Rental Scam targets realtors in Rolla
Photo by: Andrew Mason
A couple owning a rental business in Rolla, MO was targeted by a rental scam recently. The scam materialized in the form of an inquiry for a duplex they were dealing in.
A Dr.Gibert Kenny emailed them saying he was writing from UK and was looking for premises to rent in Rolla. He was soon required to relocate here, he explained.
Showing keen interest, the Doctor asked them whether he could have more information on a particular apartment the agency was holding. He had come to know of the premises from a To-let ad placed by the agency. He appeared to be genuinely interested; he put forth questions usually asked by discerning renters.
It was when they appeared to have a deal that he popped a quaint request.
For the security deposit, he sent them a check which was made out for much more than the agreed amount. He was not keen on hauling all his old furniture over here, he explained. So he had contracted with a local company to provide him new furniture. Would the couple do a favor and send the remaining money to a trustee who was handling the purchase for him?
Perhaps, this was what warned the couple against their prospective renter. The ‘cashing-of-check’ routine is part of an old trick played by online fraudsters. Many weeks after the check is deposited, the bank would turn around and reveal them to be a fake. Any money that victims send against the check in the meantime would be pouched by the fraudsters.
Besides this, the couple was also helped when the fraudster goofed up a few times. In his correspondence, he absent mindedly gave himself more than one name - calling himself Clifford Kenny in one email, for instance. In another, he referred to himself as ‘Professor’ Kenny. That nailed it for the couple.
Source: TheRollaDailyNews.com
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February 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 am
Hi,
I can share this experience and would actually need advice, PLEASE !!
I own a little hotel in Europe. I rencently found that an advert that I published on a travel site was listed on Kijiji site, without my permission or knowledge. Obvioulsy the inquiries are not getting to us, so I am fearing that someone is replying to these e-mails and asking for deposit or payments for reservations.
I asked Kijiji to cancel this account, they said that it was posted from our e-mail account. Would somebody out there please advice me what we need to do next ? I changed password for out e-mails etc. What else ?
Your help will be really appreciated…. thank you.