Rent scam (with example formats)

[davenerven]

This is a variant of the cheque mule (fake cheque) scam, and specifically targets landlords or flat-sharers or people looking for roommates, especially those that live near schools or places near seminar centres/research institutes/general employment. An example series of email formats used by the scammers is as follows:
Hello,
I saw the advert of your room when i was just browsing and i will like to let you know that i am interested in renting the room. I am Kathy Robertson and i am in Spain presently due to some Business trip and after the business trip i will want to come back to the State and i will want to get a room ready before my arrival .So i will like to know if the room is still available and i will like to know the amount of the room Per Month.I want you to know that my method of Payment will be by Check and i want you to know that payment will be sent to you when we both agree on the terms.I look forward to hear from you and know if the payment i offer is okay with you and i assure you, you will enjoy living together with me.Hope to hear from you as soon as possible.Sincere Regards.
Kathy Robertson.

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Hello,

Thanks for your return email.I am willing to pay for the price you mention for the rent, it is fair enough.....I am 30 yrs old who doesnt have pets.I dont drink or smoke.I am a christian and i dont go clubbing not late night parties.I am very honest and trust worthy. I dont move with bad friends and niether do i deal with drugs.I work with a construction company as a clerk. I am coming over there to stay over on a vacation and i will be working from home which will be on my laptop, i wont need a car since i wont be doing much of going out.

I am ready to move in any time as soon as the room is ready.I will be leasing the room for 12 months but will be paying for the first month as a start and the house rent will be $000.00.

The Check that will be issued will include the money for the rent of the room + the shipping cost. The Check would be drawn on a US bank . I would like to state clearly that i have some laugages that will be shipped to your address.I want my laugages to get to your address before i move in. I have a shipping agent who would take good care of this. so you do not need to bother yourself with the shipment.

You will be required to cash the check and deduct the funds for the house rent and have the excess funds sent to my shipper via Western Union Money Transfer at one of their outlets around you in order for him to ship my laugages to your address ASAP.

All neccesary transfer papers will be dully signed by the shipper on behalf of me (IF THERE IS ANY) when the shipper brings all my laugages to your address.

I will be willing to entertain more of your questions that might arise . If you really show willingness and would really want to let out the room, please provide your CONTACT FULL NAME, PHYSICAL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER so that I can have it forwarded to my travelling agents for immediate payment issurance.

I await you quick response.

Many thanks.
The simple advice is that if ANYONE offers to substantially overpay you for any service or goods, then for sure it will turn out to be a scam.

[davenerven]

Some more recent formats for rent and overpayment scams:
Brittny,
Again am so sorry i haven't updated you about payment.I am preparing
for a major surgery which for many months i have been saving up to and
the loss of my son has really put me down alot and i am trying to get
over it though i know it would take time.I am trying my best to be strong
and would need all the support and courage to pull through.Payment has
been issued and sent out to you on Friday by my financial adviser.
My financial adviser was suppose to issue payment for the lucky and
then for the agent whom will be responsible for pickup and shipment and
money for my surgery separately,then to bring my son's body back home
but made it out all one($1,800).Please at this time when i am trying to
pull through, i am soliciting for your sincere honesty and trust in the
payment being sent to you.Please consider my present situation and
please be honest with me.
I am imploring you to deduct the money for lucky+ the compensation i
promised you and send the balance to my agent via westernunion money
transfer.My agent upon recieving the payment would come for the pickup and
know how to send me the money for the surgery too Please you are to
contact my agent camille-ann-miller at (camillemiller@graffiti.net) when
you receive payment.The payment has been sent via postal mail and would
not take more then 4-5 days to get to you from the time it was sent.
Please help me in your own kind and honest way to pull through all
this.As i mail you now,i am preparing for my surgery to be done in Italy by
a renowned doctor.Please bear with me and give me some time til you
receive payment this new week.I am so sorry for the inconveniences this
might have caused you and i sincerely need your support and prayers to
pull through cos if i dont get this done now,i would have a short time to
live.Thanks for your understanding,happy new year and God bless.
Sincerely,
Paula Yates

