the payment and shipping will take place!
Regards,
it happens in atlanta as well….
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to look at my property.My name is Alana Williams,I’m 43 years old,I’m a construction engineer and I’m the owner of this condo(2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,1700 square footage).I lived in this beautiful condo for over 2 years, loved every day of it.It’s located in 805 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.The unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat, the condo come with two parking spots,a storage unit where you can deposit my furniture (if you don’t like it and you want use your furniture),there is also a linen closet, and most importantly, a new front loading stacked washer and drier.Pets allowed.I’ve moved to United Kingdom with my job (i am a construction engineer) and decided to rent it because the rent is very expensive here.The price is so low because I’m here and is very hard to find a tenant.I can rent you the condo for min. 1 month and max. 6 years(or more).I really want to find a good and responsible tenant for it, and I hope that you can send me some personal information about yourself.The rent for whole the condo for 1 month is $850 including all utilities(water,electricity, internet, cable, parking , airconditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage) and the security deposit is $850 (you’ll get the deposit back at your departure-or you can use it to pay your last month of rent) and I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account. You can move in the condo in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys and I have nobody in United States that could show you the condo. In order to check it, see if you like it(I’m sure that you’ll love it), you need to receive the keys and the contract.
If you want to rent the condo, please e-mail me back and I will explain you how the payment and shipping will take place!
Regards,
Thank you for your reply.
Before going further with anything I must tell you that for payments I will use the eBay Company, they will secure the transaction of payments. I will open a CASE ID# at eBay Company for this transaction and I will give them your full name, shipping info, phone# and indicate you as my tenant. After that, they will contact you with the payment details, and they will ask you to send them a refundable deposit, $1700 in 24 hours(the money will be for the first month of rent + the security deposit). After they receive your deposit, they will notify me immediately to start the shipping of the keys and the contract. You will receive a tracking number in max 12 hours after they receive your deposit. The keys will reach to you in 3-4 days. After you’ll receive the keys and the contract, the 14 days of inspection period will start( you’ll have 14 days to see the condo, read the contract,
decide if you keep the condo or not.After the inspection you will contact them and tell your decision: TAKE THE CONDO or NOT TAKE THE CONDO! In case you’ll take it you’ll have to send them a copy of the contract signed by you and they will release the money to me, if not you’ll have to send them the contract unsigned and they will refund your money(1700$), the contract and the keys will be shipped back at my expenses! I will pay the shipping and you’ll have to pay the money transfer fee for the refundable deposit.
Once again:
1. If you have the money 1700$ and if you want to rent it send me your full name, your shipping address and your phone#
2. I will open a CASE ID# at eBay Company for this transaction , and I will give them your info, and indicate you as my tenant.
3. After that, they will contact you with the payment details(you’ll have to send them 1700$ via money transfer in the next 24 hours-you’ll need cash)
4. After they receive your deposit, they will notify me immediately to start the shipping, and you will receive a tracking number in max 12 hours after they receive your deposit.
5.From the moment you receive the keys the 14 days inspection period will start.I will make the transaction only in this way so if you have the money and if you want to rent my condo send me your full name, your shipping address, your phone# and I’ll start the procedure.
Thanks
Can we report this person to the cops or something?? I am sure they can track the IP address.
God’s grace I found this website!!!
Here’s what I got:
MAIL 1:
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to look at my property.My name is Alana Williams,I’m 43 years old,I’m a construction engineer and I’m the owner of this condo(2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,1100 square footage).I lived in this beautiful ph for over 2 years, loved every day of it.It’s located in 224 Hudson Street, Hoboken, NJ, 07030.The unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat, the condo come with two parking spots,a storage unit where you can deposit my furniture (if you don’t like it and you want use your furniture),there is also a linen closet, and most importantly, a new front loading stacked washer and drier.Pets allowed.I’ve moved to United Kingdom with my job (i am a construction engineer) and decided to rent it because the rent is very expensive here.The price is so low because I’m here and is very hard to find a tenant.I can rent you the condo for min. 1 month and max. 6 years(or more).I really want to find a good and responsible tenant for it, and I hope that you can send me some personal information about yourself.The rent for whole the condo for 1 month is $1000 including all utilities(water,electricity, internet, cable, parking , airconditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage) and the security deposit is $1000 (you’ll get the deposit back at your departure-or you can use it to pay your last month of rent) and I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account. You can move in the condo in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys and I have nobody in United States that could show you the condo. In order to check it, see if you like it(I’m sure that you’ll love it), you need to receive the keys and the contract.
If you want to rent the condo, please e-mail me back and I will explain you how the payment and shipping will take place!
Regards,
MAIL 2:
Thank you for your reply.
Before going further with anything I must tell you that for payments I will use the eBay Company, they will secure the transaction of payments. I will open a CASE ID# at eBay Company for this transaction and I will give them your full name, shipping info, phone# and indicate you as my tenant. After that, they will contact you with the payment details, and they will ask you to send them a refundable deposit, $2000 in 24 hours(the money will be for the first month of rent + the security deposit). After they receive your deposit, they will notify me immediately to start the shipping of the keys and the contract. You will receive a tracking number in max 12 hours after they receive your deposit. The keys will reach to you in 3-4 days. After you’ll receive the keys and the contract, the 14 days of inspection period will start( you’ll have 14 days to see the condo, read the contract,
decide if you keep the condo or not.After the inspection you will contact them and tell your decision: TAKE THE CONDO or NOT TAKE THE CONDO! In case you’ll take it you’ll have to send them a copy of the contract signed by you and they will release the money to me, if not you’ll have to send them the contract unsigned and they will refund your money(2000$), the contract and the keys will be shipped back at my expenses! I will pay the shipping and you’ll have to pay the money transfer fee for the refundable deposit.
Once again:
1. If you have the money 2000$ and if you want to rent it send me your full name, your shipping address and your phone#
2. I will open a CASE ID# at eBay Company for this transaction , and I will give them your info, and indicate you as my tenant.
3. After that, they will contact you with the payment details(you’ll have to send them 2000$ via money transfer in the next 24 hours-you’ll need cash)
4. After they receive your deposit, they will notify me immediately to start the shipping, and you will receive a tracking number in max 12 hours after they receive your deposit.
5.From the moment you receive the keys the 14 days inspection period will start.I will make the transaction only in this way so if you have the money and if you want to rent my condo send me your full name, your shipping address, your phone# and I’ll start the procedure.
Thanks
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