Apartment Scam in Minneapolis Scams

Hi all,

I am posting this because today I was scammed trying to secure an apartment in Minneapolis. I feel like an idiot because I ignored many red flags due to being in a state of desperation to find housing. I am hoping to find some solace in informing others.

I found the apartment on apartments.com at the location 201 S 2nd Ave in Minneapolis. I inquired and received the email below. After emailing back and forth, I paid a security deposit. After this he requested two months rent upfront, and I decided to dig a little deeper, which led me to this site, where the same email had been reported: http://ift.tt/2rpKBPI

I have reported the scam to proper authorities, including the Minneapolis police, the FTC, CPA, and Apartments.com. As much as I feel like a dipshit, I am happy it was a relatively small amount of money, I didn't share any private information, and learned a very valuable lesson.

Beware scams that begin with the following email:

Hello,

Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my Property. I am the owner of the Property you are making inquiry of. The Property is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the Property. The property will be available for a period of 5 years or more. My Family and I just traveled to Nevada/USA for a program called Health Resources and Services Administration(HRSA), the program is taking place in three major countries in Europe, UK, USA where I and my family are currently located..Right now.

I'm in need of a good and responsible tenant that can move in into my property and take very good care and maintain it in my absence. We will be away for a while that is why we made up our mind to put it our for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. Please i want you to note that i spent a lot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this property and want you to treat it as your own.

AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer. Utilities include Water,Trash,Sewer,Gas and Electricity.

The money is not 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. I also want you to let me have trust in you as I always stand on my word.

Address: 901 S 2nd St UNIT 708,Minneapolis, MN 55415 Bedroom: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Rent: $570 Security Deposit: $570

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:

RENT APPLICATION FORM.

FIRST NAME:________________ MIDDLE NAME: ________________ LAST NAME: _________________ PROFESSION: ________________ (CELL)PHONE ()_________ (CELL)PHONE () _____________________ (WORK)PHONE () __________ YOUR EMAIL: ____________________________ KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY _______ PRESENT ADDRESS: ____________________ CITY: ______________ STATE: _____________ ZIP CODE: _______________ HOW LONG? _________IF RENTING WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? IF THIS Home IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU, HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING?___________ WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________ MONTHLY INCOME: IF YOU HAVE A PET: NAME OF PET: _____________ KIND OF PETS: _____________ HABITS DO YOU SMOKE? ___________ DO YOU DRINK? ______________ DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT?____ YOUR PICTURE OR FAMILY PICTURE(IF ANY):could be attached with the application

Please feel free to ask any questions you do not understand and i will be looking forward to receive your email as soon as possible. As i am not around to show the inside, you can go check out the neighborhood from the outside and get back to me if you really like it for more information.

In case you see any aboard, they are the Realtor in charge of my house before I decided to take over by my self. I am no more working with them and don't bother to contact them because formerly i wanted to sell the property before me and my Lovely Family now decided to rent it out instead of selling it out.

Thanks for choosing my home and remain bless.

Best Regards

Submitted May 27, 2017 at 02:07AM by buckygonedun http://ift.tt/2s5ngyS Scams

What kind of scam is this? Scams

I was looking at apartments on craiglist and I emailed one to ask if I could schedule a look and got this back:

Thanks for your interest and sorry for the late response was due to my wife illness but i thank GOD she is getting better. I must confess that I am very new in this landlord business. However, I own the house located at ("#### Address St" North Hollywood, CA 91602). Due to my job as a missionary worker, we are going to stay in Dahlonega for an intentional Christian Followers crusade.that I decided to rent out the house and i will be here for (3-5 years).. However, the initial plan was to sale out the house. Which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the price and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this in case if you find the house on another website, that is the old advert. because of this reason and more we need rental agreement with a responsible person (With good credit) that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money , but want it to be clean and for you to take care of it as if it were yours. The rental fee is $1,200 and deposit is $800 included in all utilities and Appliances,you would not make any extra charges.... Air Conditioner Dishwasher Walk-in Closet Refrigerator Vaulted Ceilings Washer/Dryer Cable etc...

      SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW.

