Scam or not scam? update OP

[binny]

LOL As if I cant figure it out. Infuriating though!

Was looking for rental houses and found this ad, with full pictures, looks gorgeous. SO, I email them and get this response. I actually forwarded it to my realtor to see if he could do anything about it.




Hello Dear,

Thanks for the email and it is my gladness hearing from you.i am the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.
Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the (West Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent ..including the utilities like hydro,washerand security,it is furnised but if u which to move in with your furnishes no problem..

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,i will want you to take absolute maintenance of my house and want you to treat it as your own,i,it is not the money the main problem but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.

SO IF YOU ARE REALY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAPPLICATIONS FORMS BELOW

RENT APPLICATION FORM

Also,Pls let me get this answer.
1)Your Full Name
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
3)How old are you?
4)Are you married?
5)How many people will be living in the house?
6)Do you have a pet?
7)Do you have a car?
8)Occupation?
9)When did you intend sending me the security deposit?
10)How soon did you intend to get the keys and documents?

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you,please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, Here is our number you know that,we do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this.
Regards.







UPDATE


Realtor checked and this mans name is actually the owner on record.

ETA: I do think this is still a scam, its just really strange that they would go to all of the trouble.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I don't know - kinda wierd. Let your realtor handle it!

 

[blissventure]

No way on earth I'd get involved with this. Red flags everywhere.
If you have a reputable realtor, I'd expect them to email you back, "Delete, now. Don't have any contact. Don't give any info."

 

[corie161]

Does the city where home is located have any rental licensing requirements? If so, maybe you could contact them and see if everything is current and legit with the property.

 

[a1tinkfans]

No way on earth I'd get involved with this. Red flags everywhere.
If you have a reputable realtor, I'd expect them to email you back, "Delete, now. Don't have any contact. Don't give any info."

Seriously....this is a NO BRAINER....RUN...DO NOT WALK!!!!

 

[LanaJayne]

LOL As if I cant figure it out. Infuriating though!

Was looking for rental houses and found this ad, with full pictures, looks gorgeous. SO, I email them and get this response. I actually forwarded it to my realtor to see if he could do anything about it.




Hello Dear,

Thanks for the email and it is my gladness hearing from you.i am the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.
Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the (West Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent ..including the utilities like hydro,washerand security,it is furnised but if u which to move in with your furnishes no problem..

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,i will want you to take absolute maintenance of my house and want you to treat it as your own,i,it is not the money the main problem but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.

SO IF YOU ARE REALY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAPPLICATIONS FORMS BELOW

RENT APPLICATION FORM

Also,Pls let me get this answer.
1)Your Full Name
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
3)How old are you?
4)Are you married?
5)How many people will be living in the house?
6)Do you have a pet?
7)Do you have a car?
8)Occupation?
9)When did you intend sending me the security deposit?
10)How soon did you intend to get the keys and documents?

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you,please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, Here is our number you know that,we do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this.
Regards.

Scam! Not only will he want you to wire the deposit, but he will probably want to send you a check for you to cash for some type of repairs needed and of course, you'll be able to keep some for your trouble and wire-transfer the rest as he no longer lives in the states.

Then the certified check/money order will bounce and the renter will be out more than just a place to live.

See if you can get the address and check the tax records for ownership.

 

[npmommie]

SCAM, run!
this was actually on our news last night

 

[binny]

I have no intention of contacting him again. I just cant believe that someone would be so low as to take pictures of a home like that, presumably from a real estate listing, and post as their own.

I guess I can believe it, its just the first time Ive encountered something of that magnitude. Some people stink!

 

[happily single]

This has been a scam from craigslist in my area. They take photos of a real house/apartment and claim to live out of the country. They require you to send the deposit, etc before they can giv eyou the keys or even allow you into the house. Surprise, they don't own the house and the people are out the money. Definite scam.

If you have the exact address check the tax assessor's office for the owner's name and current address. Compare that with the name and address of the person who are dealing with.

Run!!!!

 

[binny]

Scam! Not only will he want you to wire the deposit, but he will probably want to send you a check for you to cash for some type of repairs needed and of course, you'll be able to keep some for your trouble and wire-transfer the rest as he no longer lives in the states.

Then the certified check/money order will bounce and the renter will be out more than just a place to live.

See if you can get the address and check the tax records for ownership.

Yep, he sent me the address so its already been reported. Seems like it might pay to keep an eye on Craigslist if you have a house for sale just in case.

 

[minniecarousel]

Now, that's a new take on scamming. It surpasses the long-lost relative $$ request.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

run forest run!

 

[npmommie]

I hate to say it, but I saw your update, and it is still a scam.
they did a piece on this particular new scam last night. your realtor should look further into it.

 

[binny]

oh I agree that its still a scam.

Amazing though the email return goes to the name on the deed, so they are thorough to say the least. Making up a fake email so people who do check will se that at least

 

[taylor3297]

Total scam! My cousin who lives in Tampa right on the bay, just happen to come across a house for rent in the local paper, it was a picture of her house! So she contacted the person, who lived in another country, and the man wanted her to wire money for deposit and rent, and she said no, she wouldn't, when asked why she told him that because he was trying to rent her house! She had already contacted the police, but not much they could do except notify authorities in the other country.

 

[Stitchfans]

No way on earth I'd get involved with this. Red flags everywhere.
If you have a reputable realtor, I'd expect them to email you back, "Delete, now. Don't have any contact. Don't give any info."

I agree