We already knew there was someone living there, because we had already driven by the house the night before and saw someone inside. Then his email says we can’t see the inside because the keys are in Nigeria with him!

We emailed the real estate agent which posted the FOR SALE ad on Craigslist, and he told us that this happens at least once a year to him! I agree with the first comment on here, Craigslist should just ban all users with Nigerian IP addresses. …kind of like ABC does when someone outside the US wants to watch an episode of Lost.

***********************************************

Hello,

Thanks for the email. Yes the House is still available and will only be given out to the right person that will take very good care of the place and the facilities. Well I must let you know that the house has a lot of facilities like laundry facilities,air condition, internet and telephone access,Dishwasher, Washer/Dryer, Microwave, Oven, Refrigerator, Stove/Gas and other necessary facilities. I have really decided to give out the house as a result of my transfer to West Africa (Nigeria).

I will be giving out the house for $800/month including utilities with a security deposit of $800. I need to inform you as well that money is not the major reason why I am renting it out but want someone who can take care of it as if he/she owns it. So let me know as soon as possible if you can take good care of it, so that we can discuss the rent further. Pets are allowed.

We initially wanted to sale the house through a realestate agent but we changed our minds and decided to rent it out due to the bad economy which has also affected has also affected the housing market. We might decide to sale in the future but for now we are just renting it out.

If you are interested you can go by and view it but you will not be able to go inside cause the keys are here with me in West Africa (Nigeria). Here is the address of the house (8612 N Crawford Avenue Kansas City, MO 64153).

I await your reply.

Douglas Moen
+234-808-495-9016

Good Day,

Please excuse my late reply but I couldn’t respond earlier. I’m using 5 years in West Africa,so I’m not giving it out for month alone but for years.I and my wife had an accident when we were in state,and we lost our only son during the accident that is why we took the transfer job cos we felt it is the only way we could move on with life,And also My wife almost lost her hearing along the incident so please if you know you are going to rent our house kindly take good care of it. My name is Mike P Robinson.

The House has 4 bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms. The rent is $800 /month and it includes the utilities. I am the owner of the House, Now we live in West africa( Nigeria ) right now and I came to West Africa under (WHO) World Health Organization(WHO).. WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.Visit our website for more information if you also want to make an impact to the world.
http://www.who.int/about/en/. I hope you will promise me to take very good care of the House.. The House is very big and nice and it is in a nice area I have received many proposals today for my property.

Here is the address bellow:

Address: 1924 E. Libra

pets allowed

My contact Number for further discussion…………
+234-813-097-5518 or 011-234-813-097-5518

Thanks and remain blessed

Mike P Robinson

Hello

I can see you are interested in renting the house I have pasted, I am currently in West Africa where I work as a volunteer with the GOODNESS AND MERCY MISSION, here is the site for more details about why I am here inAfrica.(http://gmmafrica.org). So I need a tenant to take care of it but since I am out of the state now, I have received some proposals regarding the rent because it is located in a very good area. It is located at 1796 Moorings Cir, in the city of Middleburg, FL . I spent less time in the States so I could not get a hold on any Realtor to handle this rent issue, although it was when I knew how long we are going to stay in Africa that I decided to rent out the house…. However, the initial plan was to sale out the house. which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the price and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this incase if you find the house on another website. I left behind some Facilities and electronics which include the rent, and a DVD player, air conditioning, alarm system. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils, a refrigerator-freezer, four-hob and oven, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, My Computer Connected with Internet Access Also the keys to the House are right here with me, and the house documents. Which I can send to you after all necessary agreement has be accepted. Also I will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue ,but your absolute maintenance of my House is most important thing so will want you to get back to me with the Application form below.

RENTAL APPLICATION

1)Your Full Name__________________________
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number_______________________
3)How old are you_______________________
4)Are you married_______________________
5)How many people will be living in the house_______________________
6)Do you have children_____Ages_____
7)Do you have a car_______________________
8)Do you have a pet_____
8)Occupation_______________________
9)Monthly income_______________________
10)When will you like to move in_______________________
11)How long will you like to rent the property______________________
12)Reason for relocating_______________________

One Mr Sammy-Lee called me in regards to the house, I told him that I can’t give him the House for rent because he loves smoking, drinking and i don’t want him to get drunked one day and damaged my property, so If you are still interested Note that the rent is going to be $700 Per month No extra fees. Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it 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 of the house to you.

Thanks
NAME:Suzanne I Hanna
suzanneihanna@yahoo.com
+234-709-092-8098

With any luck this one will be stopped. The yahoo email cocohome102@yahoo.com comes from an ip address in New Hampshire. My immediate hope is someone didn’t give this person money on this property. Moving is not cheap, I would hate to think someone lost money they needed to use to move.

