Craigslist apartment/home rent scam
It’s easy armchair browsing, harmless window shopping for houses or apartments for rent.
But you never know who is on the other side of a Craigslist listing. Case in point:
I was perusing home sales and postings on Craigslist this week. I found a cute little house in Oklahoma City for a very reasonable price. The listing included pictures, descriptions of the home and nearly everything but an address. I contacted the listing poster and encountered yet another Craigslist scam.
I’ll outline the scam, just in case you don’t want to read the email exchanges.
- The scammer finds an old Craigslist posting with real information or scours the internet for a rental listing on another site.
- The scammer posts a detailed listing on Craigslist.
- When you contact the person who posted the listing on Craigslist, someone emails you back pretending to be the person whose name was listed with the rental in the past.
- The scammer gives you a way-too-detailed account of how he is in another country and wants to entrust his home to you.
- He asks you to fill out an easy application (of course, you’ll be approved.)
- Then, the shyster asks you to send a rental deposit. Via Western Union, of course.
I know most people would never send a person in another country money for a home they’ve never seen, but certainly there are people falling for this.
Here is the email exchange. (It is kind of funny, and I enjoyed stringing them along.)
Rick Marfil [mailto:rickmarfil@ymail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:34 PM
To:Vallery Brown
Subject: Re: $800 / 3br – 3BR/2BA Single Family House For Rent (Oklahoma City, OK)
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— On Tue, 7/14/09, Vallery Brown wrote:
From: Vallery Brown
Subject: RE: $800 / 3br – 3BR/2BA Single Family House For Rent (Oklahoma City, OK)
To: “Rick Marfil” <rickmarfil@ymail.com>
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 8:14 PM
Rick,
I am very anxious to get this process started…….. Could you please email me back with what you need to get this started? Also, can I mail the application form and whatever else you need?
Thank you.
From:Rick Marfil [mailto:rickmarfil@ymail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:14 PM
To:Vallery Brown
Subject: RE: $800 / 3br – 3BR/2BA Single Family House For Rent (Oklahoma City, OK)
IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE
RENT APPLICATION FORM.
From:Rick Marfil [mailto:rickmarfil@ymail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 6:59 PM
To:Vallery Brown
Subject: APPLICATION ACCEPTED….CALL ME ASAP
Thanks for getting back to me with the Rent Application Form. I just wanted to let you know that we have decided to let you live in our house. As we have found your application very satisfactory and acceptable by my family. So we would want you to go through this email and get back to us on what you feel so we could proceed in renting the house to you.We would like to send the following documents and keys to you via FedExto the address you sent to us and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possibly occupy our house, Please once again, we are giving you this on trust and do not dissapoint us and i promise you that, you will love the house so we are with the below document and keys here with us.. You will need to make Payment for the first ($800) to enable shippment of the Keys and document to the address you have to provide to us, afterwhich you could move in at your convenience. The rent starts counting when you move in, so you could go ahead with the payment straight away to make things faster….Here are the contents of the document that needs to be sent.after the deposit of ($500) i will have to send you the laese agrrement form so that you can sign for prove and send back to me asap.
1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
2) Paper/Permanent house form
3) The house documetary file.
4) Full Description of the house
5) Payment Receipt
All i need now is for you to make the deposit of ($500) so that the keys and documents can be send to the address you send to me in your rent applications form, so get back to me asap.so next time you will be getting back to is on how you will be making the payment via western union
i will be looking forward to your reply.
Thanks And God Bless You.
From:Rick Marfil [mailto:rickmarfil@ymail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:10 PM
To:Vallery Brown
Subject: WESTERN UNION INFORMATION GET BACK TO ME ASAP
Below is the information on how you are to make the payment to my shipping agent from the shipping company..
Attn;Vallery Brown
Thanks for your response…All you need to do now is to send the month which is $500 which is the Month to the underlisted informations of my shipping agent which is from my shipping agent company so you are to send the money through Western Union in order for him to be able to send the keys and other documents to you via FedEx…Please i want you to note that i am taking this bold step of sending you the keys based on trust and i really hope you wont let me down…. i am just coming back from the FEDEX company and i told them everthing they said no problem that as soon as the payment is comfirm that they are going to send the keys the next day…
below is his information from FEDEX
RECEIVER’S NAME:RICHARD LEWIS
ADDRESS: 142 VICTORIA ISLAND RD
STATE: EDO
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
CITY;BENIN
ZIP CODE: 23401
TEST QUESTION: WHO MADE YOU ?
