Sunday, August 30, 2009

*NEW* Blog Poll About Scammer Emails

For my regular readers, I've introduced a poll to the right to determine if you'd be at all interested in reading more about the emails that I receive from scammers and any correspondence I send back to them.

I feel it helps you see or get into the mindset of a scammer.

Terry Nunley is the one I've had the most correspondence with to date. He or she, or it is really trying to make me rent his apartment that is supposedly very nice and located somewhere equally nice as well.

I do promise to give you more details on that by later today or tomorrow after work.

Have a great weekend!! As always, be careful when talking with people online. Not trying to preach but follow some suggestions before doing anything involved with a potential scammer on the internet.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

terry.nunley@gmail.com (Email Scammer) Fraud

I realize scammers constantly change their email addresses after self discovery by questioning individuals but I try to highlight and put the email addresses on the title section of my blogs where possible.

For another recent example allow me to introduce terry.nunley@gmail.com as one of the scammers. I'll back up this with evidence later today or tonight but until then, question everything from anyone you receive online.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Convincing Emails/Scams Using Craigs List Rental Property

I just wanted to warn anyone about email scams, even google or yahoo or any type of email addresses that appear to look convincing like firstname.lastname@google.com can still be scams as well.

I didn't fall victim but I'm currently corresponding with a drooling scammer trying to get me to rent an apartment with convincing language if I wire him or her the money to get mailed back by FedEx a key and rental agreement I must return to rent the property.

For some reason, they are always out of the country and can't meet in person nor do they have anyone in town like a realtor to show me the property in person but you have to have confidence in the transaction and "God" that will put me in that apartment because they feel all cuddly with me. They also believe me to be quite the trusthworthy soul because they got an immediate vibe of my goodness when reading my request for rental property.

Sort of makes me misty that someone knows what I want and at a seemingly unheard of price per month and initial security deposit.

More on that later...including pictures if it goes further

To summarize, be careful. Trust nobody. Ask questions. Don't send out personal information. Create and use a fake email address to screen out others. Don't have your real first and last name show up on the email account you use to correspond at first. Get a phone number. Call and talk to the possible people you'll rent from. Be cautious and careful especially when using the internet for your rental searches.

Career Networks Emails Fake Job Offers/Scams All The Time

One of the most popular career/job offer scams is Career Networks which also appears to be quite popular with the readers and visitors to this blog.

I haven't been able to check my email regularly for a few weeks since I'm trying to move into a new apartment and my parents do not have internet at home.

So here's an email for a supposedly sound job sponsored by the worst fake of job offers, Career Networks:

Hi Xxxxxx,

We wanted to let you know about a vacant Agent Service Representative position that has recently become available.

This position offers $13.00 to $16.00 an hour, plus benefits.

If you have been considering a career change, or, if you think this is a position you would like to fill, select the following link to access a more complete description and apply:

http://search-career-postings.com/cmanager3.aspx?em=xxxxxxxx@gmail.com&id=kdjerhfdj3_HAG23Cudfgbsrtuerbig07152009_23&rd=154938&Code=HfK6tQTLMkuaephHdOsNaIfCm3RNuYxXf2KAXXMcocs%3D&RecipientID=&gs=1&ro=1sdf234234232&j234234234

We will be awaiting your prompt response.

With Regards,

Barbara Fields
HR Coordinator


And most of us know you receive this type of email and it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with a real life job opportunity in your area. It's more of a scam to get you to fill out personal information to harness email addresses and telephone numbers to spam you with offers to return to college or secure money for going back to college. If you give them a telephone number, you'll constantly be called by an automated message (like me since I fell victim to this scam myself) with offers to return the call to complete the steps of the application.

Here's another one from that ridiculous company Career Networks:

Dear Xxxxxxx,

A great Call Center Representative position has recently opened, and we thought it may interest you.

The Call Center Representative position offers $12.00/hour and up to $24k annual commission plus benefits.

If you are interested in pursuing a new career, or if you think you may be interested in the Call Center Representative position, follow the link below to get a complete description and an application to apply:

http://myambitiouscareers.com/cmanager3.aspx?em=XXXXXXXX@gmail.com&id=nxdcfx7_AtP23CusPIOUhghntrbsds2009_23&rd=150707&Code=HfK6tQTLMkuaephHdOsNaIfCm3RNuYxXf2KAXXMcocs%3D&RecipientID=92308932342&gs=12&ro=26&j=2408923342342

We will be looking for your response today.

