Here are a couple emails from Mrs. Smith.

“Well it’s good to hear that you are interested in our apartment, and I really appreciate your expression. Below are the final questions that you must answer to qualify for the rent. The apartment is fully furnished as seen in pictures. The monthly rent is $590 and the security deposit is $200.

We do a long term and short term renting 6 Months – 2 years lease or more..

*******RENT APPLICATION FORM*******
(Private & Confidential)
Also,Pls let me get this answers.
1)Your Full Name
2)Present Full Address(where you reside now) & Phone Number to Reach You
3)Age
4)Are you married?
5)Sex?
6)How many people will be living in the house?
7)Do you have a pet?
8)Do you have a car?
9)What is your religion?
10)Occupation?
11) Citizen of which Country?
11) How Many Months Deposit ???
12) When are you ready to Move In ?
13) When are u planning to leave the flat ?

I look forward to hearing from you with all this details for approval so that i can take it further and discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you,
Note: This transaction is based on Trust & Honesty so I want you to stick to your words, We are putting everything into Gods hand, so please do not let us down..

Thanks so much and have a nice day.
God Bless

Mrs Heather Smith”

“Overall We can see your willingness in this Flat. I want you to know that we’re satisfied with your profile and also believe we can trust you because we will not like to experience what we experienced from our last tenant again. I will like to know the exact date that you will like to move into the flat, l want you to be aware of the fact that you can stay in our apartment till the period of time which you wish to. Also, the rent fee is among the apartment
utilities all included. We will come and pay you a visit after you have moved into the home to see how you are maintaining it, Boyle will be receiving the first month and security deposit which will be total sum of $790($590 + $200) as a deposit via western Union. I wish you the best of luck in your work, from your profile l can see that you are responsible and hard working, may the almighty Lord lead you in what ever you wish to do.

Amenities…………………………………….# Bedroom : 1# Bathroom : 1# Extra Toilet : 1# Extra Guest Room: 1# Bed LinenAccommodation Features……………………………………………Wood Floor :Heater :Central Heating :Equiped Kitchen :Tv: Cable/Satellite TV:Video/Stereo:Internet :Air Conditioning:• Full Kitchen• Refrigerator:• Garage/Car park• pets allowed.Kitchen Features…………………. ………..Washing machine:Juice Machine :Iron :Toaster:Oven :Dishwasher :Coffee Maker :Microwave :Refrigerator:Stove:

As soon as the deposit payment has been confirmed by him via Western union, l will go ahead
and commence on how the flat keys/documents will be delivered to you via DHL courier service on next day delivery and it will be delivered to the address you provided in your application form. Let me hear back from you as soon as possible so that l can go arrange for the delivery of the keys/Documents. Once again we are giving you this apartment on trust so pls do not dissapoint us because we dont want it to be destroyed again.
Here are the contents that will be delivered to you via DHL courier service.
1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
2)Paper/Permanent Flat form(Containing your reference details)
3)The Flat documented file.
4)Payment Receipts.
5)Full address and description of the Flat.
My husband will like to talk to you,you can call him as soon as you get this mail his number is +2348139752181. Get back to me via email if you will need me to send you the information with which you will make the deposit payment via western union to
my husband’s secretary.
Thanks and God bless you… ”

When I compared the emails from the wife and the husband there just were too many inconsistencies. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is…

my name is Mrs Katlin Murray and thank you for your interest in our apartment, as the unit is still available for long and short term purpose. Unfortunately just a couple of weeks ago, me and my family relocated to West Africa, due to the appointment of my husband for his new work. Never the less, there is not much to be concerned about as everything as been arranged for the transaction to go well, our only concern is to find a good and responsible tenant that will maintain and govern our apartment very well in our absence(The reason for the price been cheap). We want it to be clean and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were his or her own. The Apartment is located at : *** west 18th street, Manhattan, NY *****.
We left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning,alarm system.The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. Also the keys to the House are right here with us. Which we can send to you after all necessary agreement has been accepted. all we want is your absolute maintenance of our place is most important, i 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?

