Monday, January 26, 2009

Beware of fraud attempts on Craigslist (apartments, items)

I don't post that often, but I tend to think that my posts hold some interest. This time it holds the form of a warning. Because I have been recently looking for an apartment for rent, I became an unsuspecting potential victim of a scam.

The scam takes the form of an ad on Craigslist, an apartment that you just wouldn't pass out if you had the chance:
$550 / 2br - SPACIOUS 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT (MONTREAL)

Reply to: danieldura73@yahoo.com [?]
Date: 2009-01-21, 5:56PM EST

spacious living room with chracteristic beams & solid wood floor
2 double sized bedrooms
2 Baths
walk in wardrobe
fully equipped
kitchen with built in gas cooker, oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, marble surface and practical cupboard space
luxury bathroom with bathtub and seaparate shower
washing machine/dryer combi
presented with solid wooden flooring throughout
inside a recognized city monument
wireless internet connection.

* cats are OK - purrr
* dogs are OK - wooof
* Location: MONTREAL
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1002216171

I replied to this ad asking for information, and got the following reply:

My name is Daniel Dura own the 2 bedroom and 2 Baths home and its located @ 1809 Ontario Street East, Montreal H2K1T5, Quebec , Canada. and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me my wife and Son to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in west Africa, our new house and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for, since i am not residing there for now.I left behind some Facilities and electonics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, arefrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Acess Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the lease document. Which i can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue ,but your absolute maintenance of my apartment is most important thing so will want you to get back to me with the Application form below


RENT APPLICATION FORM

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 do you want to move in
10)How long do you want to stay in my apartment
11)Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my apartment


One Mr Richard Thomas called me about the apartment,I told him that I can't give him the apartment because he loves smoking,drinking and dont want him to get drunked and damaged my property one day so If you are still interested, Note that the rent is going to be $550 Per month No extra fees.I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are.below is my phone number

002348035722842 OR +2348035722842

I personally will actually come visiting you sometimes during the year as my new tenant.

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case 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 keys of the house to you. below is some pictures of the apartment and The address of the house is 1809 Ontario Street East, Montreal H2K1T5, Quebec , Canada.

Thanks
Daniel Dura
I replied to the email with proper information (thinking more and more that this was pretty suspicious), and got a call (yes, a phone call, which is pretty rare in fraud cases) and spoke to the scammer for a few minutes. He indicated that my application was accepted and that he would forward me "his secretary information" so that I could send the first and last month payment, after which he would send me keys and such to visit the apartment... Yes, it was stupid of me to send any information, but I really wanted to know if this was too good to be true. Here's the information he sent me:

Hello,

Thanks very much for your reply, i can see your willingness in this rent how is work? i want you to know that money is not the problem, i will be given you the apartment in good faith.also i want you to know that the apartment is a very good and quite place to stay for you and i want you to take good care of the apartment it is very close to public transportation, grocery store and school. i want you to know that know extra bill because the $550 per month include with all utilities like Gas, Hydro, Electricity, Water and Internet and it's fully funished but you can come with your own furniture if you like as i have a storage in the apartment.I will be here in west africa for 5 years So I Have just forward all your information to my Secretary. and we both agree to take you as my new tenant because you have answered to the rent application perfectly that you are well qualified to rent the apartment. so i congratulate you for that and i am so happy that i and my wife have found a new Tenant for the Apartment. But i want you to know we spend alot on this property so we want you to stand on your word and take good care of the apartment when you MoveIn. the apartment is pleasant neighbourhood. so we want you to know that we are not giving out this apartment because of money but we just want a God Fearing Tenant that will be taking Good care of the apartment and tidy it up. Here are the contents of the document i will be sending to your presence address.

1) Entrance and the Rooms Keys
2) Papers/Permanent house form (Containing Your Refrence Details)
3) The House Document File.
4) Payment Receipt.
5)Contract Lease agreement to be sign.
6) Full Address and Description of House.

So you will need to make the first deposit payment of $550 to my Secretary information below as soon as possible and i can confirm your payment and issue the receipt so the key of the apartment can be shipout to you as soon as possible today . and your payment will start counting the date you will be moving In. So i want you to know that you will need to look for any Western Union Store around you and send the first month deposit payment to my Secretary here below is the information's to wire the money.

