Here be dragons: Internet chicanery, cons and scams

Risky Business 2012

2011-12-31T23:47:00.000-08:00

affordableflatlettings.com +447011152919 or +44702404482 Email: affordableflat@live.com Head Office Address: 27-28 Philbeach Gradens,London,SW5 9EA, United Kingdom Created: 2011-11-26 Expires: 2012-11-26 cheapshortlet.comAddress: 68 High Rd East Finchley London N2 9AS , UK TEL: +44 702 4015 164,+44 702 4063 998 EMAIL: reservation@cheapshortlet.com ch-managements.comMailing Address 44

Scammails U - Z 2012

2011-12-31T23:42:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. U udeymakemesalute1010@live.com uhahujdks23@abwesend.de (Michael Somenov) ujksjkjd@yahoo.com (Ujks Jkjd aka Mark Graybill; ph: +2348097005535) ullkkela@yahoo.com uniquehome11@aol.com ups-insurance-policy@insurer.com uraesdaferat@yahoo.com

Scammails P - T 2012

2011-12-31T23:35:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. P pafitawaqe@hotmail.com pamelasatterfield23@yahoo.com (Pamela Satterfield; ph: +2347088312325 or 0112347088312325) pamvictor6848@yahoo.com (Victor Pam) patriciakellystevenes@yahoo.com patriciathompson1960@hotmail.com (Patricia Thompson)

Scammails K - O 2012

2011-12-31T23:26:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. K kakiobajames@live.com kalebashley44@yahoo.com (Ashley Kaleb; ph: +2348122989261) kandrewv@yahoo.com karenlawrence.ltd@hotmail.com karen.smith8675@yahoo.com kas_12_l@yahoo.com katjagirvenho@globomail.com kbrunoca@yahoo.com (Karen)

Scammails F - J 2012

2011-12-31T23:16:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. F fabiencraven@yahoo.de (Fabien Craven) fadeolamidhemih@yahoo.com fahadharuun@globomail.com farfanrobben@yahoo.com favorite463@gmail.com (Mat Jonathan; spo: Esther) febiegev@yahoo.com feliceaure00@yahoo.de feradasherat@

Scammails A - E 2012

2011-12-31T23:04:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. 112stv112@gmail.com A aaasxxbvvhj@yahoo.com (Bvvhj Aaasxx aka Garay John; ph: +234-802-133-5879) aapartment73@yahoo.com (Apartment Apartment; ph: +44 702 405 6950) aarebale@yahoo.com aaronromell@yahoo.de (Aaron Romell) abc.purchase4@gmail.com

So this is 2012 ~ already!

2011-12-31T22:55:00.000-08:00

So, wow... It's a bit hard for me to think that this blog is entering into its fifth year. I mean, it was only something that I started as a means to deal with chemotherapy-induced insomnia at the time I began to realize how scam-ridden the online markets could be while rummaging aimlessly in the wee small hours of some very long nights. I guess if you're here you've probably realized that

It Ain't Easy...

2011-12-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

(With a tip of a hat to the late Long John Baldry as I borrow the title...) What I have learned and read about scamming over the last four years has been a real education. Not that I wasn't cynical enough after decades of working in community services and being an aware world citizen, but it has made me acutely sensitive to the idea that this planet is a buffet set out for the larcenous to

Scammails U - Z 2011 Part 2

2011-09-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. U uhyijeraedare@yahoo.com uk_tnt_center@consultant.com (TNT Service) umraptrec@yahoo.com undisputedfabian@yahoo.com ups.transaction@instruction.com uvacarent06@gmail.com (Peter Michel; ph: +44 7035968943 V vacationhome@

Scammails P - T 2011 Part 3

2011-09-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. P paaumatttt@yahoo.co.uk (Paul Matson) pablocole222@gmail.com pannichos@gmail.com parkdavidj@yahoo.com (David J Park) parkergibbs44@yahoo.com parkerleslied@yahoo.com (Leslie Parker; ph: +2347051266769 or 0112347051266769) pascalomaiyan@yahoo.com

Scammails K - O 2011 Part 3

2011-09-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. K kabaninath@yahoo.com kabioosibamigod@yahoo.com kaderagypole@yahoo.com kadljacqina@gmail.com kakakijamestodun1313@live.com kakobichicken1010@yahoo.com kamasedapola@yahoo.com kankum87@yahoo.com

