Have you come across a Craigslist rental scam lately? Here are my tips to avoid Craigslist scams and real estate scams so that you can stay safe.
Over the past few weeks, we have been searching for the perfect rental home for us to move into, but sadly we have come across many Craigslist rental scams. We found many great homes, and actually signed a lease the other day on one (more information on that to come soon).
Even though we found a rental home, we came across many Craigslist scams and Craigslist rental scams firsthand. It led to us wondering “How do I avoid Craigslist rental scams?”
I only received around 10 emails back from potential landlords and three of those I knew were definitely scammers. There might have been others as well.
Due to this, I knew I had to create a post on the topic of rental scams.
You can find rental scams everywhere (Craigslist, Zillow, and more), and many people are duped every single day out of hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars.
P.S. If you are looking for a rental, your credit score can be extremely important. You can check your credit score with Credit Sesame for free here.
Interesting articles on Making Sense of Cents that you may want to read:
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- How To Live On One Income
- How I Paid Off $40,000 In Student Loan Debt in 7 Months
- 8 Things To Sell To Make Money
- 30 Ways To Save Money Each Month
How do Craigslist rental scams work?
There are cases where the person might not actually be a scammer, but you should be on high alert if you decide to continue through with a potential rental that you are unsure about.
Hopefully with my advice on renting on Craigslist tips below, you’ll be able to find a REAL rental.
Some scams that you may come across include:
- Craigslist rental scams
- Craigslist apartment scams
- Craigslist housing scams
- Craigslist vacation rental scams
- Fake house ads on Craigslist
- Rent to own scams on craigslist
If you’re wondering if Craigslist rentals are legit – yes, they are! But, you need to be careful.
Below, you’ll learn how to spot a scammer on Craigslist.
Related: What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House
What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?
If you get scammed on Craigslist, they may be taking your rent money, security deposit, or even your personal information. Plus, they may waste your valuable time, and you may even be thinking that you are truly moving into the rental property.
This can be heartbreaking, and you definitely do not want this to happen to you.
How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?
1. They are showing you the home, but do they actually own it?
One of the many Craigslist rental scams I have been hearing about a lot lately is when a scammer seems legitimate and even shows you around the rental. You might believe they are the landlord since they somehow got into the rental, but that isn’t always the case.
Sometimes scammers will break into a back window or even steal the key from the actual landlord so they can show the rental to unsuspecting potential tenants. This can be a huge disaster, as many people will believe the scammer since they are pretending to be the landlord.
Another Craigslist scam I have heard about that is related to this is when a renter moves into a home, pays the deposit, rent, etc., only to find out weeks or months later that the actual owner is at their door. The owner might have been on a long vacation or they might have just let the home sit vacant while trying to sell it, and thieves noticed their absence only to take advantage of the situation. This can be bad as you will have to vacate immediately and you will be out of money, such as the refundable deposit you may have given to the scammer.
My rental search tip: Always make sure the person renting out the home is the owner or the property manager. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist. You can usually do a simple search on who owns the property by looking up city records. You also may be able to call the building’s manager (if there is one) and ask if the apartment is for rent and who is renting it.
2. A rental that seems too good to be true is often one of the many Craigslist rental scams.
This is how some rental scammers try to lure you in and an easy way to know how to spot a scammer on Craigslist. They will create a listing, make the rental sound amazing, offer it at a very low price, not require money upfront, and so on.
This is a clue that you might be the victim of a Craigslist scam. If the landlord makes it too easy for you to live in their rental, then you need to be very careful. Scammers are often hoping that someone will be caught up in a “great deal” and come running to them with cash.
My rental search tip: Always do your research before you give anyone money. You should check other listings in the area to see if the rental is comparable and you should also see if the place is actually for rent. In most cases, it is not.
Here’s one Craigslist scam email I received (I actually received this response for two different rentals I inquired about):
3. A scammer wants your information or money before you view the home.
If you are asked to fill out a rental application before you view a home, then you might be in the middle of one of the many Craigslist rental scams. The scammer is hoping that you will give them personal information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or something else. They will then disappear once they receive all of this information. This is a bad situation because you basically just gave your identity away.
Also, if you are asked to give money before you are allowed to view a home, then something is not right. This is most definitely a scam and you should avoid it. You should never have to pay loads of money in order to just view a home.
My rental search tip: You should always do your research, view the home, and more before you give out any extremely personal information. Occasionally, you may have to give your ID to the landlord, but other than that they should not need anything from you just to show you the rental house or apartment.
Here’s another Craigslist rental scam e-mail I received. This person sent me two e-mails so I just copied and pasted both e-mails into one so that you can easily read them both:
4. The landlord’s email has been compromised – Big Craigslist housing scams!
One scary Craigslist rental scam I recently heard about is when all of the information in a rental listing is correct. The home is actually for rent, the e-mail and phone number are real, and more.