Receiver name: DAN LUCKER
Receiver's address: 65 Atunrase Ave
City: Surulere
State: Lagos State
Zipcode: 23401
Country: Nigeria
Text Question : Good
Answer : Better
Amount Sending: $550

So i want you to get back to me with the weestern union confirmation as soon as you send the payment. i will be waiting to hear from you with the western union information on the receipt below:

Full Sender's Name:
Sender's address:
MTCN #:
Text Question & Text Answer:

I will be waiting to read from you soonest. i appreciate your promise once again.
As a last blow I pointed this gentleman (or fracker, whatever you want to call "it") to a website with "scam" in the URL and his phone number on it... I asked him either to provide legal proof he was the owner of the location or else prepare to have his information forwarded to the proper authorities... To which he replied:

Hello,
Thanks for your response, I want you to know that i can't scan the document of my apartment for you. i am also afraid here too just trying to secure my self too. but i will like to know if i can email you with a canadian account information so you can transfer the payment.
Thanks
Daniel


Evidently, it was only after all of this that I finally found all the information to put in his face, a series of other sites pointing to his obvious guilt (other posts, warnings, blog posts and such). Information that, if I had seen earlier, would have prevented me from even sending my address to this arsehole.

In any case, the word is out that this is happening here, in Montreal, and we could all be victims. Don't let your guard down!


Update 15/03/2010: It seems that he is striking again if I believe the comments. The posting on RentSpot has been removed, here's to hoping this post gets seen by more people!

9 comments:

  1. RE: Reconfirmation of information: RentSpot.com - Contact Property ID9230‏
    De : Dan Lucker (walkwithlucker@hotmail.com)
    Envoyé : 15 mars 2010 20:55:20
    À : ************@hotmail.com
    i think have done all i could, am 100% legit but you seems not to trust me, i will send the package today if you can send just the deposit payment then the rest once you move in with a promise to do so.

    Thanks


    RE: Reconfirmation of information: RentSpot.com - Contact Property ID9230‏
    De : Dan Lucker (walkwithlucker@hotmail.com)
    Envoyé : 15 mars 2010 16:57:43
    À : ************@hotmail.com
    I told you in my first mail that we just relocated here and our line is not yet fixed up, i can understand your fear but i want you to know that i can't do such because i know the consequences of doing that, i will go ahead ahead now and send the package if you can send just the deposit $900 then the rent fee once you move in with a promise to do so.

    Please try and understand me, i will need the deposit fee to pay for the shipping charges and some other things.

    Thanks



    ___________________________________

    BE AWARE IT'S REAL

    * I found this blog.. while looking for a Dan Lucker in relation to a Rent.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There is new scammer who's name is Wallace Stewart - email address wallystell00@yahoo.com
    ....I got suspicious because he was proposing to rent me a 3 1/2 for 600$ in a building where the average price for a 3 1/2 is 1000$.

    Thanks for the swift reply,
    I have already told you earlier in previous mail that i'm not in canada presently,so that's why i'm giving the apartment for rent,because i will be staying at least for two years in the
    United Kingdom,due to your gesture i could feel you are very interested and planing on living there ,it's okay that's not a problem, I can let it out to you,I believe you have the address to the apartment with you ? You are free to go to the apartment and check it for yourself.. but due to security reasons you won't be allowed inside the apartment.. you can only view it from the exterior part only...I really want someone honesty and trustworthy to take good care of the apartment, you are to provide answers to the question asked below;The answers provide will help me in able to send the keys to you via FEDEX Courier Services and will be home delivery.. The rent fee of 600$ is included with all the listed Utilities including cable /internet access,Furnished, Central Air Conditioning, Laundry, Garbage Chute, Video Surveillance, Pets OK, cleaningservice, dry cleaning,Heating, Electricity as pasted in the craigslist advert...etc

    RENT APPLICATION FORM
    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?
    Awaiting 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.you are free to bring in your pets in the apartment.

    Thanks and God Bless you...

    ReplyDelete
  3. The names they are using are most likely fake, and the hotmail emails will always change, so there is not much to say about that.

    If anyone else sees this before cutting off communication, fill in the information with fake info (except your phone if you're willing) so that he sends you this "secretary information", which will reveal the wire transfer information.

    Whether it's the same or not, you can report it to Western Union. The info is here , and you can file a complaint on this page.

    Good luck to all on your hunting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello!
    I know its kind of late... but I just wanted to thank you for posting this! it provided me really useful information and I am pretty sure I was very close to become another scam victim… luckly I didn't make any payment and I know I cannot tell for sure (although i am sure) , but the stories were similar… landlord living overseas, deal too good to be true ( condo all inclusive 700$), same application form, western union payment...I also felt rushed and honestly it just didn't feel right…
    I guess all I'm trying to say is be careful, inform yourself and most importantly follow your instincts!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's never too late! I haven't been looking these days but I'm fairly certain this will continue happening... Most likely forever (in different methods that change with time). Good hunting, everyone!