Scammails F - J 2011 Part 3

2011-09-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. F fabioa56@yahoo.com fabioa5778@yahoo.com fabioanderson18@yahoo.com fabioanderson19@yahoo.com fabioanderson46@yahoo.com fabioanderson61@yahoo.com fabioanderson98@yahoo.com fadepolakiju@yahoo.com faderahjwdare@yahoo.com fahdeolamidemi@

Scammails A - E 2011 Part 3

2011-09-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. A aarebale@yahoo.com aaron.lam11@gmail.com aaronlm4@gmail.com abc.purchase4@gmail.com ablegodismyfaith1313@live.com abrinton78@yahoo.com (A Brinton aka Abrinton; ph: +234-808-406-6994 or +2348084066994 or 0112348084066994)

Variations on a theme...

2011-08-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

At times the happy little campers at Kamp Scammer latch on to a particular name and beat it into the ground by devising as many contorted variations as their febrile wee brains deem possible. (And then likely sell it off to another group to see what a hash they can make of it...) If looking in one only one country or town, you'd likely miss the most of them. For me, they are a bit of a happy

In the merry, merry month of May...

2011-05-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Intrepid Renter who got married yesterday!! If you're new here or never browsed back to the beginnings of the blog.... When I started this blog it was something that came out of hours of insomnia while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer. Long hours at night when everyone around you is asleep can sometimes be lonely and, if any of you have undergone

Tidying up my desk...

2011-05-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

I keep odd notes hither and yon on my desk as ideas strike to write about or at least include in a post. Nothing very fascinatingly earthshaking ~ just..... stuff. :) A shout out to Luis who has been looking for a home in a far off land and apparently has found one of the mother lodes of scammers cuz he's submitted a fair handful over the last week or so. Good stuff, Luis ~ thanks for your

Scammails P - T 2011 Part 2

2011-05-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. P pablotubor333@gmail.com packer-john@live.com padremarchio@gmail.com pael2007@live.com palmermmm@hotmail.com (Ph: 447031825537) pambegovi@yahoo.com pander37@yahoo.com p.ander69@yahoo.com p_anderson35@yahoo.com pappyeni@yahoo.com paredore@aol.com

Scammails K - O 2011 Part 2

2011-05-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. K kaderfedioka@yahoo.com kaderuokalpo@yahoo.com kagerdafeasa@yahoo.com kaman_hau@hotmail.com kalimutch@yahoo.com (Mrs Kali Mutch)kalopafedagu@yahoo.com kandrewvc@yahoo.com karavanschaik1965@yahoo.com karenp.adams@yahoo.com (Karen Adams aka Rev.Patrick

Scammails F - J 2011 Part 2

2011-05-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. F faberdaan@yahoo.com fabia.rausi@gmx.ch fabioanderson30@yahoo.com fabioanderson31@yahoo.com fabioanderson66@yahoo.com faderawase@yahoo.com faderejuki@yahoo.com faderolamide@yahoo.com fadevecekoli@yahoo.com fadselopkahju@yahoo.com faredetuyi@

Scammails A - E 2011 Part 2

2011-05-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. A aaron.brown78@hotmail.com aaronjustin84@yahoo.com (Aaron Justin; ph: +447 0240-47346) aaronlam@gmail.com aaron.lam11@gmail.com aaronlam868@gmail.com aaronlm4@gmail.com aaronvankelly@yahoo.com a.baker20012002@gmail.com (Anthony Baker)

Why don't you write?

2011-04-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

I am told by folks that the way to a successful blog is to post! post! post! And I suppose to some extent that is true cuz if you're constantly in people's faces they're gonna look sooner or later. Honestly, I wouldn't know what to say an awful lot of the time. I do write posts as the spirit moves me and I'll try to prod it on a bit more often ~ just don't get antsy about holding me to it

Giving credit where credit is NOT due...

2011-04-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

While I was rummaging around some of the sites I read looking for some information tonight, I ran across this post (http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=18070) left earlier today. I thought it was all very interesting and I don't think I'd heard of *that* variation before. Now if I haven't heard of it, I'm sure a lot of other people haven't heard of it either so I think

I've got your number...