However, when you e-mail the landlord you believe you are actually talking to them. It turns out that you are actually talking to someone who hacked into their e-mail. This can be a scary Craigslist scam as it can be hard to detect.
My rental search tip: Even though this Craigslist rental scam seems difficult, it can be easy to overcome. You should contact the landlord via the phone number that is listed on the real listing and talk to a real person. Then, you should verify everything that was discussed in the e-mails. Most of the time, landlords have no idea that their e-mail address was even hacked.
Related: Phone Scams: The Best Tips To Avoid Becoming A Victim
How do I verify a rental on Craigslist? How can you tell a scam on Craigslist?
You may be wondering “How do you know if a rental is legit?”
There are many different things to be aware of when looking for a rental online. Here are my general tips before falling for Craigslist housing scams or Craigslist apartment scams:
- Always make sure the person showing the home is the landlord or property manager.
- If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Be careful with your personal information, so that you are not the victim of identity theft.
- If anyone ever asks you to wire money, you should not. Most scammers will ask for money to be wired and this should be your first red flag that something is not right. Keep in mind that if you wire money, you CANNOT get it back. Too many people think you can get wired money back.
- Does the listing and/or e-mail communication with the “landlord” have many misspellings? Does the e-mail refer to you as Sir or Madam? Do they say they are out of the country and cannot show you the home until you pay? Do they claim to be a missionary or a reverend? If any of these are true, then this is usually the sign of a scammer.
- Does the person never want to meet in person? If you never meet the landlord, then it is most likely a Craigslist rental listing scam. The landlord or their property manager will want to meet you, not avoid you.
- Does the Craigslist home seem like a really great deal? If so, you may want to ask yourself why they are offering such a great deal.
- Do they mention Western Union or receiving funds via money order? If so, then it may be a scam as scammers love to mention Western Union. You simply want to be careful if they ask for either of these.
- Are they letting you skip any type of background check? Sometimes there are credit checks, background checks, and so on. If it is too easy to get the rental, then it is probably a scam.
- Always trust your gut instinct as there are always other places to rent in the world.
As you can see, there are many ways to learn how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist, so you want to be careful.
Are Craigslist rentals legit? How do I know if a rental is legitimate?
Yes, Craigslist rentals cans be legitimate. I have personally found Craigslist houses to rent (and lived in it) through Craigslist.
Below, you will see how to tell if a Craigslist rental is legitimate or if it is a fake Craigslist ad, and how to spot red flags.
Are Craigslist rentals safe? Is renting from Craigslist safe?
Yes, Craigslist rentals can be safe. You simply need to follow the tips in this article so that you can stay away from Craigslist rental scams and find legitimate home rentals.
Is it safe to rent a room from Craigslist?
Yes, it can be safe to rent a room from Craigslist. Follow the tips here, and make sure you get along with your potential future roommates.
Someone posted my house for rent on Craigslist, what do I do?
If you have a realtor, I highly recommend contacting them and seeing what you can do.
You should also report the fraudulent Craigslist ad to Craigslist. Doing this will help to curb Craigslist rental frauds and help anyone who may fall for the Craigslist rental scam.
How do I protect myself from Craigslist rental scams? How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?
Don’t give money or any of your personal information (such as your bank account number, social security number, and so on) until you are 100% sure that it is a real rental on Craigslist.
Unfortunately, there are many Craigslist rental scams on the internet.
P.S. There are over 200 comments below (you may have to click “« Older Comments” to see all of them), and many of you have been sharing your Craigslist rental scam stories and screenshots of exact emails. This is a great way to learn how to catch a rental scammer on Craigslist. Let’s continue to help one another out, thank you!
How to spot Craigslist housing scams? How to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist?
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find Craigslist rental scams. There are definitely many out there, but do not let them deter you.
Instead, I recommend doing your research. You may want to ask locals about a specific rental property, search anything you can on Google to see if the rental pops up for you (such as if you can see any complaints for that specific address), reaching out to a property management company, and more. This is so that you can make sure you are talking to the true owner of the property or whoever works for them.
After all, you don’t want to give scam artists a security deposit, Moneygram, first month’s rent, application fee, cashier’s checks, or whatever else they want without some verification that it is all real.
I, personally, have found a home rental on Craigslist and it was a great home. You can find Craigslist apartment rentals, Craigslist house rentals, and more that are legitimate – you just have to be careful.
What Craigslist rental scams and Craigslist apartment scams have you seen or heard about? Have you wondered how Craigslist rental scams work? Have you ever been the victim of any type of scam?
sean Dailey says
I just had a email sent to me in st.cloud Minnesota..
Thanks for your email. The house is still available. Let me start by introducing myself.My name is Thomas Perovich..I own the house located at 5948 Haven Rd SE St. Cloud, MN 56304. first and foremost,I am hearing impaired, not deaf though just Hard of hearing. I would have loved to be able to get to contact you on the phone but due to my condition, emails are the fastest means for us to communicate now.
