We`ve been advertising on Craigslist.com for 6 months.
During this period we`ve had inquiries from people all over the world! We advertise both rental properties and homes for sale.
Most inform us in their emails they need something for nothing!
Here are 3 emails we received this week.Each one will put a smile on your face!
Email #1:
"Hi,
I'll like to find out if the property that you posted for rent is still available......Please at what price per month as well as the deposit required ?.........I'm a 27 year old(Male) medical student from ENGLAND. I just finished my degree course in Kingston-University-London and I am relocating on sabbatical leave for some months.......hope to find an apartment or house before I arrive. I don't smoke, I keep my place clean, and I like to cook. I'm,I'm easygoing.I also want to learn how to speak french...maybe you can be of any help.
The form of payment will be by cashier's check,So i will like to pay for a month rent in advance,if that okay by you get back to me with your full name, physical contact address, zip code and phone number, so check of a month rent can
Adeyemi Olubambo: be issue out to you ASAP..
Sincerely,
Julius"
It appears Julius wants "MY INFORMATION" in advance so he can attempt to steal my identification, isn`t that nice!?
Worse, Julius is having major problems!He wants me to teach him French?Earth to Julius I don`t speak French you idiot!
I don`t believe Craigslist polices their site, surely if they did, they`d start noticing these Scam Artists are using this site as a breeding ground for potential criminal activity..
Email #2:
"To whom it may concern,
We saw your ad on Cragislist.com and want to inquire about this rental. My family and I are in need of a home in Weston.
We need a 3bed,2ba home by August 20th. We can pay you 1 months rent and owe you the rest. We need you to pay for the electricity until we get on our feet.
If this is of interest to you please let us know when we can sign a lease.
Thank You.
Thomas and Gina R."
Basically Thomas and Gina have "No Money" they want to rent in an area where the average rents are $1900 per month and they`ll need the landlord to pay for their electricity until who knows when.. I guess it never hurts to ask!
Email #3:
"Hello,
I saw your post for a home located in Ocala. Could you ask the owner of the home if he`ll allow me to assume the mortgage payment? I`m an investor who has had success with this before. I will than rent the home out to someone and make a profit on the difference between the assumable mortgage payment and the rent. I can sign an agreement "Today".
My credit is so-so, but I promise to pay every month.
Sincerely,
David L."
I guess David doesn`t understand the actual owner of the home assumes all liabilities for the tenant,since David technically doesn`t own the home! Good try!
I`m positive many of you can also share you`re Craigslist inquiries.
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Full Service Discount Broker specializing in Short Sales and Foreclosures throughout Florida. Buying,selling or renting in Broward,Miami-Dade,or Marion County give us a call today! Broker/Owner.
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Att: South Florida Landlords:Thinking of Renting your home? We can help!
Century Village Florida Real Estate at Pembroke Pines.
Rental Properties In Pembroke Pines Florida
Pembroke Pines Florida Homes For Rent. Week of Aug. 17th,2008.
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Yeah those scammers are everywhere. You would think they would stop now that we are on to them.
LR,
I don`t think they care. Most prey on people,so it`s a numbers game for them...
Yes, those are SCAMS, NEVER give your info ! When I am not sure of an email I ask that they fax me a copy of their drivers license with telephone numbers and current address, usually you never hear from them again. This scam started through ebay and paypal in an attempt to retrieve buyers and sellers info. They have since moved to free online sites where there is limited observation. I have bought and sold on ebay part-time ( did it full time for 4 years ) and ran across many like this. Many will start with :
I am a huge franchise in China.....I can get things sold or basically wanting you to buy from them...
I am X years old, looking to move into the states and further my medical schooling....or lawyer
Good Day Friend, is usually a headline for them as well
These are just a few.
Be careful, never give anything !
Sounds like they are casting the line looking for a gullible fish! They are every where. Used to you had to worry about pickpockets on the street...now they are on your screen!
But along with the scammers, I've gotten some really great leads. I've had a couple of listings sell from Open House ads I put on Craig's List.
They come out of the wood work when you do any form of advertising on the internet. This just seems to be an ever increasing part of the business that we just have to deal with....good for some laughs here and there...
The one I got was from a "model" (now that's original) in the UK who said his company would pay more than the actual rent each month...the idea being the owner would then give him back the difference in cash so he would have spending money while in the US! Delete, delete, delete!
I thought you prefer to work with the french. They are such honorable clients. Hey can you lend me your bank account number?
Yea, I get them all the time. I can tell they are not sincere so I move on. I also get them on facebook.
Missy,
Facebook is a major No-No for me...
Neal,
Qui,Qui..
Kelly,
At least he was a honest con artist..:)
JA,
They may come out of the wood work,but My,My,My what stories.
PK,
At least you`re getting the normal types.
PH,
I`m really starting to like you more and more each day.
GW,
PT BArnum would be proud...
MG,
care to share your ebay stories and paypal scams..?Paypal sucks!
Scott
Best response from criaglist that made me laugh - was for a condo I had for sale - person wanted to rent it and expected the homeowner to leave all the furniture because they really liked it. I guess nothing ventured - nothing gained. LOL
Sandra
Scott,
Those inquiries are priceless, I guess it never hurts to ask! Thanks for making me laugh! :)
CL is definitely a breeding ground for the scam artists. You need to learn to separate the BS from reality. I guess these people figure if they send it out in volumes, someone will eventually bite!
Scott, It's amazing the crap that shows up, the spam e-mails, the bottom feeders around. My question is,
does anybody fall for this junk?
I think any open free format requires great caution. I have had a number of good experiences on Craigslist, but I have also had friends that have had poor experiences.
Scott,
Thanks for responding to my
are you getting international inquiries on your rental listings - scams! Beware! Read This!
and providing a link to this article.
They seem to "like" us here is South Florida!
Jamie
The saddest part of this scenario is that these scammers bring all honest internet business people down to their level in trying to get our emails through the spam filters and out of the junk mail in boxes every where. We are reduced to their level just to get our message read. What a venue we have.
I feel like the princess on the Capital One commercial kissing the frog, then the turkey, the skunk and finally the Centaur.
I have gotten scams on active rain although I'm still fairly knew and have been meaning to get over to craigslist. I guess like anything you have to take the good with the bad on this big ol internet
I haven't had much luck with sales on Craigslist, but have done OK with filling rental properties. I put a link on my rental listings to a rental application. This seems to quickly weed out the scammers.
Well, along with the bad, also comes the good. In the last few months, as the Austin Tx rental market got really tight, new clients were looking everywhere for homes to rent here in Austin. I have double and sometimes tripple offers on all my rental homes here through out the summer. Craigslist alone brought me an extra $15000 in income. I do relocation, and investment sales, so most of my clients are from out of state or out of town, but I find Austin's Craiglist best for local business.
You can spot the real leads, not to say I have not sold or leased properties from out of the country, but they were from the US, and were coming home. A lead giving the address in the ad helps, but sometimes I do not even get that. Also it helps when people give a name, to contact back. Scammers are every where, but so are buyers, and sellers.
You have to take the good with the bad and just say next!
LindaTx
haha, I love hearing peoples Craigslist experiences. They are funny and usually not so good. Thanks for sharing.
I had a renter I found off craigslist. The worst nightmare tenant ever can really teach you a lot about renting. Don't rely on instincts. Trust your policies. Your heart can get you into trouble