2011-04-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

If you browse through the lists, especially the bios and Questionable Businesses, you've likely noticed that along with a lot of their phone numbers starting with 234 (the country phone code for Nigeria) that there are an awful lot of numbers starting with +4470. I've been meaning for a while to write a bit about this number combo and tonight is as good a time as any. This is one of the

Famous last words...

2011-02-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

(http://www.nataliedee.com/) I was reading through a series of correspondence posted in the Rental Scams section at Scamwarners (http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=15482) when I came upon a phrase that would cause *my* hackles to rise in suspicion. "I'll be willing to send you a scanned copy of my Passport, Police Clearance and certificate of ownership of the apartment

Suspension of belief...

2011-02-01T02:05:00.000-08:00

Anyone believing that they can find a place this glam for such picayune amount in Vancouver (or anywhere else for that matter) has a *much* better fantasy life than I ever will. Think ~ really think... Do your homework on where you want to live and what the real costs are before you venture into scam-ridden 'free ad' sites.$400 / 1br - FULLY FURNISHED 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT` (vancouver, BC

And the light >clicks< on...

2011-01-14T21:29:00.000-08:00

This is a slightly different response to the ones I receive when I send out a request for information about an ad. Click on the link that they provide to send in the information and I'm willing to bet that you will give some happy camper far more of your personal information than you should share. Identity theft is the issue here. If you require your credit score, deal directly (in Canada

Faker Street Irregulars

2011-01-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Just as Sherlock had his Baker Street Irregulars to keep their eyes and ears open for information that could prove useful, Sheer-Luck Homes and Dr. What's Up have their Faker Street Irregulars. A good amount of information I find and share has been made available though the auspices of anti-scam sites, persons blogging their scam experiences or leaving information on the 'net. And there are

2011-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

While rummaging around online today, I ran across this article which I think is worth sharing. (http://news.sympatico.cbc.ca/consumernews/spear_phishing_latest_ploy_to_steal_data/0b68b1d5) initializeArticleBodyFontSize() '

Questionable businesses 2011

2011-01-01T01:16:00.000-08:00

It's not just the scam mailers you need to look out for - it's not that hard to throw up a 'webpage' (esp. if people don't look at it too closely) and scammers really love the 'do-it-yourself' webpages. It pays to really look ~ in the last year I have seen the fake sites escalate with scammers often 'hijacking' info and photos from a legitimate site and setting up mock sites that they direct

Scammer Bios N - Z 2011

2011-01-01T01:14:00.000-08:00

Everybody has a story to tell and those who are looking to squirm their way into our hard-earned funds aren't any different ~ just a tad imaginative at times. As you make your acquaintance with them, feel free to share the information and we will work hard to highlight their endeavours for the benefit of the global community. Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these

Scammer Bios A - M 2011

2011-01-01T01:12:00.000-08:00

Scammails U - Z 2011

2011-01-01T01:08:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. U udeytatarimi@live.com ugerest@yahoo.com ughfdh@yahoo.com (Ron Jack Pertain; ph: 0112348121265707 or +2348121265707) ujuhdeteni@yahoo.com ujukilkopoju@yahoo.com uk_tnt_center@consultant.com umbanabafede@yahoo.com umujikahuks@yahoo.com

Scammails P - T 2011

2011-01-01T01:05:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. P p4pepper@in.com pablotubor222@gmail.com pacesetter2011@yahoo.com (Sam Lamb) pac_gel@hotmail.co.uk packer_john@live.com packerjohn78@yahoo.com packet_gropper@yahoo.com paderesawsa@yahoo.com pagredwase@yahoo.com palazzo.stocco@yahoo.com pamileeriowo@

Scammails K - O 2011

2011-01-01T01:02:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. K kadaraeda@hotmail.com kadjacqreg@gmail.com kadjacquelinegina@live.com kadrain30@yahoo.com kalokaqlowo@yahoo.com kamertehuur@live.fr kamikunoloriire@yahoo.com kaamil.faaiz@yahoo.com kalled001@yahoo.com kamelcotti@yahoo.com

Scammails F - J 2011

2011-01-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. F faaizkaamil@hotmail.com faaiz.kaamil16@rocketmail.com faaizkaamil67@hotmail.com faaiz.thomas@yahoo.com fabanikandaa@yahoo.com fabianakrish@yahoo.com fabuloushome33@yahoo.com (Rev Pinkston;ph: +234-802-917-3248) fadewasaqu@yahoo.com