The initial plan was to sell out the House which I tried, but my agents inflates the price of house because of their selfish gains and it takes longer to sell.i am telling you this in case if you find the house on another website or you found a sign board in front of the house, that is the old adverts,Please ignore. I need a responsible person, i don’t have a problem with your credit as long as you can take good care of the home. I want it to be clean and be taken care of as if it were yours. Pet are allowed as long as they are not destructive. The rent is $650 and the security deposit is $650
i’m away on my new job so i won’t be able to come and show you around the house as i would have loved to, but attached below are pictures of the interior of the house so you can see what it looks like from the inside . You are free to ask any more information you would like to know about the house and also visit the location.the address is written below.
DETAILS ABOUT THE HOUSE..
Lee says
I’m running into a bunch of these types of scans as I get ready to move to Nashville. I started googling the address and if I saw it on Zillow, I would contact the real estate agent to see if it was for rent and if so, how much. I also got wise to looking up the address under the county auditor site because a quick search will tell you who the current owner is.
I did run into a few rentals where the scammer used the real owners name in his email address but of course, he and his wife had to move to another state because of a job and so they couldn’t show me the place…..
Alisa says
Have you seen anything about the “rental America” website? I am moving to Nashville and I’m trying to decide if this one is a scam.
Message reads ;
😍Hey Alisa
Thank you for reaching ,😍
It is still available for rent and I have set some simple terms& condition for rent that you must accept. And the conditions are:
1.You must pay rent on time
2.I do not allow smoking or any Criminal Activities at this residence.
If you’re comfortable with ALL of the terms & want to set up a time or have any question, you can apply instantly online at:
(link omitted)
*Remember you must pay the $10 Application Fee to confirm your Application. If approved, this fee will be credited towards the first month’s rent.Let me know when you done…
Best Regards,
😍 Amanda Wall😍
Emily says
Hey Alisa,
I was wondering the same thing. I’m looking for a room around Seattle and came across (almost) the same automated response.
Hello,
Thanks for your interest. Yes the rental you’re interested in is still open
for rent.
If you’re interested in set up a time of viewing, you can submit your
application asap here: [link omitted]
‘*’But remember you must have to pay the fee(only $10) to confirm your application,. Otherwise I’ll not accept it. If approved, this fee will be,credited towards the first month’s rent,
And must write there on the last box of the Application Form
(1) About yourself in a few words
(2) your current address.
(3) when you want to move in….
Everything about this screams scam to me, but at the same time if this whole thing is legit that would be really nice, because the listing is a really good deal.
Emily says
Update: apparently a lot of people get the same or similar emails for listings across the US.
https://www.reddit.com/r/renting/comments/hk0nxg/potential_scam/
Using my better judgment, I’d say it’s a scam.
A C says
I recently came across one of these the phone number was +1 (225) 725-9781 and they spent less than a minute on the phone with me each time. They called me three times in one day to offer different ways to send the money. Charging 1300 when the actual rental after looking it up went for 2600.
Report them if you can. Told them I would submit this information to the FBI and they immediately stopped calling and emailing.
Ridiculous what people will do. Stop the scam. Stop the nonsense. Report, report, report!
A C says
Email: wonderfulhome0@gmail.com
mika says
My mother accidentaly felt for this and sent pictures of her, and her family, and income information so our identity is def being used atm. =__=
Mika says
And the scammer only needed A picture, not a 26 pictures of her family and their lives =___=
Kate Fuller says
Scammed in Salem! A character calling himself Wallace Hickson pretending to be agent for owner named Richard Horst (there actually is a Richard Horst — financial muketymuck back east). Offered a rental that was just what we needed while transitioning from home just sold to home just bought. We were so frantic and tired we fell headlong into the trap. We gave the rotter $1112 along with a bunch of personal info including DOB to “secure the reservation.” Stupid! Come to find out – too late – the house is not a rental at all. We’re very worried about identity theft. Does anybody know whether that’s a real worry with a scammer like this? We’ve contacted our banks and frozen credit reports but it’s so worrisome and just wrong. Look out for ads for 1783 Cottage Street in Salem OR. It’s the home of some poor innocent drKagged into this rotter’s scheme. Infuriating.
Travis says
Sign up for life lock
Not Today says
Good morning D**** G***,I hope all is well with you ? I got notified that you are interested in my home listed on zumper, which is located at 3736 W Twonley Ave,Phoenix,AZ 85051
The home is currently available for move-in
I’m really seeking for an honest and responsible person/family to occupy the home and maintain the property for us.
