Recently I posted about a Craiglist real estate scam. Several people have written in with other aliases that the fraudsters used. Most recently, someone sent the entire email chain of correspondence between him and a scam artist, and I’m including it in the extended entry so that search engines will index it and other potential victims will find it during their research. (The name and contact information of the person who sent this have been omitted.)
If you’ve encountered this scam yourself, please take a moment to include relevant information about the scam in the comments field. You are free to use a pseudonym and hide your identity.
Whatever you do, if you’ve been approached by the scammers, cease communication with them and of course don’t send them a dime. Read the original post for more background.
—–Original Message—–
From: Scott Waltman [mailto:swaltman101@hotmail.com] Sent: Thu 12/27/2007 4:11 PM
To: [SCAM TARGET] Cc:
Subject: RE: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
As regards the rent and deposit required to be paid by me in
order to secure this rental prior to our arrival,i will need you to
provide me with your full name in which the check will be issued and
your complete physical contact address to which it will be sent to by
my financier,as soon as you provide these,i will forward it to my
financier with an instruction to issue and send you the check.Please i
need you to also reconfirm the total move in costs,that is the rent and
deposit to be paid.
And will like you to provide me with
a physical contact address {home/office} cos the payment will be sent
via UPS day delivery and does not deliver to p.o box address and my
daughter’s name is karen if you need to know and am coming with no pet.
I will look forward to your e mail with the required information. I wil be arriving the state on 12th of January 2008
Due regards from me and my family,we are looking forward to meeting you soon.
Dr. Scott
> Subject: RE: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
> Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:00:01 -0500
> From:
> To: swaltman101@hotmail.com
>
> Can you send me the name of your financier and contact info?
>
> >
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Scott Waltman [mailto:swaltman101@hotmail.com] > Sent: Thu 12/27/2007 3:48 PM
> To:
> Cc:
> Subject: RE: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
>
>
> Thanks for your mail,i appreciate your wanting to help us
in our situation.I am a Pharmacist by profession and i am currently
working with Woodstock Pharmacy 24 High St, Woodstock, OX20 1TF, United
Kingdom.I will be in the states for the next one year with my wife and
my daughter and during my stay i will be working with Raymond V.
Gilmartin, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Merck
& Co "America’s Leadership in Pharmaceutical Research.We have a
financier that is based in the states and he will be handling the rent
deposit payment on our behalf,we will instruct him to send you the
check for this as soon as you give us the go ahead to make payment to
you.
>
> Due to the limited time that we
have before our arrival,we are making arrangements with a furniture
company to supply the home with furniture,so we will need you to
provide us with the measurements of the living room and bedroom so that
we can send it to the furniture company so that they can supply the
unit with furniture that will fit in well.
>
> We can start the lease by the 1st of January and we will be doing
a 1yr lease although we will not be arriving until the January. You can
prepare the lease in my name (Dr. Scott Waltman).
> Let
us know how to move ahead as we intend to complete this deal before we
move in by the middle of January,we will let you know the exact date as
soon as we get a booking on a flight to the states.
>
>
> Thanks and sincere regards from me and my family
>
> Dr. Scott
>
> > Subject: RE: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
> > Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:19:08 -0500
> > From:
> > To: swaltman101@hotmail.com
> > CC:
> >
> > Scott,
> > Just tried to call you and there seems to be a problem with the number you gave me
> > I would like to fax some forms for you to fill out if
you could either call me on my cell or email a fax number I will send
you the forms to fill out.
> > We will also need to know with whom you would be working with while in the States.
> > I am attaching 2 forms for you to fill out.
> > When you have a chance would you call me so that we can discuss this rental
> >
> > —–Original Message—–
> > From: Scott Waltman [mailto:swaltman101@hotmail.com] > > Sent: Wed 12/26/2007 5:06 PM
> > To:
> > Cc:
> > Subject: RE: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > Thanks for your mail and details on this unit,i am
indeed serious about renting this unit and will be willing to offer you
2 months rent plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit
prior to our arrival.
> > Could you be kind enough to
let me know what the electricity/utility cost would be?as i will really
need to have this unit to myself. You can send me the lease application
, to enable be review it ahead of time.i would eventually have it
signed physically when i arrive.In my opinion, appending signatories
should be done properly and at best physically.Please , send me a
picture view of the living room and bed rooms.
> >
> > This is an international situation .With this
arrangement, my financier in the states,will be effecting your payment
deposit to you.I believe we can work together and ensure every
arrangements that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the
tenancy should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper
understanding.
> >
> > In view of my
work schedule, i would want us to finalise basic arrangements. I will
arrive the united states by late December, with my wife and a 9 yr old
daughter
> >
> > If you require any specific information, you can call me on my number +447024013797
> > thanks
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Subject: RE: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
> > > Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:34:28 -0500
> > > From:
> > > To: swaltman101@hotmail.com
> > >
> > > Scott,
> > > Thank you for responding to the ad.
> > > To rent this condo the owner has requested the
following a Credit Report, and references. If you are here on a work
visa and we cannot run a credit report call me and we can discuss this.
> > > Would you like to view the condo?
> > > My contact info is below.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > —–Original Message—–
> > > From: Scott Waltman [mailto:swaltman101@hotmail.com] > > > Sent: Wed 12/26/2007 9:25 AM
> > > To:
> > > Cc:
> > > Subject: $$$00 / 2br – 2 bedroom condo with Garage
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > > I saw your apartment advertised on craigslist.com
and am interested in renting it. I will be signing a one year lease for
it and want to know the requirements for renting it.I will be doing a
one year research on pharmacy work while in the states and will be
staying with my wife and daughter .I will appreciate it if i hear from
you in time as i will want to conclude the rental process before the
end of this month.
> > > Thank you.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _____
> > >
