BAD Scam on craigslist, pass the word....

new scam on Craigs list, almost cost me dearly. I am trying to rent a new home, there was a listing in my town, reasonable, right in my market, PERFECT in fact. Emailed with them- they purport to be a couple recently transferred to be missionaries in W. Africa. We were proceeding well until they asked me this morning for a $250 deposit to send me the keys, they had a plausible explanation, but it set off my BS monitor. I rechecked the picture and called the local police (the house is RIGHT ACROSS the street from them) they were flabbergasted, they know the owner (the house IS up for rent/sale and therefore empty), called the realtor and confirmed the scam. I posted a warning and received immediate emails from others thanking me, they were about to send money. I am not that naive, but the sheer plausibility of their "talk", PLUS wishful thinking......
I am a single working mother. If I had gone ahead with this, I would have paid out money I can't afford to lose, and come time to move, my son and I would have been homeless- it would have been HORRIBLE. These people are VERY believable and even worded their mails as if English was not their primary language. They used the name of the listing agent in their email address (she is now looking for a rental for me, bless her heart!) They had a picture posted of the house, and what was meant to be interior shots- very believable.
Please be careful, beloved fellow geeks- I would HATE to have any of you suffer the disruption and loss this would cause. I reported them to the police, who requested the emails, and will be reporting them to the FBI Inet Fraud Squad. I have since heard that this kind of scam is not restricted to my area. I heard a non-apocryphal account from a family who actually moved, only to get there with their kids and gear to confront the owners, living in the house....
How seriously evil....

 

im glad you avoided disaster, i can empathize. That's why i personally avoid craigslist - it had no checks and balances and a good 50% of the transactions are illegal or fraudulant. But i'm really glad you're not screwed

 

You have to love and respect the BS meter! I am so glad yours went off!

E

 

Something has always puzzled me, why is it these guys will go to major lengths (aka work) to steal money, when if they put similar efforts into legit enterprises they could earn it legally. There is something in their psyche that enjoys putting one over on people, and they don't care who they hurt.

 

I'm so glad you avoided this horrid, mean scam. I had been reading some in my area and thanks to you I'll stay clear. I guess it's true " if it sounds to good to be true, It is to good to be true". Good luck to you . Lucy

 

After reading your post I agree 100%.I too have always thought that place was a scam artisits haven.Thanks for informing the Geeks Kat.

 

cosign - "always thought that place was a scam artisits haven"