Apartment Hunting - Scam?

[haucrazy]

Hi all,
I explained my scenario to my boyfriend, and he so kindly pointed me to you guys for guidance. I thank you in advance for reading my story

My friend and I are moving to LA come June, and we've been looking at apartment listings. She came across one that seemed to be too good to be true. The link is flagged for removal now (I am not sure if it's because someone else thought it was a good deal and didn't want anyone else to see it, or if it actually was flagged potentially as a scam--but the link itself only contains info about the apartment).

The rent is $1100 for a 2 bed/2 bath on Wilshire in Westwood in a (presumably) luxury apartment building.
http://www.wilshiremargot.com/ <-- This is the site for the actual complex.

So my friend responds to the post. We thought maybe it meant, 1100/bedroom, which would be a lot more realistic. This is the response she got:

Hello,

Thanks for taking the time to look at my property.My name is Nicole Miller,I'm 43 years old,I'm a construction engineer and I'm the owner of this condo(2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,1100 square footage).I lived in this beautiful condo for over 5 years,loved every day of it.It's located in 10599 Wilshire Blvd. at Westholme Los Angeles CA.The unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat, the condo come with two parking spots,a storage unit where you can deposit my furniture (if you don't like it and you want use your furniture),there is also a linen closet, and most importantly, a new front loading stacked washer and drier.Pets allowed.I've moved to United Kingdom with my job (i am a construction engineer) and decided to rent it because the rent is very expensive here.The price is so low because I'm here and is very hard to find a tenant.I can rent you the condo for min. 1 month and max. 6 years(or more).I really want to find a good and responsible tenant for it, and I hope that you can send me some personal information about yourself.The rent of the condo for 1 month is $1100 including all utilities(water,electricity, Internet,cable, parking,air conditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage) and I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account and the security deposit is $2500--you'll receive the deposit back at your departure.You can move in the condo in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys and I have nobody in United States that could show you the condo.In order to check it,see if you like it(I'm sure that you'll love it),you need to receive the keys and the contract. Obviously we need a way to complete this deal in a safe and fast way for both.The solution is provided by "The First American Corporation" which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys . A friend of mine moved here from Arizona and used the company to resolve the same problem . This procedure allow you to pay the rent only after you will receive the keys,after you will see it, decide if you will stay in the condo or not( I will receive the payment after you'll check the condo).Please click on the link bellow to "The First American Corporation" website to see how we can complete the deal in a safe way, directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained:
http://sw.firstam.com/az/index...sk=view&id=31&Itemid=1
If you want to know more about how this deal can work please get back to me ASAP and I will send you the details step by step.

This is the second email we received after responding:

Thank you for your reply.

Before going further with anything I must tell you how this service works and what we need to do.
1 - To start this transaction I will need your info.
2 - I will go to "The First American" Office with the keys, all the condo documents and complete all the necessary documents for you as a future tenant.
3 - After all the legal documents will be verified and the rent contract will be made "The First American" will send you a delivery notification(to let you know that they have the keys and the documents in their custody) and the payment instructions (you'll be instructed to send the money for the first month of rent+the security deposit in the next 24 hours to "The First American" agent from England through a Money Transfer Service - western union)
4 - After you'll make the transfer you'll have to send the info about the money deposit to "The First American" and after they will receive your payment will start delivery of the keys and the contract at your address.
5 - After you'll receive the keys and the contract, you'll have 10 days to decide if you keep the condo or not(you can live there 10 days for free so you can decide if you'll take it--if so you'll have to sign the contract, if not you'll have to return the contract
unsigned to "The First American" office. If the contract is returned signed by you "The First American" will relase the money to me, if the contract is unsigned they will return the money to you-BUT I'M SURE THAT YOU WILL LOVE THE CONDO and because of this I will pay "The First American" fees(about 600 pounds) and you'll pay Western fees-for the Money Transfer(about 150$). So if you have $3,600 cash (the rent for 1 month-$1100 and the security deposit-$2500) and if you're ready for this transaction send me your info(full name, your shipping address, your phone #, a fax # and a copy of your ID) and the full name of the person(s) that will live with you.As soon as I receive your info I'll start the official procedure, and "The First American" will notify you about this matter. You'll also receive important guidelines plus instructions from them in order to complete the deal in a safe way for both (please go through them exactly).
PS: I will make the transaction only in this way and if you want to proceed please email with all the requested info.