My family and I recently moved here in Michigan because of the contract I received, which will last for four years. The home is a wonderful place you will love living in. It’s a three bedroom and two bathroom home with a square feet of 1,868. Basic utilities such as dishwasher, dryer, electric stove, fridge, washer, air conditioner, sewage and trash are included in monthly rent. If really you are interested in renting from us please get back to me so that I can forward you the rental
application form to fill out and then we will proceed further
Monthly rent: $900
Security deposit: $800
And total move in is $1,700
Please fill out the application form and return it with any of your valid I’d card
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : ______________?
Phone numbers (home, cell and office line ) # :_____________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx. age :__________?
Present Address :____________?
Will you have pets :____________?
Please describe Breed, size :___________?
Personality of pet :__________?
When do you plan to move in, please write the exact date____________?
Intended length of lease:___________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:____________?
If you are asked to make a down payment to secure the house and take it off market, How much will you be able to pay
:____________?
Length of previous tenancy :___________?
Have you ever been evicted___________?
Present occupation :____________?
Are you a section 8 applicant_____?
Monthly Income :____________?
Do you own a Car :_________?
A copy of your ID:(attached in email)____________?
Do you work late at night :______________?
Do you smoke :______________?
Do you drink :______________?
After my research, I learned the house is actually $1695/month and 1650 sq. ft. Lol
Angelia Veliquette says
Received the email below regarding the same house I found for rent on a different site for $2600 a month.
From: Peter Ciarlante
Subject: [External] STILL FOR RENT.
Thanks for showing interest in renting my apartment
And it will be available for long/short term stay. . Moreover, are you very clean,kind and easygoing? because my wife and I spent a lot on our property, so we want someone who can take care of the apartment.
Kindly let me know as soon as possible because we need someone who is reliable to occupy it. • I will like you to drive by to the building to view the exterior of the building for you to know where the apartment is located
The apartment has the following features below:
• Large living room
• bedroom with full size bed and TV
• Kitchen with dishwasher
• Bathroom with bath, new washer and dryer
• Desktop PC, Internet connection are included,
• Utilities & Parking included.
LOCATION
– The apartment is located at 231 Somerset Bridge Rd #2109, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 and it is very close to metro stations, restaurants and stores.
AMOUNT
– The rent is $900 per month including all bills such as water, electricity, gas e..t.c with a refundable deposit of $1000 which will be refund back to you at the end of your stay in my apartment
PARKING!
There is 1 parking space allocated to the unit in the front of the building, If you are coming with more than 1 car you will have to pay extra $20 for the second car.
WIFI AND ETHERNET CABLE
Wifi and ethernet cable is available in the unit to enhance a full speed internet with high speed
So let me know if you are okay with the location so i can get back to you with more pictures of the apartment
Waiting for your answer
Regards
Peter
Chloe Pruett says
I’ve been in contact with this Peter fella too, for a rental in Panama City, FL. Almost fell for it but thanks to you and scammers.com, I still have my money! Also goes by Robert Ciarlante. Phone number was 949-393-1927. Email was peterciarlante199@outlook.com. Wanted me to send money through Venmo to his “assistant”, @patricia0404 (Patricia Profit). What a load of bullocky.
Bob Dean says
I just got the same email. But he’s changed his name to Brian Selman
Cresentia D Grant says
I just got this email today.
Jara Mogi
To:
Cresentia Grant
Sat, Oct 17 at 8:43 PM
Hello,
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my house. My home is still available for rent and needs no amendment, we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are not around. My wife and I just traveled to California for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM), you can view the link for more info: (—-).
We will be away for about 5 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whomever that will take good care of it. However my initial plan was to sell the house which I tried, but the realtor keeps inflating the price and it takes longer to sell which I don’t like so I decided to put it up for rent or rent to own. The utilities included are Dryer, Washer, Internet, cables, Trash, Electric, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Oven, Microwave and more.
GENERAL HOUSE FEATURES:
House Address: 9601 W Rio St, Milwaukee, WI, 53225
Rent Per Month: $800
Security Deposit: $700 (Refundable)
Large 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom
Pets are fully welcome.
There is also high speed wireless internet access.
RENT QUESTIONNAIRE FORM
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname): __?
Phone numbers (home, cell and office line) #:__?
Marital Status: __?
How many proposed occupants: __?
List all with ages: __?
Present Address: __?
Will you have pets: __?
Please describe Breed, size: __?
Pet personality: __?
When do you plan to move in, please write the exact date?
Intended length of lease: __?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in: __?
Length of previous tenancy: __?
Present occupation: __?
Are you a section 8 applicant?
Do you work late at night: __?
Do you smoke: __?
Do you drink: __?
I ___ , Certify that answers given here are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenant screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental agreement entered into for any misrepresentation made above. Looking forward to hearing from you with all these details so that I can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt and contacting you. Await your reply so we can discuss how to get the document and the key to you.
Thanks and God bless
Herbert Megan
(820) 900 2015
R. says
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my apartment. Yes the apartment is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that i am not around. i just traveled to Ukraine, for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM),you can view the link for more info: . I will be away for 3 to 4 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my apartment for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. I am not after the rental fee but an absolute care of my property. If all arrangement goes well, we will have the entrance keys and other relevant document in a hard copy paper shipped to your present home address for you to move in at your convenient date.