Scammails A - E 2011

2011-01-01T00:54:00.000-08:00

Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these names ~ after all, the scammers do rip off names they find elsewhere. A a11k50@yahoo.com aaaapppp66@yahoo.com aadbiel@gmail.com (Adrina; spo : John Michael McKenzie) aaliyahholloway10@yahoo.com aanutohgaju@yahoo.com aaronshiefielld@yahoo.com abanikannda@gmail.com ablebabasanumi@yahoo.com ablegodsefunmi@

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-01T00:46:00.000-08:00

Geeze ~ I never thought that this blog would last long enough to see it to it's 4th year but here we are. And, yeah, the plans are to keep going. It's not that this blog has gone viral ~ though there were some busy days ~ but in three years we've had over 100,000 hits. Good. Thank you to people who leave thank you notes cuz it really helps to know that some people made it through due to

People are the same all over...

2010-12-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

For example, all these kind, hardworking, not very available, busy busy landlords want one simple thing ~ namely '...just need someone (Students or Anybody working in a reputable organization to rent the bedroom) with an open heart, love and clean to occupy it and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the house.' Copenhagen: Andre John (‘I am into Real Estate and Civil

Just a reminder...

2010-09-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Any response from a scamlord that reads like this is not going to have a fairytale ending. Thanks to Eliza for this copy and a reminder to really stop and think... From: wilfredjane@ymail.com Subject: RE: Apartment in London Okay,i'll like to confirm if you really have the finance line up ready with the interest of renting my apartment before i travel down for the contract and

Still open for business...

2010-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Someone pointed out that I haven't done a posting since April and that it might appear that I have abandoned the blog. Nuthin' further from the truth, folks... I've been busy this spring and summer (and not feeling particularly creative with new articles however I'll try to rectify that shortly). But the lists are up-dated several times a week and I would like to remind those passing through

Blunder Down Under

2010-04-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned off and on in the earlier part of the blog, the Australian ads are just crawling with scammers. In fact, at one point, it was safe to estimate that over 95% of the ads being posted in Craiglist listings there were bogus. It may well be time for me to sit down and have a serious going over of that part of the world again.Anyway, thanks to a new Faker Street Irregular, we have a

A Rozario is a Rozario is a Rozario.... Unless it's not.

2010-03-31T14:20:00.001-07:00

(Profound apologies to the shade of Gertrude Stein!)I thought the case of the mysterious Rozario Lorenzo had been laid to rest with my previous encounters but, lo and behold, a few days later I received another missive ~March 29, 2010Dear Quirked Eyebrow,I'm very glad I found your blog. The only record online that the person I'm dealing with is a scam is the email address s/he used that is listed

This which we call a Rozario, by any other name would smell as stinky

2010-03-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

(With profound apologies to the shade of William Shakespeare...)So….A few weeks ago, I got an email from K saying that she had dealings with Rozario Lorenzo ~ rozario.lorenzo@yahoo.com aka rozario_lorenzo@yahoo.com ~ and felt that it was all too dodgy especially when Rozy was extremely insistent on using on Western Union, fading rapidly in the woodwork when K said she wanted to have a friend

What's wrong with this picture?

2010-03-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

Think of it as a new game... :)£500 / 2br - Furnished 2bedroom apartment in London (London) Date: 2010-03-17, 12:41PM GMTReply to: hous-excmn-1647965105@craigslist.orgLOVELY FURNISHED 2BEDROOM APARTMENT IN London,THE APARTMENT IS VERY CLEAN LOOKING FOR A GOOD TENANT TO MOVE IN TO THE APARTMENT ,THE TENANT THAT CAN TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE APARTMENT IF YOU DO HAVE INTEREST YOU CAN CONTACT FOR

They're pushing it to the max...

2010-03-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Avanti for sending this yesterday."Another one to add to your list:Samantha Marshsamymarsh@gmail.comShe has posts for 2/2 condos all over Craigslist, including Seattle, Miami, Virginia, etc."My name is Samantha, I'm 52 years old, I'm a retired teacher and I'm the owner of this condo . I lived in this beautiful condo for over 5 years and loved every day of it. The condo is fully

I vish they would go away...