                                                  PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

  1)Your Full Name______________________________

  2)Present Full Address:______________________________

  3)(CELL)Phone & (Home)Phone:______________________________

  4)Marital Status?___________________________________________

  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 will you like to move in?_____________________________

  10)How long are you willing to stay in the property________________

  11)When are you ready to Move In?________________

  12)Name of pet: _____________?

  13)Kind of pet: _____________?

  14)Do you smoke ______________ ?

  15)Do you drink ______________?

  16)Do you work late night____?

  17)Monthly Income____?

  18)How Soon Do You Want To Receive The Keys And Document____?

  19)How soon can you make the deposit payment____?

  20)Picture of occupant______If available?

  21)Driving license/identity card_____If available?

  ==============================

  Rental/Lease comment:

  ==============================

I want you to know that you cant view the interior, i would have love to show you the interior through a friend or relatives but i don't have anybody that can do that for me at the moment.i can attached the interior pictures  for you to have an idea how beautiful and spacious the inside looks.I tried to look for an agent that I could give the document & the keys before I left but i can't find any due to the matter of urgency so i have to take the key and documents along with me. And I don't want home misused in my absence that is why I took the keys and documents along with me. So I hope you will promise me to  take very good care of the House always and i will like you to fill out the application  form so we can proceed ASAP....

Regards 

"Guy who sent the email"

God Bless you ........................................

Submitted April 10, 2017 at 07:59AM by kaeladurden http://ift.tt/2oonN0D Scams

Just got this craigslist house scam response email - how shall I proceed? Scams

I want to mess with this guy. Any ideas?

Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my house. Yes the house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are not around. Myself and my wife just traveled to West Africa for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM), you can view the link for more info: (http://ift.tt/1qrUSoY).

We will be away for 3 to 4 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. However, my initial plan was to sell the house but it was not successful because the Realtor raised the price which made it difficult for me to sell before leaving the States so never mind if you see the for sale sign in front of the house, It has already been taken off the market as for sale so there is no need to contact any Realtor.

I want you to understand that I spent a lot on my property that you have requested to rent, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and would want you to treat it as your own because cleanliness they say is next to Godliness. It is not all about the money to be paid on rent or spent; it is all about a good maintenance culture which I want you to adopt on the property. I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that I would be full of smiles whenever I come and above all, a good, strong and tight relationship between us when I come for a check up. Please one more thing, I wouldn't like to have any benefit of trust in you because I want to stand in your words that the property would be well taken care of all the time. I believe you have seen how lovely it is if from only the pictures you saw in my posting compare to the 100% comfort to be derived from it as you are an occupant.

FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Master Bedroom, Playground, Car Park.

AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Patio/Party Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans, 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.

Rental Price: $780 per month and security Deposit is $700 (Security Deposit is Refundable) Utilities included in monthly rent.

Pets are Welcome.

Here is the address to the house: XXXX

Bedroom: 3

Bathroom: 2

Living Building Square Footage: 1,185

I may not be returning to the house because we plan on buying another house upon arrival. For more inquiries, Here is my cell phone number, call or Text me ASAP +1(774) 327-3185.

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:

RENT APPLICATION FORM. Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : _______?

Phone numbers (home, cell and office line ) # : ____?

E-mail : ____?

Best time to call : ____?

Marital Status: ____?

How many proposed occupants : ____?

List all in addition to yourself including approx age : ____?

Present Address : ____?

City/State : ____?

Will you have pets : ____?

Please describe Breed, size : ____?

Personality of pet : ____?

Preferred move in date: ____?

Intended length of lease: _______ Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:_______?

Earliest possible date of deposit payment: ____?

Length of previous tenancy : ____?

Present occupation : ____?

Are you a section 8 applicant

Do you work late night : ____?

Do you smoke : ____?

Do you drink : ____?

Send your picture or family picture _ ______?

Looking forward to hearing back from you with all this details so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you.

Your quick response will be highly appreciated so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services. May GOD bless you and your family.

Regards. Scott J Ulrich. I await your reply ASAP. Regard and God bless you!!!

Submitted November 19, 2014 at 09:33PM by LsDmT http://ift.tt/1F3D86b Scams