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Car park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Property Address: 1900 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of baths: 1
Rent (Including all utilities): $1100
Refundable Security Deposit: $400
SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:
RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home, cell and office line ) # :__________?
E-mail :__________?
Best time to call :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
City/State :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
Preferred move in date :__________?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
Earliest possible date of deposit payment:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?
I ____________, CERTIFY that answers given herein are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenant screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental agreement entered into for any misrepresentation made above. I will be looking forward to hearing back from you with all this detail, so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated, so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services.
Remain Blessed
Nathan Adam
Rosemarie Escalante says
This was for Craigslist San Francisco, fyi, Pacific Heights Neighborhood: Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my apartment. Yes the apartment is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that i am not around. i just traveled to Ukraine, for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM),you can view the link for more info: . I will be away for 3 to 4 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my apartment for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. I am not after the rental fee but an absolute care of my property. If all arrangement goes well, we will have the entrance keys and other relevant document in a hard copy paper shipped to your present home address for you to move in at your convenient date.
FEATURES : Laundry, Electric Range, Electric Heat, Car park.
AMENITIES: Air Conditioning, Deck, Cable TV, Ceiling Fans 24 hours Internet service, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Microwave, security alarm, Pets Friendly, Refrigerator, Washer / Dryer.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Property Address: 1900 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of baths: 1
Rent (Including all utilities): $1100
Refundable Security Deposit: $400
SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:
RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home, cell and office line ) # :__________?
E-mail :__________?
Best time to call :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
City/State :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
Preferred move in date :__________?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
Earliest possible date of deposit payment:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?
I ____________, CERTIFY that answers given herein are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenant screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental agreement entered into for any misrepresentation made above. I will be looking forward to hearing back from you with all this detail, so that i can have them in my file in case of issuing your rent payment receipt to you and for contacting you. Your quick response will be highly appreciated, so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys of my property to you via Express Delivery Services.
Remain Blessed
Nathan Adam
Bur Naby says
Hi
I’m happy to inform you that the place is still available for rent. The apartment is available for short and long time term lease is also accepted but before we proceed any further, I want you to know the kind of tenant l’m looking forward to have.
I’m looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at all time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. The person must be clean, quiet, respectful, honest and responsible; someone that will treat the house with care and respect. I don’t need the partying type but if you can convince me that you’re capable enough to taking care of the apartment if I decide to accept/approve you as my new tenant, I’ll be glad to let you rent from me for as long as you wish. I want you to know that I’m on a missionary assignment with my family in the (United state of America) to serve God and humanity
The apartment is located in a safe and secured neighborhood which I think it is the most important and paramount thing for one to know before relocating. You’re free to drive or walk by so you can tour the exterior of the building if you wish to. My wife and I decided to handle the rental process ourselves due to our past experience with estate agents and tenant because, all they care about is their own commission instead of taking time to verify applicant application and do a proper background check, the last tenant that rented from us through an estate agent destroyed most of our valuable home appliances. I know how much my wife and I spent to replace this things that were destroyed in the apartment , lot of people have contacted me regarding the apartment, but not just sure of who to accept due to the horrible experience we had with the last tenant so I’m really taking my time to look for a very responsible person that we can trust in as a tenant, all I want is a very responsible person that will take care of the apartment like his/her own and if you can assure me the apartment will be in good hands, I’ll be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.
The rent includes all utilities and close to all amenities. The place is available for immediate move in or date agreed upon.
INCLUDED IN THE RENT: Cable / Internet, WIFI, Kettle – Toaster – Dishwasher – Freezer – Microwave – Oven – Dryer – Heat – Water – Parking – AC – Laundry – Electricity and much more.
Fill the rental application below and send it back to me as soon as you can if you are really interested in renting the apartment .
***APPLICATION FOR TENANT***
( Private and Confidential )
Fill below information correctly
FIRST NAME:__________
MIDDLE NAME:__________
LAST NAME:__________
(CELL)PHONE: __________
DATE OF BIRTH: _____________
KIDS: _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY? ________
SINGLE OR MARRIED: ____________
PROFESSION:__________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
PROVINCE:______________
POSTAL CODE: ____________
WHEN DO YOU WANT TO MOVE IN? ______________
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
DO YOU HAVE CAR?_________________
REASON FOR LEAVING? _______________________________________________________________________
WHAT’S YOUR CREDIT SCORE? _______________________
HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT? _________
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT FEES? _________
DO YOU HAVE PET? _________ If more than one, how many?_______
Please describe type(s) of pet(s)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
DO YOU DRINK? ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? _________
PICTURES OF OCCUPANT? _____________
REFERENCE(S)
NAME: ____________
ADDRESS: _________
CELL NUMBER: ____
EMERGENCY CONTACT
NAME: __________________
RELATIONSHIP: _______________ (CELL)PHONE: ___________________
DATE:__________
I, ……………………………………….. CERTIFY that answers given herein are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenant screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental agreement entered into for any misrepresentation made above.
