Question
Is this a craigslist rental scam?
Hello , Thanks for the details on the Property, I am satisfied and will like to go ahead with the renting process, I will like you to go ahead and reserve the property for me. So I will be needing the following informations so that the check for payment of the deposit $3000 can be processed and posted to you soon. Name:............ Address:............. Phone number(cell and land):............ I want the 12 month lease to start on the 1st of Dec 2009, i will also want to notify you that I have in the mean time arrange with an interior decorator who will be handling the purchase of furnitures, entertainment system and other appliances that I will need in the property, they will as well be incharge of moving down my luggages down to the states. So the check of $6000 will be sent over to you which is a relocation grant by my employer, and all you need to do is deduct the deposit $3000 and you will forward the rest to the Decorators so I can have the place all prepared for my arrival. All applications and lease will be signed as soon as I arrive. Also for familiarization I Am James Cannon, I am 39 years of age, a British citizen, married to a lovely lady, with two daughter (Family staying over in the UK), I work with AXA Insurance (UK), as a loss adjuster agent, I am a Christian, reserved in Nature, Non smoker also i don't keep pets. I look forward to meeting you and hope to have a good relationship as a tenant with you. I await the details. Below is my present landlords information for reference : Mr John Smith Basilica House, 334 Southend Road Wickford, Essex SS11 8QS jsmith81854@yahoo.com RegardsJames W Cannon 477-479 Whippendell Road Watford, London WD18 7PU United Kingdom +447023029980
1 month ago - 10 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
Any "I pay you so you pay someone else for me" request is a scam. This is no different.
by Kasey C
1 month ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
yes a scam.
by David Z- 1 month ago
SCAM. The overpayment is the dead giveaway.
by Common Sense- 1 month ago
Yes, it's listed on this website: rentalscams ...
by spalmer- 1 month ago
This is a screaming scam!!!! If you want to play it straight, reply and tell them you will forward the extra funds as soon as the check clears which should take a couple weeks after you deposit it. The only thing missing from the scam is directions for forwarding the extra money which would typically be via Western Union and delivered somewhere outside of the U.S.
by frak1a12345- 1 month ago
yes - any check or money order they send you will probably be counterfeit, no matter how real it looks - don't even waste your time trying to deposit it - you may wind up getting a bank charge against you for a NSF deposit - chances are the postmark or return address on teh envelope or money order will NOT match the info they gave you
by Doctor Deth- 1 month ago
Yes it is a scam. Whenever anyone asks you to forward money to a third party or to return part of the money sent, it is guaranteed to be a scam.
by Mike- 1 month ago
Sounds like a scam. The giveaway is where they say they will give you a check for $6000 and expect you to pay $3000 to the decorator. What will likely happen is that the $6000 check will bounce immediately after the $3000 check has been cashed. Or, they will have you wire the money to the decorator ("for your convenience") and then the check will bounce. If you want to continue with this potential tenant, you can require that they handle all of the furniture and such purchases themselves. You can also require that all of the money put down must clear the bank before taking any subsequent steps. And, you can require that the applicant provide contact information in the US for his employer, so that you can run the required background checks prior to accepting this tenant. If they balk or hesitate in the least, politely decline them. It is also my experience that someone who is being relocated by their company would have the local HR staff of the company handle the securing of the rental unit, especially if this employee is coming from another country. They can't expect a foreign person to have to handle all of this from their home country by themselves.
by Paul in San Diego- 1 month ago
And your would be "Christian" lives in Nigeria. For some reason, Nigerian scammers seem to think that claiming to be Christian will get you to let your guard down. I also love how his current reference is a generic John Smith who uses yahoo...and both addresses are strip shopping centers.
by the tax lady- 1 month ago
Just an advice. You should be careful with rental scams. The scammer, usually from Nigeria, the UK or outside of the US, copies a residential rental ad from a rental site and reposts it to a free large classifieds site. They make the rental price very low in order to attract as many potential renters as possible.
by tInIdOr_24- 1 month ago