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Payment ....soliciting your honestly and trust and prayers
John,
Again am so sorry i haven't updated you abt payment.I am helping my
sister prepare for a major surgery which for many months i have been
saving up to and we just lost our mom in germany and this has really put me
down alot and i am trying to get over it though i know it would take
time.I am trying my best to be strong and wld need all the support and
courage to pull through.Payment has been issued and sent out to you on
friday by my financial adviser.
My financial adviser was suppose to issue payment for the room for the
first month which is January (as agreed upon which would be paid
for)and then for the agent whom will be responsible for cargoing my car and
my luggages to the apartment and money for my sister's surgery
separately,then to bring our mom body back home but she made it out all in
one($5,000).Please at this time when i am trying to pull through, i am
soliciting for your sincere honesty and trust in the payment being sent to
you.Please consider my present situation and please be honest with me.
I am imploring you to pls deduct the money for the room+ the
compensation i promised you and send the balance to my agent via westernunion
money money transfer.My agent upon recieving the payment would cargo my
car and luggage and know how to send me the money for the surgery too
Please.You contact my agent camille-ann-miller at
(camillemiller@graffiti.net) when you receive payment.The payment has
been sent via postal mail and wld not take more then 4-5 days to get to u
from today as it has been sent.
Pls help me in your own kind and honest way to pull through all this.As
i mail you now,my sis is almost ready for surgery to be done in Italy
by a renowned doctor but we are waiting and counting on you for the
money to be sent to add to the one we have at present.Please bear with me
and give me some time til u receive payment this week.I am so sorry for
the inconveniences this might have caused you and i sincerely need your
support and prayers to pull through cos if i dont get this done now,she
would have a short time to live.Thanks for your understanding,Happy
new year and God bless.
Sincerely,
Diane Jenkins

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Brittny,
Again am so sorry i haven't updated you about payment.I am preparing
for a major surgery which for many months i have been saving up to and
the loss of my son has really put me down alot and i am trying to get
over it though i know it would take time.I am trying my best to be strong
and would need all the support and courage to pull through.Payment has
been issued and sent out to you on Friday by my financial adviser.
Please at this time when i am trying to pull through, i am soliciting
for your sincere honesty and trust in the payment being sent to
you.Please consider my present situation and please be honest with me.
I am imploring you to deduct the money for 1999 Cadillac DeVille+ the
compensation i promised you and send the balance to my agent via
westernunion money transfer.My agent upon recieving the payment would come for
the pickup when payment has been confirmed.Please you are to contact my
agent camille-ann-miller at (camillemiller@graffiti.net) when you
receive payment.The payment has been sent via postal mail and would not take
more then 4-5 days to get to you from the time it was sent.
Please help me in your own kind and honest way to pull through all
this.As i mail you now,i am preparing for my surgery to be done in Italy by
a renowned doctor.Please bear with me and give me some time til you
receive payment this new week.I am so sorry for the inconveniences this
might have caused you and i sincerely need your support and prayers to
pull through cos if i dont get this done now,i would have a short time to
live.Thanks for your understanding,happy new year and God bless.
Sincerely,
Regina Brown

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Goodday Sharon Butcher,
My name is Camille-Ann-Miller.I am
aware of a shipment schedule for Mr Richard Farmer who has been an old
client.I have helped him in several shipments before now.I will be coming
to your location for pickup as soon as i receive your payment via
WESTERNUNION MONEY TRANSFER.So you will send payment to me by western
union,not by bank transfer.Its very easy to send money through western
union,you will go to any western union outlet around you for the
transaction.These are the information you will use to send the money --
RECEIVER'S NAME -- FRED OLAT RAMOND
51 BLYTH ROAD ,LONDON.
SE28 8LJ. UNITED KINGDOM.
This is my accounts manager,that will recieve thpayment
which i would confirm immediately you send it.So as soon as you send
the money you will given a slip which you will need to send back to me
with the following below that will enable us to receive the money.
SENDER'S NAME--????
SENDER'S ADRESS--????
AMOUNT SENT------????
MTCN CONTROL NUMBER--????
These are the info i would be expecting from you as soon as you
complete the transaction.I am looking forward to your response.I already have
your address which has been forwarded given to me.At present our
contemporaries are making their pick up rounds for other clients in Texas,we
expect you to make payment asap so that we our accounts manager can
confirm payment.You are to wire payment via westernunion money transfer to
the detailed name and address above.Have a wonderful day.
Camille-Ann-Miller

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Dear Sharon Butcher,
Here are the local westernunion agent/outlets nearest you to make the
westernunion payment to the accounts manager who is right on standby to
confirm your payment and send you an instant pickup scheduleimmediately
payment has been confirmed.Western Union Agent
locations/Addresses