Thank you
Nobdoty says
OH MY GOD THEY ARE STILL AT IT!! “Missionary in the US” bs again!! On Graigs list Canada
Scum went by the name of Bert Goodman. I thought it was strange for a landlord to post such a wall of text. Talking about real-estate, like wtf its rental, theres no Realtors involved this guys probably foreign.
“”Hello,
Thank you very much for taking your time to email me. l want you to know that the property you are writing me about is still available for move in but before we proceed any further l want you to know that the kind of tenant l am looking forward to have,clean,quiet,respectful and responsible someone that will treat the house with care and respect. l don’t need the partying type but if you can assure me of the safety of the house if i decided to accept you as my new tenant l will be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.I want you to know am on the missionary assignment here with me and my family to United State .
The house is located in a safe and secured neighborhood which i think it is the most important thing for one to know before relocating. You are free to drive or walk by so you can tour the exterior of the building if you wish. Me and my wife decided to handle the rental process ourselves due to our past experience with estate agents and tenant because all they care about is their own commission instead of taking time to verify applicants application and do a proper background check, the last tenant that rented from us through an estate agent destroyed most of our valuable home appliances. I know how much me and my wife spent to replace the things that was destroyed in the house,a whole lot of people have contacted me regarding the house but not just sure of who to accept due to the horrible experience we had with the last tenant so i am really taking my time to look for a very responsible person
that we can trust in as a tenant, all i want is a very responsible person that will take care of the house like his/her own and if you can assure me of the house will be in good hands, i will be happy to let you rent from me for as long as you wish.
The monthly rent fee of the apartment is including the utilities include Hydro, cable /internet access,Central Air Conditioning, Laundry, Garbage Chute, Pets OK,Parking, dry cleaning,Heating, Electricity,TV, fridge etc and everything its already been furnished,K
Fill the rental application form below and send it back to me as soon as you can if you are really interested in renting the house.
*****RENTAL APPLICATION FORM****
( Private and Confidential )
Fill below information correctly…
FIRST NAME:__________
MIDDLE NAME:__________
LAST NAME:__________
(CELL)PHONE__________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? _______________________________________________________________________
HOW MANY MONTH RENT ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY UPFRONT_________
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT FEES_________
DO YOU HAVE PET _________
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________
DO YOU DRINK ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT _________
OCCUPANT MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION DRIVER LICENSES OR I.D CARD _____________
REFERENCE
NAME_____________
ADDRESS_____________””
Dan says
Here is the email response that I received from FOUR different “owners”. The text is identical except for the state where they have already moved (e.g., one is in Florida, another in Texas, etc.) and the address of the unit. The rent is amazingly low for Queens, New York.
Hello,
Thanks for your interest in my apartment, I am sure you will be asking yourself why my rent is low, that’s because i am not too concern about the money,all am interested in is a decent and responsible tenant,someone who would take great care of the apartment as if it were his or hers. I am very certain that you would love the comfy of the apartment and its peaceful neighborhood.There is no Registration or Agency fee of any kind since you are dealing directly with me the Landlord,The reason am giving this apartment out for rent is because of my new contract in texas..Moving out of state for 3years will be a blessing to someone in need of an apartment, my wife and i would be glad to use this opportunity to put smile on someones face.
INFORMATION TO BE NOTED
Rent Per Month: $900 (Including all Utilities)
Security Deposit: $900(Refundable)
LOCATION : 31-31 33rd St #3, Astoria, NY 11106
APARTMENT FEATURES:
Bedrooms: 1 (very spacious) with a living room.
Bathrooms: 1 (newly renovated)
Sqft: 750
Property type: Apartment not furnished but the kitchen is equipped with brand new appliances.
Parking: Yes
Pets: Yes
Lease term: Both long & short term
Utilities included: Heat, Hot water, Gas and Electricity.
COMPLETE THE TENANT APPLICATION FORM BELOW,
FIRST NAME:
MIDDLE NAME:
LAST NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
MARITAL STATUS:
CREDIT SCORE:
CELL PHONE:
HOME PHONE:
PRESENT ADDRESS:
WHEN DO YOU INTEND TO MOVE IN:
HOW LONG WOULD YOU BE OCCUPYING THE APARTMENT:
DO YOU HAVE PET:
After i have received these details above, i will discuss with my wife and get back to you with my terms on how we would conclude the Lease process so you can move in without any delay,feel free to call me anytime on my cell number: 347 997 1568
hope to hear from you soon.
God Bless
Anthony says
Another similar example of a response from a craigslist.com posting in Santa Cruz, CA this week. Touting “snow removal” as one of the features was pretty blatant.
