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Suspicious & Fraudulent Email Messages

View unedited examples below (all renter and property names have been changed):
Distant Landlord |  Pressure to complete |  Hard to believe |  No direct landlord contact

Example 1: Distant landlord back to top

Hello,

The price is $600 per month and i ask a 2 months advance rent payment plus half month a security deposit, so $1,500. The apt is now available, totally firnished, flexible lease, is nice, clean, quiet, has all the facilities and the utilities a man needs including electric Utility, Cable TV, Parking, Laundry in the bldg, Air conditioning, high speed internet, workout facility, well behaved pets are allowed.

I am not in USA, i am in Greece teaching deaf people to "talk", i am deaf too. I left the apt three months ago, i haven't had pets, i kept the apt clean, i have no children and i am not married. This would be a perfect apartment for you.

I am ready to lease the apt for extra income. If you are interested in it please reply and we will establish the lease terms, please give me your #, i will call you via a relay company if needed.

Thank you!
Maria Bonneterre

Example 2: Pressure to complete back to top

Frank, I managed to forward your information at Rent.com and I hope they will be contacting you with more details and instructions soon. The contract will become legal only from the time you move in/if you decide to move in. It is not designed to force you or anything. I apologize if I'm moving too fast but I need to rent this apartment as soon as possible. The only problem is that I have an waiting list (that was created in the email order) and for the moment you are the fourth person interested. If you find something that will not suit you and you dont want to lease anymore, please let me know soon so I can contact the next person that is interested.

Thank you.
Philip

Example 3: Hard to believe back to top

Dear Sarah,

Happy to hear of your interest. I live in London most of the time and decided to rent this apartment. The typical rent range for an apartment in this area of town is between $2,000.00 and $2,500.00/month. I'm asking only $800/month because I need a serious and trust worthy person who not only will pay me the rent on time but also will take care and preserve my property. I currently have someone inside (an accountant from a local bank) and she is planning on leaving this week.

I will require payment in advance for every 3 months which means $3,000.00 at every cycle. Rent.com will hold the money for the first cycle until you inspect the apartment and send them your confirmation that you wish to rent. I require the payment in advance at Rent.com because my time is very limited, I don't want to disturb my current tenant. I'm sick of tire-kickers, people who are just looking around and not serious about renting.

If you're ok with my terms and you wish to proceed please forward me your full name and address and I will pass them onto Rent.com. They will contact you with payment instructions in order to secure the deposit/first cycle. The whole process takes less than one day and I will be contacting you over the phone the very next minute I hear something positive from Rent.com and schedule a meeting so you can inspect the apartment. If you will decide to pass and start looking for another place, Rent.com will return you the money 100% as I will be supporting the fees but I'm sure you will like it as everybody else did.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Patrick Barnett

Example 4: No direct landlord contact back to top

Dear Kevin,
The apartment is still available. Since my wife died I moved with my bussiness to United Kingdom, and now I`m living in Liverpool. I`m looking for a minimum one year lease contract due to the distance between USA and England. I can`t come just to show you the apartment due to the distance between us. You need to fill a rental aplication form if you want me to consider you as a potential tenant.

It is very difficult to handle this process but if we come to an agreement I will be more then happy to come over and go through the lease contract. The appartment is in perfect shape, and everithing inside is brand new. As soon as you see the inside of it you would love it. That is a guarantee. Also small pets are welcome. The rent per month is $1200 and the deposit $1200 aswell.

We are going to sign the lease as soon as you are satisfied with the apartment. Please contact me for some more photos and the Rental Aplication Form.

Regards, Trevor

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