A real live scam!!

[catslock1]

I've just found myself right in the middle of a scam!!What do you think my next move should be?
 Here's the story..
I placed an ad on craigslist to rent an apartment.  Here are the emails that  follows (it's rather lengthy):

scammer:
Hello,
         I would like to know if the property you listed is still
available.

   Regards.
Feng Huang

Me:
Yes it is.

Him:

Hello,

With regards to the property I am inquiring about, I will like to get some
more details about it, I am currently in Malaysia and am Relocating to USA
to check out the best place to setup a new office for my company ( Berjaya
General Insurance Bhd  18th Floor Menara BGI, Plaza Berjaya 12 Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur or P.O. Box 12433, 50778 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia ), as we
are about to open a new office in the state, so due to my non presence to
inspect the Property, I will like you to provide me more details,

# I need full details including address of the property and more pictures if
available for the place.
# Is it Furnished?
# Monthly rentals/security deposits.
# If utilities is added to monthly rent.
# When the property would be available.
# Mail me how much is due at lease signing.

I await your response soon.

Thanks
Feng Huang


Me:

Hi Feng,

1.  It is unfurnished
2. 1 mnths rent + 1 mnths security
3. Utilities are not included i.e. you are responsible for your electricity and gas.
4.  $2550 would be due at lease signing.

Would you be operating your business out of this location?

Thanks


him:

Hello,
     Thanks for the details on the Property, I am satisfied and will like to
go ahead with the renting process, I will like you to go ahead and reserve
the property for me.

So I will be needing the following information's so that the check payment
for $2550 can be processed and posted to you soon.

Name:............
Address:.............
Phone number(cell and land):............

I want the 12 month lease to start on 5th Aug 2011, I also want to notify
you that I have in the mean time arrange with an interior decorator (Agent)
who will be handling the purchase of furniture's, entertainment system and
other appliances that  will be needed in the property, they will as well be
in charge of moving down my luggage's down to the states. So the check for
$4,900 will be sent over to you which is a relocation grant by my
employer.All you need do is to deduct the deposit of $2550 and forward the
difference to my Decorators so I can have the place prepared before my
arrival. All applications and lease will be signed as soon as I arrive.

Also for familiarization I Am Feng Huang, I am 55 yrs of age, a Malaysia
citizen, married to a lovely lady, with a daughter (Family will stay over in
Malaysia), I work with   ( Berjaya General Insurance Bhd Malaysia), as a
loss adjuster agent, I am a Christian, reserved in Nature, Non smoker and
also don't keep pets.

I look forward to meeting you and hope to have a good relationship as a
tenant with you.

I await the details.
you can reach me on this number 01160172753910
Below  is my present landlords information for reference :



       Dr.Kim Hou
       03 g-16-9 mentari court
       bandar sunway  41700
       Malaysia
       EMAIL: kimhuo2021@yahoo.com

Regards.

Feng Huang
03 g-16-9 mentari court
bandar sunway  41700
Malaysia


me:

Hi,

The property is currently occupied and will be vacated by August 1st.  I am unsure as to the necessary repairs that will be needed and will therefore prefer that the lease begin on September 1st.  If this is acceptable then we can proceed.


him:

Hello

I will think about it and get back to you...but how about the 15th???


Me:
We can try for the 15th... this is more feasible.

Him:
Good..Please send name and address of where check will be sent to.


Thanks


Me:

Feng,

Make the check payable to  *name, address etc.*

I will be inspecting the apartment on Friday.  I don't anticipate any major repairs that would extend beyond the 15th but will keep you informed.

Please send details regarding your interior decorator so that I can forward the remaining funds.  Attached please find one year lease agreement for your review and signature.


him:

Hello
>
> Thanks for the details sent to me , I will forward your details over to my
> employer and they will get in touch with the company in the states to send
> you the check on a local US Bank via overnight delivery to avoid any delay,
> once I have an update from them that the check has been mailed, I will email
> you with necessary info to keep watch over it to arrive your location.
>
> Thanks once again I will get back to you asap.I'll have my decorator
> contact you soon so you can work out the details and lastly  hope you will
> act fast with my decorator money because i don't want want the property to
> be delayed in anyway.Looking forward to meeting you and hope to have a good
> relationship with you.
>
> Decorator Information
> Name:Marie Johnson
> Cell Phone:206-350-0252
> Email: ladymjdeco@yahoo.com
>
> Cheers
> Feng Huang>

At this juncture I'm away on vacation in the beautiful tennassee mountains.  During this time I have checked my email and receive this while on vacation.

 him:

Hello

I got a call from my company today that the payment is drop via overnight
delivery and will deliver Thursday morning,here is the tracking number for
your reference EO 997 464 105 US .USPS is the shipper. I'll like you to
deduct your money from the $4,900 and send the remaining to my decorator.As
you know my move in date is around the corner and she needs to start work
immediately.


When you receive the check go to the nearest western union/money Gram
transfer outlet close to you and send the difference to the below
details.You'll deduct your money from the $4,900 so also the transfer
charges..