Here is the return email from my inquiry:

Hello,

Thanks for your email and interest in renting my house..I am the owner of the house you are making inquiry of…Actually I resided in the house with my family before and presently we have moved out due to my transfer from my work now in Warsaw,Poland. Presently my house is still available for rent for $1000 (rent already includes utilities).More so Now, i am currently in Lagos,Nigeria for an international Christian follower’s crusade.

Please i want you to note that i spent a lot on my property that i want to give to you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own, It is not the money that is the main problem but i 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 will like to let you know that i initially wanted to sell the house but my wife advised i rent it out to responsible people who could take very good care of it. I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

It has a dramatic entry foyer with ceramic floor. Extremely spacious rooms throughout with lots of big windows…nice and light! New neutral paint and some newer carpet..Very quiet, low traffic area. Appliances included are washer, dryer, oven,dishwasher, new fridge (7/07)…I believe its absolutely a perfect home for you and your family.Utilities include Water,Trash,Sewer,Gas

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:__________?
DATE OF BIRTH:_________?
PROFESSION:__________?
PHONE:
(CELL)PHONE__________?
(WORK)PHONE__________?
(HOME)PHONE__________?
MARITAL STATUS:__________?
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,
KIND OF PETS: _____________?
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________ ?
DO YOU DRINK ___ __ _________?
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____?

Looking forward to hearing 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 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 have not seen yet and only putting everything into Gods hands,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this…..

The house is available for rent at the moment so you are free to move in as soon as you wish to…A Deposit of $1000 (which happens to be the security deposit) is required before moving in…..Feel free to call me for more information and arrangements on how to get the keys and other necessary documents delivered to you… i will like you to call me on this number (011-234-806-151-8797 or +234-806-151-8797).The house will be available for rent for a period of 4 years so you have a choice of deciding how long you intend staying there…

Regards and Remain Blessed.

Hello,

It is a great pleasure that to you are interested in my Home, Thanks for your email and I am very glad having receive an email from you regarding my Home. I am Masoud and I am the very owner of the House you are making inquiry of. Actually we resided in this particular House with the entire family, such as my Lovely Wife and our Three children, before and presently we packed due to an emergency transfer from my working place to make due to the increase in the production of attires / fabric productions and this transfer is a temporary but will last for at least 53months (4years+), right now we situated in the (West Africa Region) and presently our House is still available for rent. (Utilities also Included). I want you to know that the House is Unfurnished, so you can move into the House with your own Personal furniture but the Utilities are intact such as Water, Sewer, Garbage, Cable ready etc. Facilities also include: Dishwasher, Dryer, Electric Stove, Fridge, Vinyl floors, Kitchen pantry, Washer etc. This House is also in a Conducive Area and has good Neighborhood. All kind of Pets are Allowed with no extra Deposit and 2garage parking space available.

RENTAL FEATURES:

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Type: Townhome
Rent: $700
Security Deposit : $400

Home Address: 5155 Mountain Villa Grv,
City: Colorado Springs
State: CO
Zipcode: 80917

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 ( )____________________________
Which of the Above Phone # can u be reach at anytime: ( )__________________
Best Time to Call You: ___________________
Are you married____________________________
How many people will be living in the house____________________________
Do you have a pet____________________________
Do you have a car____________________________
Occupation____________________________
monthly income? ____________________________
How Long You Want the Lease? ____________________________
Move In Date____________________________
When do you intend receive the keys & document of the house________________
When do you intended sending the deposit___________________________
Have You Gone to See The House Yet? ________________

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, please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that, we have not seen each other yet, so i am only putting everything into Gods hand, so please do not let me down in any way, this our property and God bless you more as you do this. Please note than you are free to go by the house and see the exterior and surroundings of it at this time, but you will have access to look at the interior once i have sent the keys & essential documents of the house to you. I will like you to know that the requirement for getting the keys and documents of the house to you is a full refundable fee of $400 USD, which serve as 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…

I Await your response so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you.

Thanks and you are welcome.

GOD BLESS YOU

Masoud

Hello,

Thanks for your email and interest in renting my house..I am Mariam David, the owner of the house you are making inquiry of…Actually I resided in the house with my family before and presently we have moved out due to my transfer from my work now in Warsaw,Poland. Presently my house is still available for rent for $700 USD (rent already includes utilities).More so Now, i am currently in Lagos, Nigeria for an international Christian follower’s crusade. I will like to let you know that i initially wanted to sell the house but my husband advised i rent it out to responsible people.