ANSWER: GOD..
AMOUNT SENT : $500
ALSO GET BACK TO ME WHEN PAYMENT IS BEEN MADE WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS
SENDERS NAME……………..?
SENDERS ADDRESS………………………?
AMOUNT……….$500
MTCN#………………………………..?
TEST QUESTION…………..AS INSTRUSTED ABOVE
ANSWER…………………….AS INSTRUCTED ABOVE
as soon as you have maked the payment today Kindly get back to me with the 10 digits MTCN (money transfer control number) given to you at Western Union after you have made the payment today,and also the Sender’s full name and address so that he can immediately arrange for the delivery of keys to you through FedEx next day delivery…..I will instruct you on how to make the monthly rent payment to me after you have moved in,and concerning the utilities,that will be taken care of by me every month so you need not to worry about that because the rent paid already covers that……Have a very wonderful day and your prompt response is awaited…….
Remain Blessed,
Thanks And God Bless You.
— On Wed, 7/15/09, Vallery Brown wrote:
From: Vallery Brown
Subject: RE: WESTERN UNION INFORMATION GET BACK TO ME ASAP
To: “Rick Marfil” <rickmarfil@ymail.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 12:15 AM
Ok. I will do that tonight or tomorrow and get back to you.
If I have any problem while I am there, is there a way I can have them call you from Western Union?
From:Rick Marfil [mailto:rickmarfil@ymail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:33 PM
To:Vallery Brown
Subject: RE: WESTERN UNION INFORMATION GET BACK TO ME ASAP
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Hello Vallery
Thanks for the swift response,i will advice you to do the transaction tonight as you have said so that you are going to get the keys and documents of the house first thing tommorrow morning by 8.00am your time over there..i am so happy you say such a thing i will like you to get back to me with how many people that will be living in my home with you when getting back to me with the western union information and also you are to call me with those numbers listed in the application form when you have any problem in my home…i will be waiting to read from you as soon as possible…
like i said in my last email you that anytime you have any problem in the house that you should call on those number in the application form and i will tell you what to do next,i don”t have anybody in the area i and my family are both here together so you have nothing to worry about…i know you are very excited about you renting the house from me but i will like you to take good care of it when you move in…do get back to me with the western union details when you make the payment today….
Thanks And God Bless You..
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Comments
I had the same exact thing happen to me. All of my e-mails said the exact same thing as the ones in this article. Thank you so much for putting your story out there it saved me a lot of heartache and money.
Please don’t send money to ALPORT COOPER or PAULSON HOMER, it’s a scam!!! I fell so stupid but I transfered money to them, in London, and never heard of them anymore. Apparently, the apartment in NYC doesn’t even exist!!! They use different names, the last adds in the Craiglist are posted by Paulson Homes Vacational Rentals (Midtown East). The police tells me that there’s nothing we can do. Don’t give money to this bastards and never, never, send money by Western Union or Money Gram, because they don’t even have to show identification to collect the money, there’s no way of finding out who runs this scam!
I found THE EXACT SAME PERSON posting near Los Angeles, Ca, and I am about to ruthlessly string them along. I will send you the email record as hilarity ensues!
Thank God I saw this! I was on Kijiji looking for an apartment in Thunder Bay, I sent a question to a poster regarding the location. I didnt get a response right away so i went back on kijiji and the ad had disappeared.. This is what i got
How are you?
Thanks for your E-mail and Top of the Day to You, And it is my gladness to hearing from you.
This email is long, but renting it is important to you, and I want to try and give you some insight into who I am and about the home you are renting.
I don’t know you personally, but this is overwhelming and you are in my prayers!
About me: Eng. Scott Williams, I don’t drink and I don’t smoke. I am currently 45 years old and married. I have only one child.. I enjoy movies, sports, reading and working out. I’m interesting in a good tenant that will consider the home as his/her personal home and take good care of it.
