Ok, so here's a great way to tell if that perfect house you found, in the perfect location, is just a scam! If you get a response from a landlord and it reads like an autobiography - it's a scam. If the landlord and his wonderful god fearing family have just moved out of the country, and can't show you the place first - it's a scam. If they want you to send them money, sight unseen - it's a scam. If someone wants to rent from you and they send you a cheque for way too much money, and want you to send most of it to them, or someone else - it's a scam.
please make a comment if you have been scammed, or know of a rental scam.
here are some examples
Hi,
How are you doing? Thanks for your interest in my advert. The apartment is available immediately. I worked as an oil expatriates, i moved to NIGERIA with my wife and kids, i reside in the apartment with my family before we are transferred to NIGERIA, so i need someone who can take good care of the place in my absence. I would really appreciate if you happens to be the right person for my place. Kindly get back to me if you are willing to take my place and i will be glad to have you in as much as you will promise me that you will take care of the place as if it is yours. The keys and documents are here with me and i will be willing to send it to the right person. I will like you to see below for the address of the apartment so that you can go and check out the exterior, get back to me as soon as you check out the place and let me know if you wish to proceed in renting my apartment so that i can send the interior pictures to you and the application form.
Address: # 825 Cook St, Victoria British Columbia Canada
Hope to read from you soon.
Have a wonderful day
Best Regards
notice how it's just too much information? Notice that I can only look at the outside? Notice he's out of town?
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yea i just got scammed, a guy from africa, a missionary who didn't trust anyone to hold his keys. Edward Brown....for a 2 bdrm condo in downtown victoria on yates...he wanted the money before i got to see the place.
ReplyDeleteThe scam works by the enquirer sending a cheque far in excess of the requested sum, and then requesting a refund for the difference. After repaying this the property owner will find that original cheque has bounced or is bogus. One person in France had the experience of receiving a Euro Draft that was actually twice the amount required. This was paid into their bank. A few days later they were bombarded with emails from the sender demanding the balance to be sent via a courier postal company immediately. Fortunately their policy is not to send contracts before monies have been cleared and actually in their bank account. Their bank informed them that this would be fifteen days to clear the payment cheque. Well fifteen days passed and just as they were about to send the extra overpaid amount, they double checked with their bank only to find that the whole cheque was false. For more details do visit us at Tenant Arrears.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend and I looking for a place to stay in London but it's seems impossible. All the rooms/flats etc. I've found seems to be scams..
ReplyDeleteDo anyone knows a good and trustfull website?
Thanks for your interest in my apartment. I am Mr G*** W*** a professional piano/music theory teacher,Actually I reside in the apartment with my family,such as my wife and my only daughter before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and presently my apartment is still available for rent . I'm easy going and friendly. I like Music and have deep interests in traveling. I respect every religion and love to hang around with people and i am definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I am currently living in Western Region Africa and I will be here for long that is why am renting out my apartment. The apartment is located at:**** Hillside Ave Victoria, BC V8T ***, Canada
ReplyDeleteRENT FEE: $750 per Month
Bedrooms (#) 1 bedroom
Bathrooms (#)1 bathroom
The utilities Includes :- Stove - Electric ,Refrigerator, Microwave ,Ice Maker ,Full Kitchen ,Coffee maker ,TV/VCR ,Stereo ,Phone ,Linens provided ,High Speed Internet ,CD Player ,Cable/SatelliteTV,Double/twin zip & link beds and a child's cot can be provided ,Fitted wardrobe, Kitchen Electric hob/oven,Kitchen utensils ,Microwave ,Washer & dryer,Refrigerator & freezer ,Toaster ,Electric kettle ,Iron and ironing board ,TV & DVD ,Telephone and Fast Internet access ,Pedestal Fan ,Free parking, everything in the Apartment is fully furnished although before we left the country we really tried to get an agent to handle this but we couldn't see any one due to our hurry moment ,i will want you to promise me that the apartment will be well taken care of, below are questions you must answer to qualify you to rent my apartment
RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
1)Your Full Name ?
2)Present Address(where you reside now) ?
3)Phone ?
4)How old are you ?
5)Are you married ?
6)Occupation ?
7)Current rent payment ?
8)Reason for moving out ?
9)How many people will be living in the apartment ?
10)The rent fee available now ?
11)How long are you willing to stay ?
12)When do you intend to move in ?
13)Do you have a pet ?
14)Do you smoke ?
15)How many Month or Year Do you want to Stay?
16)Deposit : One or Two month Deposit are required?
17)Occupant Picture?
18)Reference Details?
Waiting to hear from you soon,
Thanks...