I'll have my decorator contact you immediately so she can make all necessary
arrangements on how to get entrance into the property so she can start work
immediately. Its very important you make the transfer when you receive the
check so i can get there as scheduled.Looking forward to meet you soon, Find
below the information of my decorator


        Name...Marie Johnson
        Address PO box 140
        City: Columbus,
        Zip code:  31826
        State:Georgia

Once again,You will have to deduct money transfer charges from the amount
you are sending,I want everything to get clear to you.As soon as you get
transfer done ,you will have to get back to me with the following transfer
information,

MTCN CONTROL NUMBER ( 10 DIGIT NUMBER )/REFRENCE NUMBER IF MONEY GRAM (8
DIGITS)
SENDER'S FULL NAME & ADDRESS
AMOUNT SENT AFTER TRANSFER CHARGES
TRANSFER CHARGES



Thanks
Cheers.
Feng Huang


So I made a few calls during my vacation and found out that there was indeed a check at my home for the stated amount.  I sent him an email (can't retrieve it now) that I am on vacation and would handle it when I return home.

When I returned home I found a voicemail from him asking about the check.  I tried calling the number he sent me in his email but it was not in service so I called him using the incoming number from my caller id.  He answered and was initially upset about me not calling him sooner about the check.  I told him I would try to cash the check and then wire the rest to the decorator.

The check was drawn on Chevy Chase Bank (recently merged with Capital One - found this out during an internet search)  so yesterday morning I went to the nearest Capital One bank to cash it.    I overheard the tellers saying that there was only $17,000 in the account so they could not honor the check.  They told me that I should return the check and let them know that I could not cash it.  They said they could not tell me why.

I called him and told him what had happened.  He asked me what I would do with the check.  I said I could deposit it to my account but his decorator would not be able to get the funds until the check cleared.

After work, I went to the nearest Chase bank and tried to cash the check.  I figured if any bank could do it then it would be Chase.  Well... after about 30 minutes... the manager came back and told me that she could not return the check to me because it was fraudulent.

Today, I received this email:

Hello
>
> Whats the update?you said you will update me after the check has been
> deposited...


Me:

Hi,
I have deposited the check and everything is OK.  I really want to get this closed.  I'm working late for the rest of the week and am not in close proximity to a money transfer location.  I have made arrangements for someone to be at the property tomorrow with the money (even though the check has not yet cleared) and the keys for your decorator.  Please have her to call me so we can make arrangements for her to get access to the apartment and collect the rest of the money.


After this I receive another call (from a different number).  I told him that I sent him an email and he should have his decorator call me.  He said he would.  Then I get this email

him:

Hello

I have emailed her the whole situation of things and you should hear from
her soon..

decorator:

You are aware that i cannot come to the property without upfront payment.I need clear Feng luggage that was shipped to me get him some art artifact also before coming over.

If i cannot receive my payment upfront am not ready to come over.That is not how i do my business?so i need my work money upfront before coming over.

Since you won't be around this week.I will suggest you instruct your sister to wire me the money and i do what is necessary here.i.e clearing his luggage and do whatever he wants me to do before coming over.

The phone number provided is not a fax line.If it goes striaght to voice mail that means i cannot receive call where i am.Just leave me a message and i will respond....

Marie


What do you think I should do next?

[sjonathan02]

CRAIGSLIST IS. THE. DEVIL!!!!

Report the individual(s) and find another way (read: traditional) to rent an apartment.

[catslock1]

And we are definitely not ignorant of his devices 

[under13]

As soon as he said that he's from overseas, I would have not entertained him any further. With CL you are only supposed to deal with local people. 99 percent of people who contact you that are not in your area are scammers.

[sjonathan02]

And we are definitely not ignorant of his devices 

Amen Walls!

[catslock1]

As soon as he said that he's from overseas, I would have not entertained him any further. With CL you are only supposed to deal with local people. 99 percent of people who contact you that are not in your area are scammers.

Usually true but I've had students from abroad who are coming here to attend college and are looking to rent a place.

[Fenix]

As soon as he said that he's from overseas, I would have not entertained him any further.

End. Of. Thread.

[under13]

Usually true but I've had students from abroad who are coming here to attend college and are looking to rent a place.

Do you run credit checks on your tenants?

[catslock1]

Report the individual(s) and find another way (read: traditional) to rent an apartment.

I found it's not that easy to report.  I stopped by the precinct yesterday and the cop on duty told me that I had to have some proof from the bank that the check was fraudulent.  I do have a copy of the check but now I would have to go back to the bank to get a statement.

[catslock1]

Do you run credit checks on your tenants?

Sometimes I do.  I usually do it based on my the comfort level after speaking with the individual.  I've found out that sometimes some folks with good credit still turn out to be bummy.  I've not had a problem yet.  I do ask for proof of income etc.