Please i want you to note that i spent a lot on my property that i want to give to you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own, It is not the money that is the main problem but i 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 also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.This is the address of the House: (502 Briar Hill Road Louisville, KY)

It has a dramatic entry foyer with ceramic floor. Extremely spacious rooms throughout with lots of big windows…nice and light! New neutral paint and some newer carpet..Very quiet, low traffic area. Appliances included are washer, dryer, oven,dishwasher, new fridge (7/07)…I believe its absolutely a home for you and your family.Utilities include Water,Trash,Sewer,Gas

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:__________?
SEX:__________?
DATE OF BIRTH:_________?
PROFESSION:__________?
PHONE:
(CELL)PHONE__________?
(WORK)PHONE__________?
(HOME)PHONE__________?
WHICH NUMBER IS THE BEST TO CALL YOU ON__________?
MARITAL STATUS:__________?
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? ______________?
DO YOU AGREE TO PAY THE DEPOSIT BEFORE RECEIVING THE KEYS
_____________?
IF YOU HAVE A PET,
KIND OF PETS: _____________?
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________ ?
DO YOU DRINK ______________?
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____?

Looking forward to hearing from you with all this details so that i can have it 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 have not seen yet and only putting everything into Gods hands,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this…

The house is available for rent at the moment so you are free to move in as soon as you wish to….A Deposit of $300 (which happens to be the security deposit) is required before moving in….Feel free to call my Husband on +2347040181144 or 0112347040181144 for more information and arrangements on how to get the keys and other necessary documents delivered to you….

The house will be available for rent for a period of 4 years so you have a choice of deciding how long you intend staying there…

Remain Blessed.
Mariam David

Here was the reply once I replied to the individual:

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me. I just wanted to let you know that after going through all the applications received, we have decided to let you live in our house as we have found your application very satisfactory and acceptable by my family. So we would want you to go through this email and get back to us on what you feel so we could proceed in renting the house to you.We would like to send the following documents to you via FedEx next day delivery to the address you sent to us and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possibly occupy our house.. Please once again, we are giving you this based on trust so please do not disappoint us and i promise you that, you will love the house. We are with the under listed documents here with us and you will need to make Payment for the security deposit ($300 USD) to enable shipment of the Keys and documents to the address you have provided to us, after which you could move in at your convenience. The rent only starts counting when you move in, so you could go ahead with the payment straight away to make things faster.
Here are the contents of the document that needs to be sent.
1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
2) Paper/Permanent house form
3) The house documentary file..
4) Full Description of the house
5) Payment Receipt

The house is available for rent for up to 4 years,so you are free to decide on how long you intend occupying it…Rent already includes utilities…I’m ready to accept either monthly or upfront mode of payment..depending on the one you are most comfortable with..Utilities include: gas, water,sewer, trash and electricity. Your monthly rent already covers utilities so you do not have to pay extra charges for that..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.
All you need to do at this point is send a deposit of ($300 USD) which is the Security Deposit as soon as possible to the under listed information through Western Union in order for me to be able to send the keys and other documents of the house to you via FedEx Immediately.

RECEIVER’S NAME: MARIAM DAVID
ADDRESS: 12A GODWIN ESTATE, ISOLO
STATE: LAGOS,
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
ZIP CODE: 23401
TEST QUESTION: WHO IS THE GREATEST?
ANSWER: GOD.

Get back to me with the 10 digits MTCN (money transfer control number) that will be given to you at Western Union after you have made the payment in order for me to be able to pick up the money sent, so that i can immediately arrange for the delivery of keys and documents to you through FedEx next day delivery…

I will instruct you on how to make the monthly rent payments to me after you have moved in, and concerning the utilities,that will be taken care of by me every month so you need not to worry about that because the rent paid already covers that. Have a very wonderful day and your prompt response is awaited.

Thanks and Remain Blessed

Here was my reply to them:

Miriam, as I am sure you as a fellow Christian are aware trust is an important thing as you have stated but God also calls us to be good stewards of all that He has provided us including our finances. In an effort to be a good steward of these assets I have checked on the home you state to own and have for lease prior to wire transferring any funds. The home is indeed for rent and is a property managed by Property Management of Louisville. The rental fee on this home is $1500.00 per month. Property Management of Louisville has all documents and keys to the property and handles all lease details exclusively. I have spoke with them this morning.

The western union details you list in your email below is also utilized in multiple other property offerings on Craigslist at this time.

The Jefferson County courthouse shows the owner of record of this property to be an estate and there is no reference to you or the name you have provided so far.

After requesting information regarding various homes listed for rental on Craigslist I have received 17 letters from various names indicating the owner of the property is currently engaged in Christian ministry in Nigeria and asking for a deposit to be sent Western Union in exchange for a rental contract and keys to mentioned property. I was not aware that so many Louisville residents were engaged In the Ministry working in Nigeria or connected to Poland. Each letter references Poland as well as a residence.

I have copied our communications to the US Attorney General’s Office as well as to the FBI for follow-up as they have an internet posting related to fraudulent Nigerian schemes related to housing offers on Craigslist complete with letter examples that copy your letter below and have asked for any such contact to be relayed to them for potential prosecution.

I pray that this is a misunderstanding and that you are not attempting to mock God in your use of HIS name, for the Holy scriptures also tells us that God will NOT be mocked.