Comments for Rental Scam Information - Protecting the Public from Rental Scammers

Comment on The Sponsor Rental Scam by Cathleen Vecchione

Cathleen Vecchione — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:38:09 +0000

January 2012 Harry Button is still around..I had 2 responses. Also, beware of Kaylen and Lionel , also from the U.K…I knew it was too good to be true!!

Comment on Craigslist Rental Scams by Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:08:38 +0000

This is an email I have received. Sounds similar….?
Thanks for getting back to me … My name is ***,I am
> 25yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean, caring,and
> respectful of others. a non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink
> occasionally,and drama free. I graduated last year in France, I am single and have no children … i do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday .I am coming for my Masters degree. i am from Spain,specifically Malaga, I was born in Ormond Beach in Florida,my dad is from there too but my mum is from Spain…I went to University of Navarra in Spain. I speak both English and Spanish fluently ,am presently on research work at
Hawaii , am almost done.with that bcos its part of my prerequisite
>for my masters in Microbiology . I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i
don’t want to waste much time .
> Am really interested in renting from you and 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,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking space cos I will
> have my own car come over, pls let me know the total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my dad for him to email
> you later bcos he is the one that will be paying the bills but
> nevertheless,I will like you to send me your Full Name and the Mailing
> Address, your Phone number as well,so that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that you can hold on
> the place for me till i come . I will be looking forward to your email
> soonest.Also you can add me on my IM ****@yahoo.com
> so we can get to know Each other Better… Thanks

Comment on Known Rental Scammer – adepoju02@gmail.com by Vanessa

Vanessa — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:01:12 +0000

He is still at it using the name Dr. Mike Morgan- I gave no info to this person- thanks for all the posts from other people. Didn’t know you had to be so careful of scum bags like this! thanks

Comment on Known Rental Scammer – Dr.micheal chult,Ph.D by Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:49:56 +0000

He is at it again. We have a rental property and he would like to rent it for three days. He is now going by DR. Jerry Smith from the UK. He needs our address and phone number and will send a certified check. …Jerry Smith from the UK and cannot seem to put a proper English sentence together!!

Comment on Known Rental Scammer – adepoju02@gmail.com by Peter

Peter — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:23:19 +0000

Well, December 31, 2012 and this Dr. Morgan is still at it. Happy new years friends!

Comment on Scam and Fraud Contact Information by rebecca

rebecca — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:41:28 +0000

STAY AWAY FROM ANYONE NAMED RAYNER CONTRERAS OR DEALING WITH RAY VACATION RENTALS.. GIANT SCAM ARTIST AND LIAR.

Comment on Scam and Fraud Contact Information by Gary Koett

Gary Koett — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:06:17 +0000

I just ran across a scammer from Europe, and only discovered him by accicent when I tried to google the employer he said he would be working for (an electronics firm called “Ad Store”). He has used his scam repeatedly for over a year and operates under various names. He trolls craigslist for potential victims. Currently he is operating under the name Johnson Brown. He says his mother is sick and is going in for an operation. As the scam unfolds his mother winds up dying, and he calls and starts to sob uncontollably on the phone.

Here’s a copy of his opening email to me (sent on Dec. 24, 2011):

Hello,
I am very interested in renting your place.
I was born in and raised in the Spain 26 yrs ago. I’m a matured,
Vivacious, career driven individual, I don’t smoke and drink on very
sparse occasions (probably won’t even consume up to 5 liters in year)
which might be buoyed something very special like a job promotion or
maybe a best friend’s wedding (lol).
I am also not opinionated and will never condemn anyone for their
sexual, religious inclinations or what so ever primordial variables. I
think the day we perceive ourselves beyond such clouts, there would be
world peace and visceral love.
I plan on staying for at least 3 years minimum because my
work contract is for two years and I will be working for Ad store consumer
electronics as a Data Base Administrator.
Kindly respond as soon as possible
Have a spectacular day!
johnson brown

Here’s a link with more details about this scammer:
http://www.canadarentals.net/rentalblog/?p=83

DO NOT SEND THIS GUY ANY MONEY!!! As a general rule DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION, as they do not require any id to be shown, and are a favorite of scammers.

Comment on The Property “Owner” Rental Scam by Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:29:44 +0000

I asked this guy working in the “UK” for proof the mortgage. He then proceeded to tell me, he left it in a dresser drawer at the house. Well…he initially told me that the place was unfurnished…just be aware of red flags everyone!

Comment on The Property “Owner” Rental Scam by Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:26:41 +0000

what is his name? I did the same thing..he is going by Joseph Zgut in CO, but the sad part is that I think Joseph Zgut is a real person, property owner. I am trying to find a way to contact him.

Comment on The Property “Owner” Rental Scam by Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:25:26 +0000

I am going to contact the real estate agen tomorrow because when I drove by there was a sign in the yard. I did a little research and the property owner is indeed Joseph Zgut, so could this be identity fraud too? He is indeed claiming to be Joseph Zgut.

Here is my latest e-mail with him.
Thanks once again Hunter for your reply also thank you so much for the information provided. Everything is okay I and my family are pleased with it.I can see your willingness in this rent !!! So as we shall be giving you our house, please again take care of the house so that we might be glad when we come back.You can stay as long as you want as the job appointment will last for 4 years .

As i have earlier told you,the money involved is not the problem,but i only need my house to be kept clean always and taken care of until i return.I also want to thank you for your understanding and we have seen your application and my family and I have accepted you to be our future tenant and i hope you will not disappoint us as I promise to be a good landlord to you.Attached also are some of the pictures of my house here with me and I hope you will like them.

You will be paying $750 Monthly ,I will not want you to get worried okay?.You will have to pay for move in cost of first month rent and security deposit total of $1500. There is no application fee, application is free.

As you want to move in by January or February, 2012, you will have to provide the security deposit of $750 so I will hold the house for you and also remove it from the site.So I will like to know when you will make the money available so I will let you know who and where to send it.I am still in the process of opening an account here as it remains some documents needed by the bank from our working place which they are yet to issue to me.

I will have to contact the FEDEX Courier Service for the shipment of the house keys and documents to your names immediately i receive your move in cost:Bryan Nicolas Or Danielle Nicole Hunter.Address: 6864 South Ivy Way Apt. 107,Centennial CO 80112.

Below is the content of document and some of the correspondence that will be sent to you first thing after your move in cost is confirmed.

(1) Entrance and the rooms Keys.
(2) Paper/Permanent house form (Containing your reference details).
(3) The house documentary file.
(4) Payment Receipt.
(5) Signed approve application.
(6) Signed Lease Agreement.

These will be sent to your current address you have provided to me in the application form as soon as your move in cost is confirmed and the tracking details will be sent to you so that you can possibly occupy our house immediately you get the package. again, i am giving you this on trust and do not disappoint me and i promise you to be of good landlord to you.

I and my family are really happy to find a good person to occupy the house and i still want you to promise that you will not disappoint us,after then i will let you know the next step to take in getting the documents,keys and rent.

Please,reconfirm your delivery information to avoid it getting into the wrong hands.

Delivery address:………

Hope to read from you soon.

Thank you and remain Blessed.

Mr Joseph Zgut