    ReplyDelete


  6. Thanks for your response regarding your interest in having my apt for rent.The Apt is much available for now.What happened is that initially,I wanted to sell this apt but my wife suggested that we should rent it out to a responsible person.I am currently in west Africa now with my family where we work as a volunteer with the Missionary, both my wife and i ,we have the keys right here with us.I will like to inform you that it was due to my transfer that makes us to leave the apt and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at all time and the person that will rent it will have to take it as if it were his/her own..So for now,We are here in West Africa,our new home and also with the keys of the apt,we are trying to look for an agent that we can give this document before we left but could not see and we are as well we
    don’t want our apt to be used any how in our absent that is why we took it along with us here..We are only willing to give the apt out to a lovely and caring person only, so if you know you cannot give the apt the neatness it deserves please don’t contact me.But if you promise to always take good care of the apt,get back to me on how you could take care of our apt or perhaps experience you have in renting a home. I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP,

    And the monthly rent fee of the apartment is including the utilities include Hydro, cable /internet access,Central Air Conditioning, Laundry, Garbage Chute, Pets OK,Parking, dry cleaning,Heating, Electricity,TV, fridge etc and everything its already been furnished,Kindly confirm your interest by filling the form below:

    TENANT RENT APPLICATION
    FIRST NAME:__________________
    MIDDLE NAME: __________________
    LAST NAME:__________________
    PROFESSION: ________________
    DATE OF BIRTH___________________
    PHONE (____) __________ (CELL)
    PHONE (____)__________ (WORK)
    PHONE (____) __________ (HOME)
    MARITAL STATUS: _________
    KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY________
    CURRENT ADDRESS: ___________________________
    CITY: _______________
    PROVINCE:______________
    POSTAL CODE: ____________
    HOW LONG?___________IF RENTING
    WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? _______________________________________________________________________
    CURRENT RENT: _______
    DO YOU HAVE A CAR?
    HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE LEAVING IN THE HOUSE
    IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
    HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
    WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
    HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT??____________________


    Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case 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,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

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks every one for posting this information online, unfortunately I fall in the trap not all the way but I did hand out my personal information to these bastards.
    Few days ago I started my search for a rental app in DT Montréal and I saw this add on kijiji at first I taught it was an excellent deal and I send an e-mail to this person which replied back to me few days later and asking me to contact him on a personal e-mail that was james_nelson32@outlook.com which I did and since then we have been communicating on this personal e-mail he told me the same history about his five, the house the move to west Africa, etc. then he asked me to fill up the personal information sheet and the next day on 02-12-2014 he called me in person to tell me that my application was accepted and he will let me the house for 500$ a month but I had to send him the first month rent via money gram to the name that he provided and sent him the recite so he can go ahead and send me the keys and the lease, the line sound was very poor and I didn’t had access to my Pc so I told him I will call him back at 5h when I get home. But mine while I started to be suspicious for few reasons
    1-He was asking me to send the money before I get the keys and see his place.
    2- He was asking me to make the payment to another person name (Mathew Olusola).
    3- When thinking there was little discrepancy on his Kijiji add and the e-mails that was describing his apartment.
    4- I asked about what was included in rent but he didn’t answer me back.
    5- He was renting a 41/2 with 1 bed room in Canada 41/2 is 2 bed room!!!!
    6- And more than anything else IT WAS TOO GOOD TO O BE THROUGH.
    And today he called me back twice again around 6h but I didn’t answered after reading all these information about this SCAM, I hope other people read these info before being trapped in this scam.
    If anybody know what I should do about me giving him my personal info please let me know I will appreciate.
    Below I posted the e-mail that he sends me the last.

    Hi




    It's nice to hear your voice and may the God almighty keep on be with you and your family as well, you really sound so trustful and reliable which makes me feel more comfortable in you , I have forward your details to my shipping agent here to register everything down .. ok




    And regarding the payment, you are to make first and last month , but i will like you to make first month rent $500 only for now Which i will like you to go ahead and make the payment asap, so that everything can be done asap, and you are making the payment via Money Gram money transfer to the information below , because l think it is reliable,secured and fast, from your profile l can see that you are responsible and clean person may the almighty Lord lead you in what ever you wish to do. As soon as the payment as been confirmed via Money Gram Money transfer.