My brain is screaming, "SCAM!!" based on

1. 1. She hires a firm out of state that seems to have a sketchy presence (thanks, Google search!)
   2. She writes with run-on sentences/lack of space after comma/periods (nitpicky, but who knows!).
   3. Western Union
   4. "Lived" there for 5 years and couldn't find someone locally to hold the keys and show the apartment?
   5. Doesn't specify unit #
   6. WESTERN UNION!
   7. Google searched her e-mail address and came across other, old listings related to homes in Chicago and Washington D.C.
   8. Her e-mail address doesn't match her name (seems to actually be another name)

All signs point to obvious, but as I am unsure of how these things work, I'd love some reassurance before I go ahead and mark it as such. Thank you so much for your help

 

[xanis]

My brain is screaming "SCAM" based on the fact that it's a luxury apartment building in LA, it has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and it's only $1100/month. Something definitely isn't right.

 

[KeithTalent]

Scam! Run, fast and far.

KT

Edit: someone ask the OP for pics. I'm too much of a gentleman to do it myself.

 

[amdhunter]

Is an iPod included with the rent?

 

[puffff]

Definitely a scam. If you cant meet with a real person, its a scam. Long distance landlords would generally get a broker to do the footwork for them if they cant themselves.

 

[FDF12389]

Looks about as legit as a monkey driving a school bus with a cop car in tow.

 

[ggnl]

most definitely a scam.

Edit: I ran into similar scams in my recent house hunt. It's very common.

 

[haucrazy]

HAHA. You guys are awesome. Thanks.

 

[Beev]

Western Union is made for sending money to the immediately family/friends and NEVER to strangers. Scam.

 

[torpid]

You have to pay some arbitrary company money before you can even see the apartment - upwards of $3500 - and you are wondering if this is a scam? Yes, yes it is.

There are lots of fun ways to string this dude along. There are even sites dedicated to stringing scammers along. You could reply back that you have a solution to the issue. Tell them you know of a reputable locksmith that will re-key the place so that others can see it. All they have to do is call {phone # for one of a zillion scam locksmiths in the area} and request that a new lock be put on the property.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Yup, scam.

I think the legit way of renting space from across the world would be contracting with a local landlord/management company to deal with the paperwork, deposit, lease enforcement, keys, etc...

 

[Sacrilicious]

this is DEFINITELY a scam! i just got the same crap just now as i apt hunted in the DC metro area. this is what i got:

Hello, Thanks for taking the time to look at my property.My name is Anna Paquin,I'm 43 years old,I'm a construction engineer and I'm the owner of this condo(2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,1100 square footage) .I lived in this beautiful condo for over 5 years and loved every day of it.This beautiful condo is located in the vibrant commercial neighborhood of Arlington : 1010 N Highland St at Washington Blvd,1 block from 10th St,1 block from N Hudson St,2 blocks from Clarendon Blvd,only 2 min from Clarendon M station.. The condo is fully furnished with all necessary amenities(exactly like in the pics),Brazilian cherry floors; Luxurious kitchen with Viking appliances, large kitchen island and Poggen Pohl cabinets; master bedroom/master bath includes an oversized marble soaking tub and separate shower; California Closets walk-in closet in master bedroom; Second bedroom/den with second full bath.The unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat, the condo come with two parking spots,a storage unit where you can deposit my furniture (if you don't like it and you want use your furniture),there is also a linen closet, and most importantly, a new front loading stacked washer and drier.Pets allowed.I've moved to United Kingdom with my job (i am a construction engineer) and decided to rent it because the rent is very expensive here.The price is so low because I'm here and is very hard to find a tenant.I can rent you the condo for min. 1 month and max. 6 years(or more).I really want to find a good and responsible tenant for it, and I hope that you can send me some personal information about yourself.The rent of the condo for 1 month is $1200 including all utilities(water,electricity, Internet,cable, parking,air conditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage) and I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account and the security deposit is $2500--you'll receive the deposit back at your departure.You can move in the condo in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys and I have nobody in United States that could show you the condo.In order to check it,see if you like it(I'm sure that you'll love it),you need to receive the keys and the contract. Obviously we need a way to complete this deal in a safe and fast way for both.The solution is provided by "The First American Corporation" which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys . A friend of mine moved here from Arizona and used the company to resolve the same problem . This procedure allow you to pay the rent only after you will receive the keys,after you will see it, decide if you will stay in the condo or not( I will receive the payment after you'll check the condo).Please click on the link bellow to "The First American Corporation" website to see how we can complete the deal in a safe way, directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained: http://sw.firstam.com/az/index...sk=view&id=31&Itemid=1 If you want to know more about how this deal can work please get back to me ASAP and I will send you the details step by step. Regards,