Respectfully Yours,

Barbara Fields
General Office Manager


Please note the links above will not click on a valid reply for job offers. I did post the text of the email exactly as I received it from the Career Clowns but I modified the URL so my personal information would not show up to anyone who may dare defend this Career Network company as offering legitimate jobs.

I realize there may be some people who either surf the net to find out bad things people say about this company and I will allow them to have equal opportunities to post the praise in the comments.

But the majority of people who have posted comments far outrule any legitimate beliefs I have to Career Clows, errr, Career Networks. But the persistence of getting you to constantly click on links with offers where they never reply to your email to inquire on the job and finer details never ceases to amaze me.

Most of you do believe there are no real jobs to be had by any email from Career Networks, right?

Right?

Have a great weekend!!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Jack Williams Apartment Rental Scam jw7455@gmail.com

As some of you may read and know from the other blog, I've accepted a new job in another city from where I live in Alabama and I have started to look at apartments in the city of my new home where I'll work.

I wound up looking at lots of other apartments in the city where the job was located but kept turning up disappointed because of the layout or the apartment itself wasn't up to my standards with the amount of rent,deposit, application fees, and the like.

So I turned to my somewhat at times trustworthy website, CraigsList.com for help. I actually posted an ad on there for housing wanted stating I was moving into the area and was looking for an apartment in the range of $600 to $700 per month and preferred one open to an older pet cat I had of mine.

You'd be surprised how many emails I received, most offering me to share a home with someone else when I mentioned specifically I wanted a home of my own and not to share with a roommate or roommates.

Then this ad reply below came from Jack Williams, at the email address on google.com, which just screams fake all over it.

Let's read what he replied to me about his housing:

Hello Dear,

Calvary greetings to you, also to your house hold..I got the AD you
posted on craigslist... I am looking for responsible tenants that
he/she is going to take care of the house as if it were your own and
he/she will be willing to make the Property clean as we left it.
Actually I resided in the house with my family, such as my wife and my
only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer
from my working place and now situated in the (United Kingdom) and
won't be coming to the House until Four years now and that means we
are renting the Property for long term and short term lease is also
acceptable. and presently my house is still available for rent for
$1000 which the deposit is $800 dollars including the utilities like
Heat, A/C in wall/window, Hydro, cable, Garbage Disposal, Fireplace ,
Fridge, stove, Dishwasher, Dryer, Breakfast Bar, Dining Table and Sofa
Set,Refrigerator,Canopied deck overlooking nature.,internet access
e..t.c .,it is furnished or if u wish to move in with your furnitures
no problem..Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in United Kingdom.

I will solicit for your absolute mentenance of this house and want you
to treat it as your own, it is not the money the main problem but want
you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it
neat when i come for a check up.i do that once in a while....I also
want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAL
APPLICATION FORM BELOW FOR RECORD PURPOSE

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone
( ) ________________________
Date of Birth_________________________________
Other Phone ( ) ___________________
Current Address_______________________________Apt#________
City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone (
) ____________________________
Are you married____________________________
How many people will be living in the house____________________________
How many people will be living
in the house____________________________
Do you have a pet____________________________
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
HOW SOON CAN YOU HAVE THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT SENT TO ME___________________________
HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS OF THE
HOUSE___________________________

You will only be able to drive by the house for now but not have a
look at the interior until i have sent the keys and documents of the
house to you..and the requirement for getting the keys and documents
of the house is a fully refundable payment of $800 USD,which is the
security deposit. Please note that the deposit made is fully
refundable should in case you finally gain entrance into the house
after receiving the keys and documents and feel unsatisfied or
uncomfortable with the interior,but i am giving you a benefit of doubt
that you will love everything about this lovely home..

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RENT ONLY STARTS COUNTING AFTER YOU HAVE FINALLY
MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, SO YOU NEED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING THE
DEPOSIT PAYMENT NOW AND NOT MOVING IN IMMEDIATELY,ALL YOU'RE DOING IS
SECURING THE HOUSE IN YOUR FAVOUR IN ORDER NOT TO LOOSE IT TO OTHER
INTERESTED APPLICANTS..

