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So I saw an ad on Craigslist for a $1500 1bdrm in NYC, and the (supposed) owner replied, just asking basic stuff about how long I would like to occupy it, if it would be only me living there, etc.
I replied, and then her reply was this:
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In this moment i'm in Madrid-Spain and can not be present to deal face to face but I can make arrangements to rent the apartment from Madrid through Realtor.com is an international company dealing specifically in rentals apartments, I used it in the past and I was very pleased.In order to view the flat and settle a deal, you will need the keys, and the contract.
I will explain how it works..
If we decide to proceed with this transaction, I will need your phone number full name and address where you want to receive the keys/contract.Then I will forward to Realtor.com company from Madrid, and they will start the process right away in US.Next you will receive a notification message from Realtor.com containing all the instructions that you need to follow.
Regarding the Payment, you will be instructed to deposit the amount to an agent from Realtor.com ,they will hold lock and insure your money until you check the apartment and decide if you want to rent the place or not.(That is my insurance).If you will not be satisfied with the apartment the total amount will be refunded in same day after your request.You will be given a ten days inspection period from the day you receive the keys and contract.During this period you can take a decision.
As for the monthly payment are done directly to my bank account from Madrid at the beginning or end of month at your convenience.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
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This is complete BS, isn't it? Her name (again, supposedly) is Bernice Moretti and the location of the unit is 1 W 71st St.
#1 Stop replying to ads that are obviously scams just on rent price alone. $1500 a month is so far from market rent for an UWS one bedroom that it HAS to be a scam.
#2 If you are so desperate to reply to these ads, at least do a google image search first to see if those photos are being used on other listings at other addresses. If you find them associated with other ads, then that means the photos were stolen to be used for a fake ad. In this case, I found the photo of this bedroom in at 18 Williams St. and also 520 E 11th
#3 Africans (the main perpetrators of these scams as far as I know) write English in a very particular, foreign-sounding way. There are a few red flags in the email they sent you. The biggest one is their usage of will/would. They use it in ways that we don't. For example:
If you will not be satisfied with the apartment the total amount will be refunded in same day
Also: During this period you can take a decision. (this is British/African etc. English as far as I know, to say "take a decision")
I'm not a linguist and I don't know the specific differences between British and African English, but I have seen enough of these scam emails for apartments that I have a sense of how the Africans write and ALL of the scam emails contain these red flags just from the way the English is written alone.
you will be instructed to deposit the amount to an agent from Realtor.com ,they will hold lock and insure your money until you check the apartment and decide if you want to rent the place or not.(That is my insurance).
You do not give someone money BEFORE you see what you are renting...ever. And what does she need "insurance" against? Your stealing her apartment leaving a gaping hole in the building, raping an agent?
Quote:
.Next you will receive a notification message from Realtor.com containing all the instructions that you need to follow.
ROFL That wording sounded like a HOSTAGE negotiation. Perhaps that is her sideline business. You may have escaped being KIDNAPPED.
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That wording sounded like a HOSTAGE negotiation. Perhaps that is her sideline business. You may have escaped being KIDNAPPED.