We received a lot of emails but, they are not the kind of tenants we are looking for and we told them that we can’t rent it out to them because most of them are smokers and drinkers. the rent is $900 Per month No extra fee.
I am looking forward to read from you with all the details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt to you and contacting you as i am very busy with work over here. I await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the keys and document to you.

Thanks and God Bless You
——-

Here what I recieved from Mark James (markjames0088@yahoo.com)

Hi,

I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist. My name is Mark James.i am the owner of the apartment you are making enquiry of, and i also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my wife and little daughter to leave the Home and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it while we are not at the state 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 ,in our new Home and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the Home, since i am not residing there for now. I left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent, DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utilities, refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, my computer is connected with Internet access also the keys and document of the Home are right here with us in West Africa, 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, hope you are okay with the price of ($800 per month) in including utilities like hydro, heat laundry facilities, air condition, gas, water, Cable and so on, but your absolute maintenance of my Home is most important thing, if you are realy interested in renting this Home, fill the application below and get back to me with the answers.

______RENT APPLICATION FORM_______

Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( ) ________________________
Date of Birth_________________________________
Other Phone ( ) ___________________
Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( ) ____________________________
Are you married____________________________
How many people will be living in the home____________________________
Do you have a pet____________________________
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
1 or 2 Month Rent Payment will be Deposit Down Now Before You Move in?____________________________
Reference Details_________________________
Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my home.

TAKE NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE BY AND SEE MY HOME FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING IT GET THE APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO ME SO THAT I CAN SHIP MY KEYS TO YOU FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO GO AND LOOK AT THE INSIDE OR MOVE IN IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD HAVE REALLY LOVE TO SHIP THE KEYS TO SOMEONE IN STATE BUT I DON’T HAVE ANYBODY THERE RIGHT NOW AND I DON’T WANT TO MAKE USE OF ANY THIRD PARTY THAT IS WHY AM HANDLING MY PROPERTY MYSELF..

Address: 320 N Civic Dr
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Monthly Fee: $800
Security Deposit: $600

Pets Allowed:
Available :Available Now for move in.

NB: I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are in this rent.
+2348024017913

So pls get back to me today.
I await your reply ASAP

Seems to be basically the same but with a few different details. I wish I could punch this guy in the face.

The scammers have moved onto the Tel Aviv list. BE AWARE!!!! There is NO, NEVER and EVER a REAL “fully furnished apartment” for 1600 shekels (next to the embassies in Tel Aviv)!!!

The copy has been removed from Craiglist today, but the reply I received was “Torrey Hill” claiming that he and his wife had to leave Israel for missionary work in West Africa (+234 is Nigeria country code) phone numbers – +447024068717 or you can reach my lawyer at +2347059504886.
Warn your friends, tell your neighbours – if it acts like a scam, seems to good – IT IS!!

From: torrey Hill [mailto:torreyhill84@yahoo.com]
Sent: November-24-09 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: Craigslist Ads – Furnished Apartement

Thanks for maling me about my house, I am currently on a mission to a country called United Kingdom,Mayfair,London but My wife is in west Africa for a purpose with our lawyer due to transfer she had in west Africa recently… .. I need a Clean and upright person that will be able to take good care of the house and the person will make a payment of ILS 1600 per month , please be informed this initial deposit will be deducted from the house rent. An apponitment date will be agreed upon between us, this appointment day is day in which i will instruct someone to come and take you down to the apartment so as to give you the keys and all necessary documentation as soon as the deposit payment confirmed which you will be keeping in your possession as the true occupants of the apartment.We don’t know when we are going to return to Israel and from the look of things, me and my wife has decided to stay in United Kingdom for sometime so as to help spread the word of God; we are looking at a period of 5 years, so get back to us as soon as possible so that we can agreed on a date you will be checking on the place, so please below are some certain information which you will be providing us.

Address…3 Adam HaCohen St., Tel Aviv 64585, Israel
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? pets are allowed
8)Occupation?
9) how long are you willing to stay

please the package that will be given to you will contain the following.
1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
2) Paper / Permanent house form (Containing your reference details)
3) The house documetary file.
4) Payment Receipt..
5) Full address and description of the house.

So please let me know if this is okay by you so you so we can proceed
Thanks