***SCAM ALERT: Homes advertised for rent Many of you may already know about these types of scams but I thought it was worth sharing. If you are looking to rent a home please be careful if you respong to an online advertisement such as the one in the photo from Trulia. A Staten Island family recently messaged me that they were in the process of renting a South Shore home advertised on Trulia. The Staten Island home for rent used the same rental agent phone number (209) 980-7013 as the one in photo # 1. Photo #2 & Photo # 3 are text messages that provide an address to wire money. PLEASE DO NOT WIRE MONEY FOR ANY TRANSACTIONS GOOD NEWS is this family realized it was a scam before it was to late. Below is some additional information that was shared: (grammar & typos are original) Hello,We are Mr/Mrs Bradely Stepanek,we own the house located at (76 El Camino Loop, Staten Island NY 10309) i and my family stayed in the house before i got transferred to Illinois.I spent a lot on my property and i wont tolerate any mismanagement of it. I would solicit for your absolute maintenance if you are renting this.It is not the money that is the problem but i want you to keep it tidy at all time so i will be glad to see it in a perfect condition when i come for monthly check up When we left the state, I had a thought of selling the house so I have to look for an agent, after getting one,we got a deal but later my wife advised me not to sell it and i reasoned with her.So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents.We would have given this house to an agent that we first gave before we moved out of the state but he is renting the house too high and the price and deposit is too high he is also charging for application fee and pets,there are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathroom. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough reason for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care of the property.The house includes the utilities like Heat, A/C in wall/window, Hydro, cable, Garbage Disposal, Fireplace , Fridge, stove, Dishwasher, Dryer, Breakfast Bar, Dining Table and Sofa Set,Refrigerator,Canopied deck overlooking nature.,internet access e.t.c. we need a responsible person that can take very good care of our house like i said we want someone to take it as if it were theirs. Am sorry i dont have anyone to show you the inside you can only drive by our house and also we can make arrangement on how you will get the keys The rent is $1500,Security Deposit,$1000 Making the total sum of $2500 for securing the house. RENTAL APPLICATION FORM: FIRST NAME:__________? MIDDLE NAME:__________? LAST NAME:__________? PROFESSION:__________? PHONE: (CELL)PHONE__________? (HOME)PHONE__________? HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING IN THE HOUSE________? PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________? CITY: _______________? STATE:______________? IF RENTING,WHY ARE YOU LEAVING__________? HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________? WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________? IF YOU HAVE A PET, KIND OF PETS: _____________? HABITS DO YOU DRINK OR SMOKE ______________? DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT?____? CAN YOU PAY THE FIRST AND LAST MONTH RENT? Get back to me as soon as possible with the above required details so i can have it in my file and discuss on how to get the keys and necessary document to you so you can move in as soon as you wish. Regards.. Mr/Mrs Bradely Stepanek APPLICATION APPROVED!!! Good Family (goodfamilyhome20@hotmail) Add to contacts goodfamilyhome20@hotmail Hello XXXX and XXXX, We have decided to let you live in our house. As we have found your application very wonderful, satisfactory and acceptable by my family. so we would want you to go through the acceptance form and get back to us on what you feel.we would like to send the following document to you via FEDEX 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 on trust and do not disappoint us and i promise you that you will love the house. So we are with the below document here with us.you will need to make Payment for security deposit so that we can ship out the Keys and documents to the address you have provided to us. RE-CONFIRMATION OF THE DELIVERY ADDRESS : FIRST NAME: HOUSE ADDRESS: MOBILE NUMBER: We would like to send the following documents to you via FedEx next day delivery to the address you sent to us Please reconfirm the address,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. We are with the under listed documents here and you will need to make Payment for the security deposit ($1000) to enable shipment of the Keys and documents delivered to the address you provided to us, after which you could move in at your own convenience.. The rent start counting when you move in, so you could go ahead with the payment straight away to make it easier... 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 6)Lease Agreement Form. The house is furnished and available for rent for up to 5 years and ,so you are free to decide on how long you intend occupying it...Rent already includes utilities..Im ready to accept either monthly or upfront mode of payment..depending on the one youre most comfortable with..utilities included, Water,electricity,Gas Sewer,Garbage,Cableready,well trained pet is allowed e.t.c Facilities also include: Dishwasher,Dryer, Electric Stove, Fridge, Washer ...Your monthly rent already covers utilities so you do not have to pay extra charges for that. NOTE THAT THE SECURITY DEPOSIT IS REFUNDABLE IN-CASE YOU DON’T LIKE THE HOUSE. Please note that the deposit made is fully refundable in less than 24 hours after you request for it should in case you finally gain entrance into the house after receiving the keys 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. You are advice to act fast so you dont lose the house to other interested applicants...Get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks and Remain Blessed
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 22:38:49 +0000