Hello
Thanks for your interest and inquiries about my house.the house is still available for rent and we are looking for a responsible person/family to occupy and maintain the house now that we are not around. Myself and Wife just traveled to Texas for a program called SERVING IN MISSION (SIM), you can view the link for more info: . We will be away for 2 to 3 years or more that is why I have made up my mind to put up my house for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. However, my initial plan was to sell the house but it was not successful because the Realtor raised the price which made it
difficult for me to sell before leaving the States , It has already been taken off the market as for sale so there is no need to contact
any Realtor.Also how long do you intend to stay? How soon do you intend to move in?
Details:
Rent: $1000 (monthly)
Damages Deposit: $700
Date Available: Asap
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms:1
Address:
116 Glenview St Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
Amenities in the apartment:
Appliances: Electric Stove, Fridge,/Interior: Air Conditioning,Microwave,Balcony, Deck, Patio or Porch,Over sized
Closets, Internet Cable Access Ready,Washer & Dryer Connections,Furnished Hardwood Floor,Ceiling Fan(s), Parking,Dishwasher,(gas),and Snow removal.(Hydro is extra),Extra Storage Area, Fireplace.Tenant Criteria: Smoking Outside, Pets allowed….
NOTE : I’m 50 years old, You can move in the House in the same day that you will receive the keys. The only problem is that I’m already in(Texas.USA) because we started the work, but you don’t need to worry because I’ve made all arrangements to rent the House from here. iwould like to know alittle something about you. Don’t be offended but i must know to who i will rent my house. Kindly get back to me with the Below information..
APARTMENT RENTAL APPLICATION FORM
( Private and Confidential )
Fill below information correctly…
1)Your Full Name ?
2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone ?
3)How old are you ?
4)Are you married ?
5)Occupation ?
6)Current rent payment ?
7)Reason for moving out ?
8)How many people will be living in the Apartment ?
9)The rent fee available now ?
10)How long are you willing to stay ?
11)When do you intend to move in ?
12)Do you have a pet ?
13)Do you smoke ?
14)How many Month or Year Do you want to Stay?
15)Deposit : One or Two month Deposit are required?
16)Occupant Picture?
17)Reference Details?
18)identity id card
Get back to me as soon as you fill the application form, I can guarantee you that this is a great house so looking forward to a future collaboration and friendship.
Cheers
Sara says
I recently found a “too good to be true” deal… Just wondering if anyone else has had contact with Rental America. Not Rentals with an S but Rental America. I asked the person who posted the ad if it was legit and they of course say it is but they can anything. Big flag was one of the main words in their website is misspelled……So is that truly a scam?
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Do they not have a website?
Stephanie says
For people looking in the greater Seattle area, I just had yet another bad experience with another scammer, email received from Houses Keeper , and text messages from (206) 208-3005 from a guy calling himself Jacob.
When I was looking last May/June, it was difficult to find anything through any means because there were so few properties becoming available and/or landlords/property managers weren’t even allowed to have showings. I had started looking on Craigslist, because I myself had used it to list and rent my sub-basement studio apartment a number of years. It appalled me at the blatant attempts to defraud people, and I was lucky that I was pretty good at spotting them immediately. I had an elderly friend who was desperately looking for something in a much lower range, and thank goodness she had gotten the willies by something a scammer did, just before she was leaving my house to go meet this person to look at a studio she found on Craigslist. She showed me the string of text messages, and I told her to send him this text, “It just occurred to me that I should have asked you to provide documentation from the property/homeowner that you are authorized to act on their behalf?” Mind you, this scammer had been blowing up her phone with text messages all day, ensuring she was going to meet him, and to make sure she brought the $500 deposit in cash. She just didn’t know what warning signs to look for. I helped her avoid a couple more situations like this. Then these scammers started showing up on Zillow.