Mr G*** W***
Here is a new one:
ReplyDeleteThe apartment located in 737 Humboldt Street, Victoria, BC, Canada is in excellent condition and it's just like in the pictures, very clean and very well kept. Honestly from point of view I'm sure that you will rent it on spot. I'm not looking to make a business or a profit with the apartment, I'm just trying to find a responsible tenant to take good care of the place. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is furnished but if you want you can use your furniture and deposit mine in the storage unit near the building so is not far away. The rent is 960CAD/month with everything included (heat, hydro, water, electricity, cable and internet, 2 parking spots, laundry in-suite, washer and dryer). You will have full access to all the amenities of the building (sauna, pool, fitness room, gym, party room, visitor parking). Pets are allowed. I stayed in the apartment with my wife for 3 months. About me: I'm a civil engineer and I work for a worlwide company called Jacobs Engineering, I'm 45 years old married with 2 children. The reason I'm renting the apartment is that I'm relocating with my job in another country and I already signed the contract that will be for the next 4 years. Everything in the apartment is new so there will be no need for repairs. The only problem is that I need to send you the keys and papers because it is a private property.I'm sure we can make this happen.
Wow, almost identical to a scam I stumbled upon too. Only the property for rent was a condo in the Legacy building on Kimta rd. Same bullshit about it being furnished but if we didn't want to use the furniture, we could move them into a storage locker not far away. Same bullshit about the owner being an engineer, overseas and with his family, only this guy calls himself William Kurtzmann and he works for MWH Global. Said he'd be gone for at least 6 years and the rent would not fluctuate. Sent us an email detailing how to complete the transaction - using a service called rentreporters, we would deposit with them the first and last months rent upfront (WARNING!), then we would be sent the keys and a contract (WARNING!). If we didn't like the place we would get a full cash refund (WARNING!). Right. A cash refund for an electronic transaction? Sending the keys and a rental contract without ever asking for references from us? All utilities included in the rent? Nice try.
DeleteWhen things seem to good to be true, always investigate first. This all seemed great (*although I had reservations immediately simply due to the low rental rate, that said, it never hurts to check things out a bit) until the instructions asking for the money upfront made it transparently obvious it was a scam. I have no idea if The Legacy property owners are aware their reputation is being damaged because of this.
Yeah, found him on usedvic as David Yurman
ReplyDelete02/17/2013 - 2bdrm for rent $740/mo everything included. Email sent to me :
Hey,
Thank you for your interest in my apartment located in North Park St, Victoria, BC V8W 1S9. The apartment is in excellent condition and it's just like in the pictures, very clean and very well taken. Honestly from point of view I'm sure that you will rent it on spot. I'm not looking to make a business or a profit with the apartment, I'm just trying to find a good and trust person to take good care of the place. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms. It is furnished but if you want you can use your furniture and deposit mine in the storage unit that is located near the building not far away. The rent is 740 CAD/month with everything included (heat, hydro, water, electricity, cable and internet-full package, 2 parking spots, laundry in-suite, washer and dryer). You will have full access to all the amenities of the building. Pets are allowed. I stayed in the apartment with my wife for 3 months. I'm a civil engineer and I work for a company that has an auction for a project in construction in London, United Kingdom, so my accommodation period in England will be about 4 years. Everything in the apartment is new so there will be no need for repairs. There is no problem in sending you the keys and papers because my brother is in Calgary , he could come and show you the apartment .
This was on usedvictoria for an apartment downtown..who could believe this person??
ReplyDeleteHello Tenant,
Thanks for your email and interest in the property.. I personally own the property and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that made me and my wife to leave the property 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 to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in United states in our new house and also with the keys and documents of the house. I and my wife came over to United states for a missionary work, so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house. kindly get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. The rent fee is included all the utilities . I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application form to fill out and discuss on how to get the property for rent.
God bless you
Fresh from today,Appartment found in padmapper and zumper.
ReplyDeleteThe 2bed/2bath apartment at 737 Humboldt Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1B1, Canada is still available. Everything is just like in the pictures fully equipped with all the appliances you need, very clean and well kept. You can rent this apartment furnished or unfurnished. It's your choice. I work in petroleum production as a chemical engineer and the company I work for has developed projects all around the world. They moved me to United Kingdom department because they have a new project here. I already signed a job contract so the apartment will be available for renting for the next 5 years for sure. The apartment is vacant so you can move-in anytime you want.
The rent of 895$/month is for the whole apartment and includes everything: heat, hydro, water, electricity, parking, laundry in-suite, washer and dryer also included, cable and internet. You will have full access to all building amenities. Just in case repairs are needed there I will cover the costs no worries. I would like to know how many people will live in the apartment and also which rental contract do you prefer to start with. The price I'm asking is below the market because I want to find a responsible tenant to take good care of the place. I have a Canadian Bank account for the monthly payments, or we can use any other payment method that is suitable for you.
I'm the owner of the apartment, it's already paid in full and no mortgage on it. Schools and groceries near-by. You have everything you need near-by because it's one of the best neighbourhood. Pets are allowed. You'll love it for sure!
It's the first time I'm renting an apartment so I prefer to use a worldwide property management company to make it happen and this way I'm sure both of us will be satisfied. I need to know if you are really interested in the apartment so we can discuss further.
Regards,
Chris Base
NOPE.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I appreciate your efforts on making this collection.
ReplyDeleteLetting Company