look familiar? the two things that gave this away to me were:

1. sw.firstam.com/az ...firstam is obviously legit, but where's the sw coming from? why az? this is located in VA...
2. quick look at the REAL firstam.com site, and look up "escrow" in the search...check the pulldown for states that they have these services: az isn't one of them...:/

anyways...i knew it was too good of a deal to be real, so i had my guard up anyways...oh well!

 

[DoubleJ2000]

I just got the same email regarding a condo in Santa Monica, CA ($1200 for a 2 bed/2 bath, complete with 20 pictures of the place). I even drove by the building, and it matched the picture he/she had sent! Very sneaky, this one. I was still suspicious, and a google search led me here.... very glad I did! I was on the verge of passing up a great price on another apartment (through a legit company) in order to pursue this one.

 

[HannibalX]

Never sign the papers until you see the unit! If the unit is being represented by a property management company ask for the owners name, address and telephone number so you can contact them and verify ownership. You can verify the information with the local tax collector's office - most have a web site and can verify info.

 

[krylon]

:camera: of you

 

[Chronoshock]

If it's too good to be true...

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Chronoshock
If it's too good to be true...

it probably is.

or it probably isn't?

is true? isn't true? is too good? isn't too good?

 

[shopbruin]

I could have told you it's a scam just by the location and price alone. That's the Wilshire Corridor, and those high rise apts are ridiculously expensive.

 

[ScottyB]

My name is Mr. Umbutu. I am a high-ranking official of the Bechuanaland Protectorate stationed in Gaborone of the country of Botswana. I am writing to let you know that we have caught the leader of the organization that was running the apartment leasing scam through the website of Craigslist. His name is Butana Auowana. As an official for the government of Botswana, I have been authorized to reimburse individuals that were targeted in this scam. Unfortunately, Mr. Auowana refuses to divulge the entirety of individuals he has personally stolen from. Though during the raid, we did find a list of names of people he has targeted. This list contains 287 names and email addresses of individuals including yourself. The Botswana government has also confiscated a total of 493 million dollars (in United States currency) after the arrest of Mr. Auowana. The government, according to international law) is entitled to half of this money. The rest will be equally divided amongst the known victims of Mr. Auowana. This means that you will receive approximately $850,000 US as compensation. Unfortunately, due to international law we cannot issue you a check unless we obtain proper identification first. We will need your United States identification (including address, automobile license number, Social Security number, a scanned copy of your picture, and a signature). Before we can process this transaction, we will also need $2,500 for administrative and banking fees sent to my office. We can only receive this money through Western Union because of international and local law. If you cannot send us this money right away, please first send still send the identification as requested. We can still process the transaction without the fees, but we cannot release the funds until they are received. This will make sure your money gets to you as soon as possible until you can gather the necessary funds to sent to us. Remember, you will be receiving over $850,000 so it should not be difficult to raise such funds from either a bank loan or from friends or family.

Thank you,

Mr. Charles Umbutu, AFO Gaborone, Botswana

 

[alkemyst]

scam...I'd right back:

"Hey babe, let me tell you how this really works.

You need to sell your property, I want to buy it.

Let meet for drinks, If I think you have the stuff'; we can fuck.

If not I am bailing.

Let me know, hun.

 

[ArJuN]

I read the first line and figured it was a scam...I don't understand why it's so hard to pick these out. Who the hell cares how old the seller is? If it's a legitimate business it wouldn't be mentioned.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: haucrazy
HAHA. You guys are awesome. Thanks.

Thanks...and now how about some pics of you? :laugh:

 

[JS80]

lol the wilshire margot is like a $4-5k/month apt.