Renting scam?

Question

I posted an 'apartment for rent' ad in Craigslist.org and I've been receiving some responses to it...some if not most of them seem a little suspicious or too good to be true...

Three of them are from people who claim to be away in another country and say they're moving to the U.S. They ask for certain info like name, address and phone number claiming that they need it to send to their agent to let them know they've found a place and send a payment in check. One of them reads like this...
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"My Company is making the payment and there going to send you a check of 7,000 usd ..u get it cashed and deduct your money and send me the balance for my other expensive here for me to come .if u accept this please get back to me the Name and address with your phone number that would eb issue for the check."
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Why would he be so willing to pay $7000 up front for an apartment he hasn't even seen except in pictures? I'm new to internet advertising so I'd like to know if this might be a scam

Answer 1

Your gut instinct has already done it's job, so trust it. Never do anything remotely like this, and always listen to that little voice in your head! Good for you.

Answer 2

Doesn't sound like it is on the up and up to me.
The PO Box is a good idea.
Get a separate bank account so it is never your own personal accounts. You can just keep the minimum in the separate account and if you get money in it then transfer it to your personal account. I wouldn't give to much personal information either, you don't know who you are dealing with.
I would also get their name, address, phone number, business name and address. You then make contact with them and also check their business out on the Better Business Bureau website. If you find nothing is good or to your satisfaction then don't contact them.
If they don't want to give you info then you know then something isn't right.

Answer 3

It's a scam. If someone is really interested in the apartment, they will want to know things like number of rooms, is it furnished, type of stove (gas or electric), heating and cooling (central heat/air or gas stove and window units), are utilities included (lights, gas, trash removal, etc), distance from stores and the like.

The old adage, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't, isn't an old adage for nothing.

Answer 4

It does sound like a scam. I would say to tell them to fill out an application and that you will decide in a week or two and then you would cash the money. But, it is your place, so you are the one to decide who gets it. If you don't feel compfortable talking with them... you don't have to.

Answer 5

I think the $7000 check will be worthless. They're counting on people like you to send them a check before their check clears (or actually fails to clear). Then they've got your money, address, phone number, and worst of all, bank account info. It smells like identity theft to me.

Answer 6

Scam

Answer 7

yea its a scam they wait till it shows up in your account then ask you to send them the balance left ,u think its cleared but it wont have and although it showes up in your account it can still bounce upto 2 weeks later and by that time you have sent them your hard earned cash.The uk is bombarded buy these scam artists,so blease dont sent them any money as you wont ever hear from them again and be out of pocket

Answer 8

Of course it is a scam. The check will be no good and you will be out the money.

Answer 9

This is a variation of the classic Nigerian inheirtance scam.

This is a major scam, don't even reply to them.

Answer 10

Use a Po Box

May be a scam for home invasion.