Rental Scam on Craigslist (tenant, security deposit, refundable, application)

[CrabbyAppleton205]

In case you've never seen this, here's the typical CL scam. I knew it was a fake ad. These people take real ads, reduce the price (way below the current market in my area) and use their contact info. I replied to it just to see what they would do. This is the response I got.

Thank you for admiring our post. My wife posted this ad with her email so am using the email for the meantime. My wife and I need an honest tenant to ‎rent our property located at XXXXXX (not the property in the ad). I am ‎Bishop Bankole Thompson and Rev. Mrs. Susan Thompson is my wife. We presently in Africa running a non governmental organisation that educates the underprivileged ones and also leading them to accepting Christ as their Lord and savior. We decided to make our rent affordable $595 per month (rent already include utilities; Water, Trash, Electricity e.t.c)

Our Previous property manager were only concern in making their money and never attends to the needs of the our tenant and property so my wife and I‎ decided to handle the rental ourselves.

(The document and keys are with us and i have no problem sending it to ‎you through FedEX which will take 16 hours to get to the states so you can ‎go view the inside property but the security deposit will be put down ‎before the keys and document be sent, the security deposit is refundable if ‎you do not like the inside of my property after viewing. I will give you a ‎call once you agree to my terms and conditions). ‎Feel free to drive by the property to view the outside.

Property Basics;
Bedroom: 1.
Bathroom: 1.
sq feet: 550
Rent: 595
Security deposit: 500
Pets Allowed(hopefully trained ones)
Lease Term: Short or long is acceptable

LEASE APPLICATION FORM

FULL CONTACT NAME?
OCCUPATION?
RESIDENTIAL HOME ADDRESS?
YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER?
YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER?
YOUR WORKPLACE NUMBER?
BEST TIME TO REACH YOU?
AGE & MARITAL STATUS?
OWN A PET?
OWN A CAR?
HOW MANY PEOPLE SHALL RESIDE IN THE PREMISES?
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND TO RENT?
ANTICIPATED MOVE IN DATE?
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT?
REFERENCE?

Best of regards
Bishop Bankole Thompson
You can reach me through this number +2347054461079‎‎ or let me know when to ‎give you a call if you can't call internationally.
I will love to speak with you

[VTsnowbird]

I have also had responses that want you to accept payments for them (money laundering)- the rental seems to be a ruse to get people to do that.

[LifeIsGood01]

It's pretty obviously a scam when they want you to wire the money to Africa. I can't imagine anyone would fall for it.

[CrabbyAppleton205]

Originally Posted by LifeIsGood01

It's pretty obviously a scam when they want you to wire the money to Africa. I can't imagine anyone would fall for it.

Plenty of people do fall for it. That's why they keep doing it.

[Mr_Geek]

Never send money. Never pay a penny for a place you haven't stepped foot into. Their are exceptions to these rules but they are few and far between.

[WorldKlas]

Its an old scam. Any time I see a rental that is waaaay off market I go to google and look up the property and usually its marketed elsewhere for sale or rent at market pricing. Then, if that’s the case, I notify Craigslist (there’s an icon on the page that any viewer can access) that its a bad post.

[CrabbyAppleton205]

Originally Posted by WorldKlas

Its an old scam. Any time I see a rental that is waaaay off market I go to google and look up the property and usually its marketed elsewhere for sale or rent at market pricing. Then, if that’s the case, I notify Craigslist (there’s an icon on the page that any viewer can access) that its a bad post.

I do that too. I also contact the real owner/listing agent if I can locate their information.

[Ginger34]

That's such an obvious fake it's laughable. Who would fall for that idk but they deserve it.

[Last_TrainHome]

I stopped looking on craigslist because of this.. every single ad I contacted was some BS like this..

[njkate]

Originally Posted by WorldKlas

Its an old scam. Any time I see a rental that is waaaay off market I go to google and look up the property and usually its marketed elsewhere for sale or rent at market pricing. Then, if that’s the case, I notify Craigslist (there’s an icon on the page that any viewer can access) that its a bad post.

Ditto!! Scam ads hurt legitimate ads.