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can
have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and
contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how
to get the document and the key to you.

Regards
Jack Williams


Now at this point you're probably thinking this sounds like a great deal...but it's really not. It's a scam. I've read in our local newspaper and google searched that the internet is now becoming a source of scams for people searching for rental property as well.

Notice how this email reads...reads just like someone who isn't familiar with the English language or how to make things flow well. Everything I bolded above comes just as it was written by this scammer. I hate to call them a person because they are a scammer and only a scammer.

I did send him a reply which I'll post on my next entry here. All I can say is to be careful. The wording my change, but the same traits for a scam seem to follow for other replies I had in my search for rental property.

Have a great week!! Look for regular updates to this blog and the other one coming very shortly!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Jack Williams Email Scam jw7455@gmail.com

I apologize to my readers for not posting more in the past few weeks.

I've changed jobs and I'm currently at a location that does not have internet access so I'm unable to regularly schedule updates to this blog and my other blog as much as I'd like to.

Stay tuned soon for additional information including more details on the current scam of Jack Williams circulating around the internet in the United States with fake property rentals he is offering that do not exist whatsoever.

If you receive emails that look tempting, ask questions, get contact numbers for the individual by telephone and don't believe everything you may see or read on the internet.

There are scams around that seek to put your good money into the pockets of those who are trying to take advantage of you but sound as sweet as your grandmother.

More soon. I promise. Have a safe and relaxing weekend!!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Fake Apartment Rental Scams From Craigslist And Emails

Hey everyone, just wanted to check in. I need to for sure write a much longer reply but I wanted to let you know about email scams regarding apartments for rent that do not exist. I've been corresponding with a fake person with a fake house and apartment in the area that completely does not exist.

If you are in doubt there are scams involving non existent apartments for rent just google Nigerian apartment scam and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Until I can post a longer entry, please be careful!! There's so much that can give it away as a scam but just be very careful of what you provide to these scammers, okay?

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Jack Williams Home Rental Scams On Craigslist

By the way, the email for the Home Rental scam came from an over zealous Jack Williams copied below.

If you want to simply write him, preferably with an email that does not give your real name and you knowingly realize anything online should be checked out somehow more fully, his email is jw7455@gmail.com.

I did just reply to him and ask him where the unit is located. I'd be curious to see how he replies to that or gives me a generic answer.

I just re-read it yet again and can't help but wonder despite enticing phrasings, why or how could anyone believe it to be real?

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Home For Rent Craigslist Scam/Craigslist Has Lots Of Scams There

Hello everyone, thanks for stopping by recently to visit the blog. I've been very busy lately between starting a new job, training for the position, and looking for an apartment to rent while staying back in my hometown.

Craigslist sometimes may be a good resource to find rental property however I still don't think it's a great resource for a normal regular consume in my view.

Great for a scammer overall but not so great for a person who is trying to find much of anything online.

Case in point. When I couldn't find an apartment quite that I liked and reading so many junk emails asking me to sign up for credit repair services, online dating so I'd not be lonely in my new property, and so much more, I decided I'd get smart and post an ad of the ideal apartment I was looking for.

I received some replies and actually went to visit some locations and see the property available for rent. Some were nice others were not so nice or in far too bad of shape to consider renting.

Then, magically, or scamfully, I received a reply like what I copied below:

"Hello Dear,

Calvary greetings to you, also to your house hold..I got the AD you
posted on craigslist... I am looking for responsible tenants that
he/she is going to take care of the house as if it were your own and
he/she will be willing to make the Property clean as we left it.
Actually I resided in the house with my family, such as my wife and my
only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer
from my working place and now situated in the (United Kingdom) and
won't be coming to the House until Four years now and that means we
are renting the Property for long term and short term lease is also
acceptable. and presently my house is still available for rent for
$1000 which the deposit is $800 dollars including the utilities like
Heat, A/C in wall/window, Hydro, cable, Garbage Disposal, Fireplace ,
Fridge, stove, Dishwasher, Dryer, Breakfast Bar, Dining Table and Sofa
Set,Refrigerator,Canopied deck overlooking nature.,internet access
e..t.c .,it is furnished or if u wish to move in with your furnitures
no problem..Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in United Kingdom.

