Yesterday, I found a listing on Craig's List for a house to rent in Niagara Falls. 900$ 2 bedrooms. I went ahead and sent an email asking about whether the place was still available. The person I thought was the landlord responded immediately saying the place was available. At that moment I had no reason to believe that this would turn out to be a scam.
This is what they wrote...
Hello,
Thanks for the response,Yes the property is still available,however I am not around now to show you the interior of the home,the house is listed for sale in remax but i just talk it over with my Wife so we decide to rent
it out now,I'm currently away in Abbotsford Bc on a work transfer and i am here with the keys and documents of the property so you can only see the outside of the home while i send you pictures of the interior,Let me know
if that's fine by you so i can send you the pictures,details and rent application of the home via email,you are free to text or call me on my private phone number #3105981611
Address:5957 SWAYZE Drive, Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2J 3K1
Beverly Marsden.
I went ahead and asked about when we could look at the interior pictures and get the documentation signed.
The response was as follows:
Hope you had a great day? So sorry for getting back to you late regarding my property for rent. Here are the attached picture of the home interior and exterior as you requested, and I hope you find them more attractive and
suite your taste. Like I said am not around to show you the property myself because I just relocated to Abbotsford Bc with my family because of the multi-million contract my company just won. So I have to be there for the next 4-5 year.
But I can arrange how you can get the keys to the home so that you can go and see the home yourself after every terms had been agreed between you and my family. I will kindly urge you to fill the rent application form below so that I can review that ASAP with my wife in other to get the keys and all other necessary document ready to be send to you. Thanks for your Genuine interest and understanding.
Details:
Rent: $900(Monthly)
Security Deposit: $600
Lease Term:Long/Short Term
Date Available: Asap
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Amenities in the House:
Appliances: Electric Stove, Fridge,/Interior: Air
Conditioning,Microwave,Deck, Patio or Porch,Over sized Closets,Internet Cable Access Ready,Washer & Dryer Connections,Furnished Hardwood Floor,Ceiling Fan(s), Parking,Dishwasher,(gas).(Hydro is extra),Extra
Storage Area, Fireplace.Tenant Criteria: Smoking Outside, Pets allowed....
NOTE : I'm 50 years old and as I told you, I'm a project manager and my job even if is paid very well, requires that I move a lot with little or short notice.You can move in the home in the same day that you will receive the
keys. The only problem is that I'm already in Abbotsford Bc because we started the work, but you don't need to worry because I've made all arrangements to rent the home from here.I would definitely like to know a little more about you,Kindly fill out the rent application form below.
* *****RENTAL APPLICATION FORM*****
* ( Private and Confidential )*
Fill below information correctly...*
*FIRST NAME:__________*
*MIDDLE NAME:__________*
*LAST NAME:__________*
*(CELL)PHONE__________*
*(House)PHONE__________*
*KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________*
*PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________*
*CITY: _______________*
*STATE:______________*
*ZIP CODE: ____________*
*WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________*
*HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________*
*HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT_________*
*PRESENT RENT AMOUNT_________*
*ANNUAL INCOME_________*
*DO YOU HAVE PET _________*
*KIND OF PETS: _____________*
*HABITS*
*DO YOU SMOKE ______________*
*DO YOU DRINK ______________*
*DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT _________*
*REFERENCE*
*NAME_____________*
*ADDRESS_____________*
*PHONE NUMBER_________*
Get back to me as soon as you fill the application form, I can guarantee you that this is a lovely home you will really enjoy living. You are free to text or call me on my private phone number # 4086589379
Cheers.
So I quickly punched in the info and sent it back. No pictures had been attached to I made sure to ask. The response was...
Thanks for getting back to me with the application form kindly let me know if you are ready to make the the first month and security deposit for me to start the shipping arrangement of key and the necessary document to the following address that you fill in the application form then you have the key by next day Via UPS or DHL service.here is the LEASE AGREEMENT CONTRACT FORM in the Attach so once you have sign on it you get it back to me so that i can have it here in my record.Please absolute care of the home as soon as you have the key because i don't want in a situation where by later i will regret of letting the home for rent to you hope you can understand.
Once I saw the grammatical errors I started to doubt the authenticity of all this. Right after, another email came in stating...
I want you to get back to me with your Home address where you want the package to be sent to..So fill in your Delivering Information below:
1)Receiver"s Name:
2)Receiver"s Address:
3)Receiver"s Phone #:
Let me know if i can forward you the information which you will use in sending the payment to me via Bank Transfer or western union.Once the payment as being confirmed i will send you the tracking number on how
to pick the keys/document up. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Communication was switched to text using the number +1 (310) 598-1611
Fake Landlord says.... I want you to get back to me with your Home address where you want the package to be sent to..So fill in your Delivering Information below:
1)Receiver"s Name: 2)Receiver"s Address: 3)Receiver"s Phone #:$900 per month including utilities hydro gas etc All included Check your mail now I think I have answer your questions.
[email protected] send payment to the above via interac e-transfer and give me security answer to the payment. Go ahead and send the $600 and get back to me with the security answer to the payment. I recieve your delivery address where the keys will be send to. Did you recieve my response?
Me: Yes. I received it. I will sign the forms and send them back to you now.
Fake Landlord: Ok. Get back to me with the security answer to the payment. So that I can proceed as well.
Me: Will do. Working on it right now as we speak. Please send me a copy of your identification. This is just out of due diligence.
Fake Landlord: Ok
Me: Thank you
Fake Landlord: Thanks for your reply and i want you to know that this is legit,i want you to know i have to be carefully this days,You sound skeptic from your last
email, and that's very wrong, if you are thinking that I just wanted to take your money for nothing. When I know how people work and earn their money, I will never think of taking some advantages over you and your money, please take that out off your mind, that is really awful thing on the earth that I will never think about doing. Please understand me better, I was not trying to lure you into this,everything about me and my home is
100% real ok, i can never tarnish my name and image all because of money and i wouldn't do such a thing when i have blood running through my vain,So as I shall be giving you My home With your Age I know you would be able to take good care of it well for me,I don't disappoint people cause i know how hurting it could be and as someone who has the fear of God in me i live up to the word of God okay???Waiting to hear from you. I will send you my pics me and my families picture's.
Me:I understand. I am just making sure that I do the necessary confirmations on my side. (At this point I was are that it was all a scam.)
Fake Landlord: Yes I know. Am send you my pics me and my families picture's now. Giving you 100%.
Me: Good. So we are on good terms. Send a copy of your identification so we can get this process completed. Please do not send family pictures.
Fake Landlord: Ok. I will. Am waiting for your respond. Ok
Ok. Hello. My scanner have fault. Still working on it. Still working on it.
Me: No problem. Take a photo of your drivers licence.
Fake Landlord: Hello. Ok. No problem.
I decided to call to find out what the next steps would be. The guy on the other end of the line spoke with a heavy west African accent. He really tried to put emphasis on the authenticity of what he was trying to do.
Back to text.
Me: Thank you. As I said in the phone conversation. As soon as your send me your identification document, I will be more than happy to send you the deposit and the contact.
Fake Landlord: No problem about that. I will do that for you
Me: Very good. I will be waiting.
What's your name again?
Fake Landlord: Ok
Beverly Marsden
Me: Ok. Thanks Beverly
Haven't heard anything from him since late this afternoon.
I was one second away from sending money. Had I not asked for his ID, I'd have been hating myself right now. So, to everyone out there. Be very careful and trust your instincts.