I am the owner of the Apartment you are making enquiry of. Actually I resided in the Apt with my family, Such as my wife and my only daughter before and presently we had packed out of the apartment due to my transfer from my working place to one of our branch in West Africa and i have a very big project to handle here and this is going to take me a long time, Presently my apt is still available for rent for $700 Per Month, Including the utilities like hydro,washer and security, And Well Furnished and i am with the Keys and the Documentations to the Apartment. Pls i want you to note that, I am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent, So i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this home and want you to treat it as your own, Is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up. I do that once in a while, I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.
The accommodation comprises of 2 Bedrooms, 1Bathrooms, living room. The living room is (17’0×16’0), kitchen breakfast room (13×11), bedroom (12’10×10’5), bathroom and a separate WC Facilities and electronics like satellite TV and internet connection, and a Sony DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, a refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine.
We have each convenience that you could always wish. We have a friendly community of neighbors. Portions of activities such as passages, bingo, klutch of the coffee, divided groups that roll and for every holiday. The restaurants, supermarket,bakeries, pharmacies, cafes, shops, offices and the warehouses are within distance that walks.
Attached is the interrior pictures of the apartment and the full address below…….
Please feel free to email anytime of the day OR reach my mobile # @ +234-7028199650 Or +2348073822440 for further discussion.
Looking forward to see your reply so that i can forward you the Rent Application Form so that we can move-on with the renting process.
Thank so much for your interest and you are welcome.
You are blessed in Jesus name.
Warmest Regard.
Eng. Scott Williams.
Watch Out! Thanks for all those who posted their info! saved me !
I am getting scams from other sources. The party wants to rent an apartment but is from another counrtry and has very little time to move. I have not fallen for this but have gotten three so far this month. They want a third party to pay their rent and a 12 month lease. I wonder what the rest of it is. I haven’t fallen for it yet
More often though the scams are perpetrated by real realtors who just take your three month rent money (fee, deposit and rent)and disappear. Good luck trying to find them and get your money back. You have given your notice of departure for your old apartment and now you’re left with no money and place to live.
Had an experience with New York City Realtor Jamie Vasquez in Astoria. He is asking for the 1st month rent, deposit, and fee upfront for an apartment the management company wasn’t even aware that he was renting. He wants to sign all the paperwork in the apartment, not in an office, and doesn’t even shows you his licence when you ask for it. Plus he gets all your info (SSN, credit report, W2) and then calls you to say that the apartment isn’t available anymore. I didn’t fell for it, but many may because I see the add in Craigslist again.
My husband and i were scamed out of 700.00 by henrry wisdom also know as rick marfil and whom ever else name he decides to use. I trusted him because he said he was a minister who can i contact to prosecute this sick man.
[...] It was an obvious scam, but I wanted to put the emails out there so people could see how the bilkers work. You can see the old post here. [...]
With a very low interest rate and great deals to offer, I’m would love to apply for an apartment building loan.
There are lots of alerts about this kind of scam and event that lots of victims still.
People keep in touch!
I found this luxurious Manhattan apartment add in craigslist, it all seem too good to be true, but I thought they were just desperate due to the economic crisis. A person by the mane of Dmary Jane (djmarry11@yahoo.co.uk) got in contact with me and sent all the information for the rental agreement, after investigating the information provided by this person (building name, unit number and address) , results showed that this is all a “big scam” ; since there is only one building with this name in Manhattan; which is situated in a different location, the apartment number 14 does not exit and the building concierge does not know anything about the contact (djmarry11@yahoo.co.uk) or the apartment owner (ALPORT COOPER) whom requested a money order or transfer to foreign address (106-110 BELGRAVE ROAD, LONDON, SW1V 2BJ). Even the pictures that this criminals used to promote their scam were copied from a real estate website that is promoting the condos for sell; compare the two websites, address and pictures :
Condo living (http://www.condo-living-west.com/nyblog/2008/09/m127-new-york-city-apartments-at-127.html)
Craigslist.org (http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/vac/1294883156.html)
it is a shame that Craigslist a network for online advertisement which purpose is to help the community is now been used by con artist to scam honest people.
Sincerely,
Rick.