I will solicit for your absolute mentenance of this house and want you
to treat it as your own, it is not the money the main problem but want
you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it
neat when i come for a check up.i do that once in a while....I also
want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTRESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENTAL
APPLICATION FORM BELOW FOR RECORD PURPOSE

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone
( ) ________________________
Date of Birth_________________________________
Other Phone ( ) ___________________
Current Address_______________________________Apt#________
City__________________ State______ Zip________
Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone (
) ____________________________
Are you married____________________________
How many people will be living in the house____________________________
How many people will be living
in the house____________________________
Do you have a pet____________________________
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
HOW SOON CAN YOU HAVE THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT SENT TO ME___________________________
HOW SOON DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS OF THE
HOUSE___________________________

You will only be able to drive by the house for now but not have a
look at the interior until i have sent the keys and documents of the
house to you..and the requirement for getting the keys and documents
of the house is a fully refundable payment of $800 USD,which is the
security deposit. Please note that the deposit made is fully
refundable should in case you finally gain entrance into the house
after receiving the keys and documents and feel unsatisfied or
uncomfortable with the interior,but i am giving you a benefit of doubt
that you will love everything about this lovely home..

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RENT ONLY STARTS COUNTING AFTER YOU HAVE FINALLY
MOVED INTO THE HOUSE, SO YOU NEED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING THE
DEPOSIT PAYMENT NOW AND NOT MOVING IN IMMEDIATELY,ALL YOU'RE DOING IS
SECURING THE HOUSE IN YOUR FAVOUR IN ORDER NOT TO LOOSE IT TO OTHER
INTERESTED APPLICANTS..

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can
have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and
contacting you. Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how
to get the document and the key to you.

Regards
Jack Williams"


I promise I won't go into a long blatherly entry about why this one sounds truly like a scam but it is. It just doesn't read like a reply from someone who is even in the United States offering me rental property.

It's just like those Nigerian scams out there offering people lots of money if they put up their own money in good faith for a share of some royalty disbursement. Luckily, I haven't had those otherwise I'd probably go ahead and post those entries here as well.

Don't give up on the apartment search and by all means be careful when you get replies such as the one above. For giggles, I might reply and tell the guy his price range is a little high and see if he has other rental units for less money per month where I pay for my own utilities.

I'll post more soon including the Career Networks issue that still creeps into my cell phone and email box even now.

Have a safe and relaxing weekend everyone!!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Craigslist Email Scams Are Everywhere!!!

One of my fellow bloggers, Sticky Crows wrote a comment on the other blog stating he firmly believed the value of Craigslist for finding tenants for his rental property. I do see a value in the free service Craigslist offers but I also see after a long search yesterday with responding to emails there is a lot of potential for money making with credit protection services and email address harvesting.

Case in point in the beautiful city of Pensacola, Florida where I'm seeking an apartment for rent. I see lots upon lots of listings with varied google email accounts that give remarkable pictures and remarkable amenities including some with 2000 square feet as a one bedroom one bath apartment single unit.

I've started to flag a lot of them because these listings when I email them for more information as simple as the location, I receive a reply to fill out a credit report because giving out the location makes the unit suspect for possible break in burglaries.

They politely tell me via email they must have a recent copy of my credit report including a credit score to give to them and include on this "fake" rental application that is designed to harvest, name, social security numbers, work places, previous addresses, and other references.

And yes, again, there's no real telephone number to call anyone about the property and only a direct statement you must fill out this online form for getting your credit report through this company and no others.

I did on one on a whim email an ad back from Craigslist when they asked for this information to say I received my credit score back and if there was anyone I could call to talk about this with questions.

Nothing happened at all. It's as if the auto reply feature turns off after the first email they send back offering Credit Protection Service.

I flag these listings that are without any doubt fake on Craigslist and see wise people have also done the same during the same type of search.

Then I get happy when I see a note from Craigslist the listing has been flagged for removal. But then a few minutes later, the listing just re-appears at the top of the page as it just posted completely over again with only a slight variant of email address as the one we in the CL community removed.

I realize it's a free service and you tend to get most of what you pay for with CL, but I do agree, it does have some value. Maybe I just have been too blind to see what that is.

Have a great weekend everyone!!