In New York last month at the venerable Inman Real Estate Connect, the nation’s leading high tech real estate information conference, we were told that Google and Craig’s List are the two biggest real estate advertising mediums in the world; they give small real estate investors a way to compete for less.  I know my son used Craig’s List when he was seeking housing in northern California (and I was terrified). But lately, people are complaining that Craig’s List doesn’t vet their listings well enough and many of the ads are scams trying to lure people into leasing homes or apartments that are not owned by the postulating “landlord” in the hopes that the eager tenant will send off a check. In fact, this has been going on for years and Craig’s List has made Craig Newmark, a former IBM and Bank of America IT expert,  a millionaire.

So you can imagine the surprise of one Briarwood homeowner, whose home is listed FOR SALE with Martha and McKamy Tiner of Dave Perry Miller & Associates, when someone posted her home for lease at $900 per month on Craig’s List. (Copy of the posting after jump.)

“They were listing for lease a home they didn’t even own!” she said — yeah, her home!

The scammers copied Tiner’s real estate ad word for word and even showed four of the 14 photos. The homeowner was terrified someone would show up at her doorstep claiming they had paid to lease the home or worse! Thankfully, a friend alerted her sharp agent, Martha Tiner, to the fake listing when they saw a home in Briarwood for lease for $900 a month — too good to be true! The homeowner notified Craig’s List and the listing was removed by Friday afternoon.

But get this: the same homeowner answered an ad on Craig’s List for another lease property, using a fake email, and look at the response she got: Pastor Chris, Warsaw Poland and “cleanliness is next to Godliness?” !!! Do these people just think we are way enormously stupid???

Good day Applicant,

Thanks for your email and interest in renting my house. I am Karen Colbert, the owner of the house you are making enquiry of. Actually I did reside in the house with my family, my husband and my only daughter before and presently we have moved out due to my official job transfer or posting, whatever you may call it, which has now found me in Warsaw, Poland. Presently my house is still available for rent for $900 USD per month (which includes utilities), though i intended selling it off but on a later thought changed my mind and have decided putting it on rent. More so now, I’m currently in Lagos, Nigeria for an international Christian follower’s crusade taking place at the Nigeria national stadium, by one Pastor Chris of the Christ Embassy Ministry.

I want you to understand that I spent a lot on my property that you have requested to rent, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and would want you to treat it as your own because cleanliness they say is next to Godliness. It is not all about the money to be paid on rent or spent; it is all about a good maintenance culture which I want you to adopt on the property. I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that I would be full of smiles whenever I come and above all, a good, strong and tight relationship between us when I come for a check up. Please one more thing, I wouldn’t like to have any benefit of trust in you because I want to stand in your words that the property would be well taken care of all the time.

I believe you have see how lovely it is if from only the pictures you saw in my posting compare to the 100% comfort to be derived from it as an occupant. Please note than you will only be able to drive by the house for now but can’t have a look at the interior until i have sent the keys and documents of the house to you. Reason because, i couldnt find someone trust worthy to drop the keys with as my call down here was so sudden. I do hope you understand.

It has extremely spacious rooms throughout with lots of big windows…nice and light! New neutral paint and some newer carpet. Very quiet, low traffic area. New fridge (7/07)…I believe it’s absolutely a perfect home for you and your family. Utilities include Water, Trash, Sewer, Gas etc.

Please note that, a deposit payment would be required if accepted to have the property rented.

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW.

RENT APPLICATION FORM.

FIRST NAME:__________
MIDDLE NAME:__________
LAST NAME:__________
PROFESSION:__________
PHONE: _______________
(CELL)PHONE__________
(WORK)PHONE__________
(HOME)PHONE__________
ARE YOU MARRIED: __________
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
HOW LONG ___________IF RENTING
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING__________
IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING ____________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN ______________
IF YOU HAVE A PET: _________
NAME OF PET: _____________
KIND OF PETS: _____________
HABITS: ___________
DO YOU SMOKE ______________
DO YOU DRINK ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT ____
HOW SOON CAN YOU MAKE THE MOVE IN DEPOSIT ($900) REQUIRED: ____________
WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU WISH TO RECEIVE THE KEYS AND DOCUMENTS OF THE HOUSE: _______________

Looking forward to hearing from you with all this details so that I can present it to my family, pray over it (because I consult the Almighty God before making any decision) and if accepted, and then have them stored in my file in case 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 keys to you, please we are giving you all this based on trust and again I will want you to stick to your words, you know that we are very far apart now and only putting everything into God’s hands and hope that you will not let us down.

The house will be available for rent for a period of five and a half years so you have a choice of deciding how long you intend staying there.. Here is my number 011-234-802-736-6566 or +234-011-234-802-736-6566 , I will be expecting to hear from you.

Feel free to call me for more information and arrangements.

God Bless,
Karen

Fake posting for Amherst:

$900 / 3br – This home was updated in 2001 & offers great entertaining
flow!Move In (Dallas TX )

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Date: 2010-01-28, 8:20AM CST
Reply to: colbertk33@yahoo.com [Errors when replying to ads?]

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3 br | 2 ba | 1,720 sqft | Apt/Condo/Twnhm

This home was updated in 2001 & offers great entertaining flow. Kitchen
is flexible&opens to living&dining areas. The downstairs master has
ample sized bathroom with separate vanities&storage. The large
landscaped backyard features flagstone patio&BOB privacy fence.
Upstairs includes 2 bdrms & great bath. Other features include hardwood
floors throughout, security cameras, 1st floor utility room, gas cook
top, full sprinklered yard.

Location: 4710 W Amherst Ave, Dallas TX 75209

4710 W Amherst Ave (google map) (yahoo map)
cats are OK – purrr
dogs are OK – wooof
Location: Dallas TX
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial
interests

PostingID: 1574471528