Ad on Craigslist - trying to send ME money!!

[annoyedatevil]

from: John Matthais <first.st.lukechurch@gmail.com>

Not sure what he's after being that I put the ad on the site & he's trying to send me money for renting my apartment. ???

I didn't realize this was a scam until I got almost the exact same email from another totally different address.



Hello ,

Thanks for your mail, I am indeed serious about renting this unit and will be willing to offer you first month rent to start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to my arrival. You can send me the lease application, to enable me to review it ahead of time. I am a Reverend and am presently ministry in St. Luke's Church, St.Luke's Close, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2US, UK. I will be in the states for the next 2 years and during my stay I will joining Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns and Suffragan Bishop David Bena at Saint Luke's Anglican Church in spreading the word of GOD.


I have a financier that is based in the States and he will be handling the rent deposit payment on my behalf, I will instruct him to send you a Certified Check for this as soon as you give me the go ahead to make out 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 furnitures,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. Also send me a picture viewing the living room and thebed rooms.


As regards the lease agreement, I want you to send it to me for my review. I will eventually have it filled and signed on my arrival in your place as I am of the opinion that such documents are best filled and signed physically. We can start the lease by 1st of November and I will be doing a year lease although i may not arrive until middle of July You can prepare the lease in my name Rev (DR) John Matthais and my wife (Rev) Mrs Kelly Matthais


Let me know how to move ahead as I intend to complete this deal before I move in a couple of days. I want all the arrangement to be solidified so I settle in comfortably when I arrive. I will let you know the exact date as soon as I get a booking on a flight to the states.I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.Here is my phone number +Tel: 01994 801434 or +4477024079455 Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious family. I await your urgent response.


Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious family. I await your urgent response.May God be with you and your family.


Rev.(DR) John Matthais.

[Daneel]

Originally Posted by annoyedatevil

I will instruct him to send you a Certified Check for this

He will send you a fake check, and then for any number of reasons ask you to send the money back to him. After this, the check will bounce and the bank will take back the money.

It's just one of very many variations of check fraud which seems to be quite common at the moment. Here's someone else who received the same scam:
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/447024013797/3