BEWARE SCAM ALERT, CRIMINAL FRAUD! If you see this ad or a similar one.
I responded to this listing and got this letter back from a supposed Janice Cutler, of Mayer Properties with a scam about sending me to a site to get a credit report to bring to her when we meet. It’s all made up, it’s a scam.
I didn’t fall for it, because I had my suspicions and their letter goes against everything a normal owner or property manager would do.
There is no Mayer Property Management or Janice Cutler. Go to Google and type: Mayer Property Scam & you can read all about their scams.
There’s not a chance on earth that anyone would ever actually meet with me, once they got me to use their site to enter my data, I would never hear from them again.
They are licking their chops as they steal identity and use your name and info to apply for credit cards and buy things and destroy people’s credit! Don’t be taken in. I EVEN COPIED THEIR PHOTOS TO SHOW HOW EASY IT IS TO SCAM PEOPLE. THEY ARE GETTING SLICKER AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THEY ARE CRIMINALS!
If they don’t give you a name and telephone number it’s probably a scam. Search on Google for the name of the company and verify. Check & verify their name & number in your city. If they’re for real call them and verify they employ the Agent before you respond.
Sometimes scammers will even use the name of a bona fide rental agency so make sure you talk on the phone with them and don’t submit any info, or application before you meet with them. Get the address of the subject property and Google it to see if it’s for sale or listed.
Unfortunately they take advantage of the internet. The scams are rampant in Craig’s list and in other online classifieds. They will make up different aliases and fake company names but if you scrutinize you’ll see through the deceit and won’t get scammed. Tell anyone you know to warn others.
Just louse internet scammers. Here is a copy of the fraud ad they are running and the fraud email I received when I inquired.
$695 / 1br – Beautiful Lower Duplex Apartment (Del Dios) (map)
Available Now!!
Situated in a Cul-de-sac this is the perfect starter home. Move in ready with neutral decor, Stainless steel appliances, updated bathroom, washer and dryer inside the unit. The front porch adds charm to this nicely maintained home. Generously covered side patios along with a semi-enclosed room lets you entertain comfortably. The backyard boasts a mulitude of fruit trees and a lovely garden to enjoy.
A cul-de-sac street location makes it less transited and more private. House can Be changed to a three bedroom by adding wall back to dining room. Tenant pays electric, expanded cable. Owner pays Basic cable, water, trash. Located between Escondido and Rancho Santa Fe, off of Del Dios Hwy. Super central location to major thoroughfares, elementary school around the corner along with Shopping districts. One block from the Lake, 10 miles from the beach. Pets Ok
Escondido at Rancho Santa Fe (google map) (yahoo map)
HERE’S THE FRAUD EMAIL I RECEIVED:
Hello,
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get back to you sooner! Things have been so busy for me these last couple of days!
The good news is that the rental is still available! (you also get a 2-car garage…I forgot to list that in the ad) We had an offer from the first couple we showed it to, but now it appears that they are changing their mind, so we need to start showing it again as soon as possible. You were the second one to email me about it.
It is the whole place that is for rent, and it’s in pristine condition. We know a lot of prospective renters want to do a quick look of the property, but my husband doesn’t want me to mass send out the address as a measure of safety. Last time we did that without verifying people, the empty property was broken into and vandalized. We don’t want that to happen again! I CAN tell you that it’s a very special property, that would normally rent for quite a bit more than other comparable properties in the neighborhood.
For utilities, your electric, gas, water, sewer and trash will be covered. (Included in the rent) You will be responsible for cable, internet, and phone, if you decide to have these services. Just to confirm, we DO allow pets at this property.
The rental term is 12-month lease, but can be switched into a 6-month lease if preferred. We just ask that you give us fair notice if you are moving out.
If you would like to set up an appointment, go to the link below and request the free copy of your rental / credit report. We use this company for all the properties we manage. Just fill out the form and indicate that you want the free credit report. The actual scores on the report aren’t important to us, it’s more of a formality that we have it on file.
Get your report here: http://rental-verification.com/property09126/
Remember, we only need to see the page about the rental history. That will be all you will need to bring with you to the showing.
As far as getting together to see the property goes, I am available to show it any time from 10:00 am on, for the next couple of days. Let me know when you’ve printed out your report, and we will set up a time to do your walk-through.
Thank you once again for your interest!
Janice Cutler
ESCONDIDO at RANCHO SANTA FE (google map) (yahoo map)
* cats are OK – purrr
* dogs are OK – wooof
* Location: Del Dios
* it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 1842877194
* Copyright © 2010 craigslist, inc.
* terms of use
* privacy policy
* feedback forum
I’ve posted some of the emails I’ve received from Craig’s list users and they can be read in the comments section below.
Wow! Thank u so so so so much. Last time we used craig for apt searching we got scammed n nearly lost 600cash. Now we r once again in search n i jus literally sent an email to a 695 lower apt blah blah all the same details. So thank u again!
she tried getting with that scam. I’m glad I haven’t done anything with that site. Thanks for posting this.
Bojan,
This person did the same thing with me. How did you know it was a scam? Was the link faulty or did you actually meet up with her and give your information? Please get back to me at your earliest convenience and thank you so much for the warning.
Wow – this b__h gets around shes also Long Island New York & GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER CRAIG LIST CITIES,THE 1 I GOT LISTS SAME BASIC AD FOR 700 WITH THE EXACT SAME RESPONSE LETTER ABOUT FORGETTING TO MENTION THE 2 CAR GARAGE – IS THERE ANY WAY CRAIGS CAN SHUT HERE DOWN???THE ONE I GOT SAYS: amy.dickson@newmark-rentals.com
You are not alone. I got a couple of scam letters myself (see below letter that I received)
From: Justin Tabibian [tabibianjustin@yahoo.com]
Hello , Thanks for making inquiry regarding my home .How are you doing today? Hope you are having a good time today? I am the owner of the 3 bedroom house you are making inquiry of and is availble for rent now ,the monthly rent is $1400 with a security deposit of $1755. Utilities are all included in the rent. I and my niece residence in the home before i got transfered to Brighton (UK) for a business contract ….i will not be geting to the state till some couples of months when am through with my business contract offer here in UK.So i will advice you call me or my niece who is in Ohio right now, she is the one helping me to handle the rent for now,so contact her on how you can proceed on how to schedule the viewing of my home you are making inquiry of.
FILL OUT THIS APPLICATION FORM AND GET BACK TO ME WITH THE NECESSARY INFORMATION NEEDED TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP
FIRST NAME:_________________ MIDDLE NAME:________________ LAST NAME:__________________
PROFESSION:________________POSITION:__________HOME PHONE (____)__________(CELL)PHONE (____)__________
(WORK)PHONE (____)__________KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS:____________________CITY:_______________
STATE:______________ZIPCODE:____________HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING?____________CURRENT RENT PAYMENT:____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________DO YOU HAVE A PET:_____________NAME OF PET:_____________IS THE RENT FEE AVAILABLE NOW?______________REASON FOR
MOVING OUT?______________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 in case of issuing the receipt to you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you. Note that the keys and documents of my house is with me here in UK and i can send them to my sister in Ohio if you willing to rent like you have stated.Please note that i am 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 not let me down in my property and God bless you more as you do this. You can also drive by the house and check out for the neighboringhood to see if it suite your liking to rent,and like said earlier the doors is locked and the keys and ownership documents is here with me in Brighton , Again here is the house address:4280 Rous St San Diego, CA 92122
If you have anymore question regarding my home, I can be reach on my mobile 0112347082206460 or my home phone +447024052741 ,But note that i am not usually at home due to the nature of my job and i get home at mid- night so i will advice you to call me on my mobile cell phone cause am always available to speak with you on the phone regarding my home .So i will advice you call me on my cell.Thanks and i await for your response.
Justin
http://sandiego.craigslist.org.....77194.html
Hi Randy,
Yes we all have I’m sure. However this one is more subtle and clever than the ones that follow the old former patterns we’re more familiar with re the landlord out of country, and the misspellings and other clues.
This one is a little more sophisticated, with what sounds like a plausible offer from a landlord to pull your free credit report and the fact that they created a fraud site to get your personal info. Of course they don’t offer a phone number but they will probably figure out how to do that next.
They’re probably sitting in internet cafe’s in the 3rd world laughing at all the people they rip off.
They created a site that looks like a normal free credit report. I
In fact now that you’re the second person I’ve got responding to my warning, I’m going to report this to the authorities for their investigation. This scheme is going to work for them and they are going to big ripping people off fast and furiously, disgusting.
It’s too bad that Craig’s list doesn’t have a better way to screen these phonies.
There was a guy with time on his hands that actually invested his time and energy getting back at the scammers it’s pretty funny and you can get a good laugh if you check out his site. Warning his site is full of innuendos and explicit expressions and is only for adults, it may offend some.
http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com/
Good Luck and be careful
(This is Randy’s response back.)
Thanks for getting back to me. I’d greatly appreciated!
I think the only way to avoid these world of scams is to learn from one another but problem is that I’m always the other.
Nice to talk with my dear friend and good luck to us all.
Cheers,
Randy
yea…these scammers are posting in Midland and Odessa, Texas…it’s funny really, they stick out like a sore thumb compared to the normal apartment postings….
hello,I got a few of those scam email. I’m looking for an apartment and getting afraid of answering an add because of those cockroach scammer.
thank you for watching.
Isabella
http://sandiego.craigslist.org.....26642.html
i too have experienced many scams sense beginning to search for a rental. One very common is the explaination that they have been called out of the country (usually on a missionary calling!), could not get a rental agent or didn’t trust one with key…they want you to take xtra care of their place money is not the issue and when you send $ they will get the key to you
Many variations on this one beware