So this new scammer I interacted with yesterday/today has at least one property listed on Craigslist under short-term/temp housing in West Seattle, on the waterfront. It’s described as a carriage house, and is listed for $1000/month inc. all utilities. Normally, that price would have set off red flags, but the large 8-lane bridge which is usually the primary way to access West Seattle (which is practically an island), was shut down last year due it being found in extremely dangerous condition, and in order to drive out of W Seattle, it’s a serious task and I can imagine has been adding at least 1.5 hours commuting time for people who work in the downtown Seattle or north of Seattle areas. Because of this, and the pandemic resurging with the delta variant in our area, I figured the homeowners may have lowered the monthly cost just to get someone in there. I sent an email with my phone number from my email account (vs through Craigslist which would hide my email address), and a few hours later got a text message that just said “Hello, This is me Jacob from Craigslist”. Ok, who is Jacob? There were no names in the listing, and how odd that someone would assume I had only responded to one listing? I asked, “For which listing are you referring to?” Then another strange response, “Thanks for your interest, the unit…for $1000/month. What’s your email address to send you all the necessary details about the property”. Another red flag, since he should have had my email address, as I explained above, and obviously he had read through it to find my phone number at the bottom. Also, I had responded to 3 listings that day which were all $1000/month, so I asked him again, which property, then a few minutes later decided to send my email address just to see what his version of the scam looked like. A couple hours later I looked at the email, and that’s when I became more suspicious, because it stated things like house cleaning every two weeks would be included, and to return the property booking request form to him with my payment information included because my “booking” wouldn’t be confirmed until payment was received. BLARING RED FLAG. I could see if this had been an inquiry I made through AirBNB, but it was for short-term housing and not a vacation rental. He did include the property address, so I was able to pull up the tax records to find out who the current owners are, no surprise, no one named Jacob. I didn’t even open the attachment because first he had to pass the next test, so I responded to his text message, “Can you please email me the appropriate documentation from the property owner stating that you are authorized to act as their representative on their behalf?” He responded, sure I will get that to you. That was late this morning, and it is now 9:21PM and haven’t received anything, or heard back at all. If he was a legitimate property manager, he would have had that immediately available. So just be aware everyone, even on other websites, con artists, aka scammers, are always evolving and becoming more sophisticated as soon as the public starts posting information online and comparing notes. NOTE: I had found a couple phone numbers online for the person listed on as the property owner on the county tax assessors website, and left voicemails explaining that I wanted to confirm that this person was acting upon their authorization. The owners just texted me back, confirming this guy is a scam artist, they have the carriage house listed on vrbo only.
Here are the most important things that should happen before you hand any money over to anyone;
1. Ask if they are the owner of the property, or AUTHORIZED to act on behalf of the owner, even with sublets…and get owner name(s), phone, mailing address and email address, and the exact rental property address, and of course a copy of the signed/dated authorization.
2. Go to your county tax assessor’s website and look up the current owner by the address (a unit number is especially important if it is a condominium), and make sure it matches what’s on the authorization or the name of the person representing themselves as the owner. If anything looks suspicious, contact the owner directly.
3. Don’t ever hand over cash. At least get a money order (so you have proof of payment) if you don’t have any other means (debit/credit card), and ALWAYS get a receipt stating what the funds were for and who you gave them to, and don’t hand over a penny until you have physically inspected the unit, did the steps above, and only pay an application fee when you submit the application. I’m going to going to go into more details that will further protect you further, so you know your basic rights and how to further protect yourself:
4. Look up your State’s tenant-landlord laws for the legally allowed deposits/fees allowed (including the definitions between what a deposit and a fee are). In Washington, anything defined as a deposit on a pre-rental or rental agreement has to be deposited into a separate account from the landlord’s day to day business account (a Trust account). Reading through the actual legal codes can be tedious, so try to find a website from a local non-profit in your city/State that is easier to navigate.
5. Look up the Federally required language that any application/form, etc., has to have stated if it used to collect your personally identifiable information and how your information will be used (Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Protection Act). There are 2 sets of language between credit and criminal history checks, and they have to be stated separately, so you should have to sign under each type of consent. If these aren’t included, the application isn’t legally compliant, and at a minimum, a major sign that your prospective landlord knows nothing about landlord-tenant and federal laws (which could make you miserable later on), and at the extreme, when there are other red flags, a scammer. Any property owner/manager will have to use a 3rd party to do their credit/criminal checks, and these agencies won’t even accept emails or forms that are missing these pieces, because they can be held criminally and civilly liable. If the application doesn’t meet the State and Federal requirements, just walk away.
6. If you live in a State where it is legally allowed for a landlord/property manger to request a holding deposit (e.g., if they have high demand) while they process your application, they have to provide you a mutually signed agreement (contract) where a). if your application is denied, your deposit will be returned within so many days, in which form (usually a check), and where you want them to mail the refund, and b). if your application is accepted, how the holding deposit will be applied to the move-in costs in some other way. Both you and the landlord/property manager should sign the agreement…and for every agreement you submit/sign, etc., always get an original “wet-ink” copy, meaning contracts/agreements should be signed by both parties in duplicate, and check both copies before signing to make sure the important items like dollar amounts, dates, etc., all match up, and then you keep one set, and the landlord keeps another, this goes for lease/rental agreements too. Always bring a pad of paper with you, so if the other party doesn’t have a pre-prepared receipt or agreement, you can hand-write out the receipt/agreement, and take a picture of it with your phone so there isn’t a question as to when both parties signed it. Always get a receipt signed/dated by the person you hand over any payment to in person. If you send your payments through an online portal, print a copy of the transaction for your records. I had a tenant who would send me his rent payments via PayPal, and I still provided him with a written/signed receipt with the date I received the payment.
Jason says
Another way I use, is I copy a couple of sentences and then Google them. Often you’ll see the same add in several different cities, word for word.