Question
small claims for craigslist apartment scam?
I found a great apartment on craigslist...to make a long story short, I stupidly sent the guy money via western union expecting the keys and documents in return. He kept asking for more money, with seemingly legitimate reasons behind them, and even sent me a fake tracking number to prove my package was on its way. Needless to say, I never got the package. The only form of communication we had was through email. I have saved every single email we have exchanged as well as the western union receipts. I have his full name and address (but I am obviously unaware whether or not this is even his real identity). He even sent me (via email) pictures of the apartment, a picture of himself, a DHL receipt for tracking my package, and a "legal" microsoftword document with a "signature" saying that after he received all my money, he would release my package to me. I cant afford a lawyer, so if I did file a claim, I would be representing myself. do I have enough evidence to take this to a small claims court? Can I file it in Chicago? What happens if he doesn't show? or If that isn't his real name or address? I filed a claim on the Internet Crime Complaint Center as well as with the FTC online...is there anything else I should do before I file the claim? like go to western union? or file a police report? HELP!!!
5 months ago - 6 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
You have to file this claim in the county it occurred in, where ever he is. If he did not commit the crime in Chicago you can not file a claim there. The odds of you knowing this guys name and address are close to zero. You were conned, and the odds of you getting your money are not worth figuring. This particular con is popular on craigslist and likely he is not even in the US. Nigeria. Attached to that first email craigslist gave you a warning, you should have read it. The Western Union con is even specified in it. We landlords get this too, where they want to rent as a "wedding gift", Next time something seems to good to be true, or a little weird, talk to an older relative. These cons are not new, most adults have heard about them, but young people have not, and are easy victims.
by Landlord
5 months ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
id recommed getting some common sense. never mail someone money for a apartment
by Stoney- 5 months ago
Accept the fact that you have been scammed. The person who scammed you will have taken steps to hide their identity so that even the police/FBI will have trouble finding him. You don't know who he is, so it's not like you can successfully sue him. You can't sue Western Union. They did you what you asked them to do. You asked them to send your hardearned money to somebody you did NOT know and they did.
by v b- 5 months ago
You'll have to find him before you can recover anything. Just be more careful next time. Thre are a lot of scam artists on Craig's list.
by doinou- 5 months ago
Lemme see if I got this right. You sent someone money via Western Union on a apt. you never went to go look at, never drove by, never went to see what neighborhood it was in, or even if the place in the picture was actually at the address he says it was at and now you want the FBI and CIA and everyone else in the free world to get you your money back ? HOLY COW.
by cyoung85054- 5 months ago
Its sad that you got scammed and I am sorry you did. Are you even sure you have his full name? It's probably not his name, nor his address. I doubt you will be able to take him to court because the name you are going to take to court is not the person who did the crime. It sounds like you have a lot of proof but how sure are you that the guy in the picture is him? Or his signature? What did the Internet Crime people say? you can try to take him to court but I doubt anything could come of it because people can lie so easily online.
by redcurleyz- 5 months ago