    You need to go to nearest GROCERY or WALMART store and locate Money Gram money transfer and send the payment with the Information below ....When you get grocery store and you have locate Money Gram, just request for a form that you want to send money and they will give it while you will fill out the form with the details of my personal assistance below As Receiver




    Receiver Name :Mathew Olusola

    Address .... 11 John street

    City, Mushin

    State : Lagos

    Country : Nigeria

    Zip Code : 23401

    So the security Question and Answer you will give to them is....

    Question.... With God

    Answer..... All things Are Possible




    As soon as you send the payment get back to me with the scanning of the receipt OR Get back to me with the information below




    Senders Name:

    Senders Address

    Reference Number




    I will be expecting your email so that we can arrange the keys and documents to be sent out to you immediately. Here is my phone number here in Africa +2348152846585



    Thanks and God bless you

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks every one for posting this information online, unfortunately I fall in the trap not all the way but I did hand out my personal information to these bastards.
    Few days ago I started my search for a rental app in DT Montréal and I saw this add on kijiji at first I taught it was an excellent deal and I send an e-mail to this person which replied back to me few days later and asking me to contact him on a personal e-mail that was james_nelson32@outlook.com which I did and since then we have been communicating on this personal e-mail he told me the same history about his five, the house the move to west Africa, etc. then he asked me to fill up the personal information sheet and the next day on 02-12-2014 he called me in person to tell me that my application was accepted and he will let me the house for 500$ a month but I had to send him the first month rent via money gram to the name that he provided and sent him the recite so he can go ahead and send me the keys and the lease, the line sound was very poor and I didn’t had access to my Pc so I told him I will call him back at 5h when I get home. But mine while I started to be suspicious for few reasons
    1-He was asking me to send the money before I get the keys and see his place.
    2- He was asking me to make the payment to another person name (Mathew Olusola).
    3- When thinking there was little discrepancy on his Kijiji add and the e-mails that was describing his apartment.
    4- I asked about what was included in rent but he didn’t answer me back.
    5- He was renting a 41/2 with 1 bed room in Canada 41/2 is 2 bed room!!!!
    6- And more than anything else IT WAS TOO GOOD TO O BE THROUGH.
    And today he called me back twice again around 6h but I didn’t answered after reading all these information about this SCAM, I hope other people read these info before being trapped in this scam.
    If anybody know what I should do about me giving him my personal info please let me know I will appreciate.
    Below I posted the e-mail that he sends me the last.

    Hi

    It's nice to hear your voice and may the God almighty keep on be with you and your family as well, you really sound so trustful and reliable which makes me feel more comfortable in you , I have forward your details to my shipping agent here to register everything down .. ok

    And regarding the payment, you are to make first and last month , but i will like you to make first month rent $500 only for now Which i will like you to go ahead and make the payment asap, so that everything can be done asap, and you are making the payment via Money Gram money transfer to the information below , because l think it is reliable,secured and fast, from your profile l can see that you are responsible and clean person may the almighty Lord lead you in what ever you wish to do. As soon as the payment as been confirmed via Money Gram Money transfer.

    You need to go to nearest GROCERY or WALMART store and locate Money Gram money transfer and send the payment with the Information below ....When you get grocery store and you have locate Money Gram, just request for a form that you want to send money and they will give it while you will fill out the form with the details of my personal assistance below As Receiver

    Receiver Name :Mathew Olusola
    Address .... 11 John street
    City, Mushin
    State : Lagos
    Country : Nigeria
    Zip Code : 23401
    So the security Question and Answer you will give to them is....
    Question.... With God
    Answer..... All things Are Possible

    As soon as you send the payment get back to me with the scanning of the receipt OR Get back to me with the information below

    Senders Name:
    Senders Address
    Reference Number

    I will be expecting your email so that we can arrange the keys and documents to be sent out to you immediately. Here is my phone number here in Africa +2348152846585

    Thanks and God bless you

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for posting all this information. These people are still out there, and it makes me wonder about what kind of safeguards the websites have against this sort of fraud. I came by your site when I did a search on "craigslist apartment fraud montreal". We are looking for an apartment in downtown and found a "too good to be true" spacious 3 1/2 in the Plateau for $550. Details are almost identical to what you posted. We did not engage the seller, because they show 2 bedrooms and a separate living room, despite this being a 3 1/2. They also had parquet floors in one room, straight hardwood in another. Finally, the windows in one were very modern, and in another an entirely different style, looking out onto detached houses in a tudor style! Fortunately we know the area quite well and this immediately sent alarm bells, particularly as the price is roughly 60% of what a comparable apartment is going for.

    Just wanted to let you know that five years on this is still happening, and that your post helped us to avoid getting caught. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete