This Monday morning I got a call from a lady claiming to be renting my house and she saw my ad in the Craigslist and if I still in USA or Africa?
The ad which i was not totally aware. and she confirmed that she is working with her Aunt a realtor. Though i told her, we are not looking for tenants now and if required she can talk to my Property Manager. and Then I talked to my property Manager, he said he did get calls asking how authentic we are in renting the house.
I got to know more from my property manager, that that lady is a MBA student and had already sent $800 twice!!!. Which I still wonder how someone would send money without meeting in person or any kind of information, I could not get hold of them to get more details.
Anyway, I am now worried there is someone using my name, created a fake email address with my name. and renting my house in Craigslist.
What Can I do?
Nothing. I searched all over the internet, I could report in www.ic3.org, and talk to my friends. and that’s it. There are several other news similar to rental scam like this, and apparently largely from Nigeria.
I had someone investigate this and give me more details on this:
- A Yahoo email created using my name: vontlinsriprabuc@yahoo.com — of course you can send email to the person who is running this scam.
- IP Address used to send email communication for those who responded to the ad:
The result of WhoIs:
Location: Nigeria (high) [City: Lagos, Lagos]
[Caching always on for search engines and InfoPath]
% This is the AfriNIC Whois server.% Note: this output has been filtered.
% Information related to ‘41.219.226.0 – 41.219.226.255′
inetnum: 41.219.226.0 – 41.219.226.255
netname: ORG-SA57-AFRINIC-20050513
descr: Assigned to Lagos dial-pool customers
country: NG
admin-c: NS4-AFRINIC
tech-c: CM9-AFRINIC
status: Assigned PA
mnt-by: STARCOMMS-MNT
mnt-lower: STARCOMMS-MNT
source: AFRINIC # Filtered
parent: 41.219.192.0 – 41.219.255.255person: NAVNEET SINGH
address: Plot 1261, Bishop Kale Close, off Saka Tinubu
address: Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
phone: +2347028000725
fax-no: +234-1-811-0301
e-mail: ********@starcomms.com
nic-hdl: NS4-AFRINIC
source: AFRINIC # Filteredperson: Catalin Miclaus
address: Plot 1261C, Bishop Kale Close, off Saka Tinubu
phone: +234-7028000733
fax-no: +234-1-8110301
e-mail: *******@starcomms.com
nic-hdl: CM9-AFRINIC
source: AFRINIC # Filtered3. Email from to who responded to the Craigslist:
Hello Dear,
Calvary greetings to you,also to your house hold..Thanks for the email and it is my gladness hearing from you.i am the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the (West Africa Nigeria) and presently my house is still available for rent ..including the utilities like hydro,washerand security,it is furnised but if u which to move in with your furnishes no problem..
Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,i will want you to take absolute maintenance of my house and want you to treat it as your own,i,it is not the money the main problem but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.
SO IF YOU ARE REALY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAPPLICATIONS FORMS BELOW
RENT APPLICATION FORM
Also,Pls let me get this answer.
FIRST NAME:__________________
MIDDLE NAME: _________________
LAST NAME: __________________
PROFESSION: ________________
HOME PHONE (____) __________
(CELL)PHONE (____) __________
(WORK)PHONE (____) __________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE: ______________
ZIPCODE: ____________
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
HOW SOON CAN YOU HAVE THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT SENT TO ME___________________________
HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMETS OF THE HOUSE___________________________
DO YOU HAVE A PET: _____________
NAME OF PET: _____________
KIND OF PETS: _____________
DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
DO YOU DRINK? ______________
Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase 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,Note that the keys and documents of my house is with me here in west africa.please we are giving you the house 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 notl et us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this..You will only be able to drive by the house for now but not have a look at the interior until i have sent the keys and documents of the house to you..and the requirement for getting the keys and documents of the house is a fully refundable payment of $700 USD,which is the security deposit. Please note that the deposit made is fully refundable should in case you finally gain entrance into the house after receiving the keys and documents and feel unsatisfied or uncomfortable with the interior,but i am giving you a benefit of doubt that you will love everything about this lovely home..
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RENT ONLY STARTS COUNTING AFTER YOU HAVE FINALLY MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, SO YOU NEED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT NOW AND NOT MOVING IN IMMEDIATELY,ALL YOU’RE DOING IS SECURING THE HOUSE IN YOUR FAVOR IN ORDER NOT TO LOOSE IT TO OTHER INTERESTED APPLICANTS..
YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON +234-808-398-0705 Or 011-234-808-398-0705.
Thanks And God Bless You