[LaylaMonroe]

As soon as he said that he's from overseas, I would have not entertained him any further. With CL you are only supposed to deal with local people. 99 percent of people who contact you that are not in your area are scammers.

That's the bottom line.

As usual, I just roll my eyes at the "bad Craigslist" comments. If you exercise just a little bit of common sense and try not to live under a rock, you'll NEVER get taken on Craigslist. The site itself warns you as explicitly as possible not to do business with anyone who isn't local, and not to accept money orders or checks. It's that simple. If they can't pay with Paypal or cash, I don't even bother. If they are writing on someone else's behalf, I don't bother. If they talk about having a niece or a wife or a whoever who will mail me something... I don't bother. If they won't meet me during the day time at a mall or gas station or MARTA station or other public place with security cameras, I don't bother.

As I've said time and time again, I've used CL more times than I can count - to buy and sell - and I've never been taken. And I'm not even the brightest yellow in the Crayola box.

With all due respect to you, Catslock, I would've known with that first email that it was a scam. If I gave him the benefit of the doubt, I would be unmoveably certain by his second email. This is a classic Nigerian scam which is like 10 years old by now. Who on earth is still getting taken by this stuff??? Dang. No wonder they're still at it.

There's nothing wrong with renting your apartment via Craigslist. Nothing at all. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people do it successfully every day. Just use some common sense, a little wisdom, and don't bother with people who don't live in/near your town. It's that simple. When in doubt, move on to the next person.

[LaylaMonroe]

Just SMH in general... ignorance. smh.

[under13]

Sometimes I do.  I usually do it based on my the comfort level after speaking with the individual.  I've found out that sometimes some folks with good credit still turn out to be bummy.  I've not had a problem yet.  I do ask for proof of income etc.

I would read this page before using CL again. It will also tell you who you can report the scammers to.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

[catslock1]

That's the bottom line.

As usual, I just roll my eyes at the "bad Craigslist" comments. If you exercise just a little bit of common sense and try not to live under a rock, you'll NEVER get taken on Craigslist. The site itself warns you as explicitly as possible not to do business with anyone who isn't local, and not to accept money orders or checks. It's that simple. If they can't pay with Paypal or cash, I don't even bother. If they are writing on someone else's behalf, I don't bother. If they talk about having a niece or a wife or a whoever who will mail me something... I don't bother. If they won't meet me during the day time at a mall or gas station or MARTA station or other public place with security cameras, I don't bother.

As I've said time and time again, I've used CL more times than I can count - to buy and sell - and I've never been taken. And I'm not even the brightest yellow in the Crayola box.

With all due respect to you, Catslock, I would've known with that first email that it was a scam. If I gave him the benefit of the doubt, I would be unmoveably certain by his second email. This is a classic Nigerian scam which is like 10 years old by now. Who on earth is still getting taken by this stuff??? Dang. No wonder they're still at it.

There's nothing wrong with renting your apartment via Craigslist. Nothing at all. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people do it successfully every day. Just use some common sense, a little wisdom, and don't bother with people who don't live in/near your town. It's that simple. When in doubt, move on to the next person.

 I agree and definitely had my doubts but I really wanted to see how it would play out.

[catslock1]

I would read this page before using CL again. It will also tell you who you can report the scammers to.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

I read it after the fact.  It really does not tell you how to deal with a scammer who is replying to you. Only how to deal with one who has actually posted on CL.

[sjonathan02]

I found it's not that easy to report.  I stopped by the precinct yesterday and the cop on duty told me that I had to have some proof from the bank that the check was fraudulent.  I do have a copy of the check but now I would have to go back to the bank to get a statement.

Which, again, is why craigslist and the like are the devil. Don't understand why folks fool with this mess. smh

I hope you can recoup your losses.

[catslock1]

Which, again, is why craigslist and the like are the devil. Don't understand why folks fool with this mess. smh

I hope you can recoup your losses.

There was no loss here.  I would never send money to anyone before knowing that the check cleared.  I was just playing his game.

[LaylaMonroe]

I read it after the fact.  It really does not tell you how to deal with a scammer who is replying to you. Only how to deal with one who has actually posted on CL.

How to deal with a scammer who is replying to you:

Just stop replying.

 

[LaylaMonroe]

...

[phbrown]

No one has advice on what to do now that cats is in this situation?

Sorry Cats, I've never been in this situation. If I had to guess i would follow up getting the statement about the fraudelent check. Then contact the FBI if the bank hasn't already done so. And ask what they want you to do.

Hopefully you will have to do nothing


I did find this info on the FTC's website
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre40.shtm

he bottom line is that until the bank confirms that the funds from the check have been deposited into your account, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check.

also

If You Think You’re a Victim

If you think you’ve been targeted by a counterfeit check scam, report it to the following agencies:

    The Federal Trade Commission Visit ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). • The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Visit www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect or call your local post office. The number is in the Blue Pages of your local telephone directory.
    Your state or local consumer protection agencies Visit www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General, or check the Blue Pages of your local telephone directory for appropriate phone numbers.