2010-03-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Most people at some time are going to get phone calls from strange phone numbers that, when answered, have nobody there. Or, if you're like me, you don't answer calls you don't recognize.I got a call like that at 6:13 this morning and, unless it's a dire emergency associated with someone I know and hold dear, it's not likely I'll answer. When I did get up, I took the number (1-800-931-1026) to

At least one perspective....

2010-01-31T12:44:00.000-08:00

While googling a scam phone number, I ran across this blog entry (http://maria-perspective.blogspot.com/2009/07/if-it-seems-too-good-to-be-true.html) from a writer who was living in Benin at the time, another West African country linked to the internet scam industry. Tuesday, July 14, 2009 If it seems too good to be true... The internet has been down at work over the last few weeks, so

Further adventures of Sheer-Luck Homes and Dr. What's Up...

2010-01-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

There I was, muddling about, when I ran across these ads today in London's Craiglist (since I started writing this, they've popped up at http://property.vivastreet.co.uk/holiday+london-sw1e/two-bedroom-suite-apartment-for-stay-in-london/21437645 as well):£550 / 3br - three bedroom suite apartment in london (Kensington Square Kensington, London)Date: 2010-01-17, 7:01PM GMT Reply to: mailto:

It's elementary....

2010-01-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

I guess I have been running a bit amok the last few days posting scam warnings on Craigslist because, when I went to post one in Calgary listings, I was asked to provide a confirmation phone number.Not being quite as dense as I look, I surmised that perhaps it was time for me to lay low and let the heat die down. Unlike our scammers, I'm not gifted in using multiples IP's or fogging my trail so I

Questionable businesses 2010

2010-01-01T11:16:00.001-08:00

It's not just the scam mailers you need to look out for - it's not that hard to throw up a 'webpage' (esp. if people don't look at it too closely). It pays to really look ~ in the last year I have seen the fake sites escalate with scammers often 'hijacking' info and photos from a legitimate site and setting up mock sites that they direct you to through ads posted on rental sites. Fake rental

Scammer Bios N - Z 2010

2010-01-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

Scammer Bios A - M 2010

2010-01-01T11:14:00.003-08:00

Scammails U - Z 2010

2010-01-01T11:14:00.001-08:00

U ucandoit00@gmail.com udestine23@hotmail.com udojianthony@yahoo.com uijadesawatu@yahoo.com ukjerenlowode@yahoo.com uknowevrytin@gmail.com (John Luckey) ulysse01@msn.com unlimitedbreakthruismine@yahoo.com unwin.michael@hotmail.co.uk unwin.tyler@hotmail.co.uk unwin.vaughan@hotmail.co.uk urenjane@yahoo.com uresaderu@yahoo.com uriah.farrell@hotmail.co.uk uto_yt@yahoo.com (James Terry)

Scammails P - T 2010

2010-01-01T11:12:00.002-08:00

P pabloisme00@gmail.com pablowood0@gmail.com pablowood21@yahoo.com pablowood65@yahoo.com pablowood81@yahoo.com pablowood88@yahoo.com packer.nigel@yahoo.com packervan@rocketmail.com pagrin18080@gmail.com palavatieni@yahoo.com palingosmart9898@gmail.com palmeralison@hotmail.com (Alison Palmer) pamilerinayo00@yahoo.com pamilerinowo@yahoo.com pamurogo47@yahoo.com pardesm@yahoo.com

Scammails K - O 2010

2010-01-01T11:12:00.001-08:00

K kaaaarron009@rocketmail.com kaamil_k@yahoo.com kaamil_kaleta@yahoo.com kaamil.kaleta@yahoo.com kaamilkaleta@yahoo.com kaamilkaleta07@yahoo.com kaamilkaleta77@yahoo.com kaarokellyam@rocketmail.com kabelldrew@yahoo.com kacopdrew@yahoo.com kadamdrew@yahoo.com kadubdrew@yahoo.com kaflodrew@yahoo.com kagevdrew@yahoo.com kamaddrew@yahoo.com kapardrew@yahoo.com karomdrew@yahoo.com kazurdrew

Scammails F - J 2010

2010-01-01T11:10:00.001-08:00

F f_l26@ymail.com fabrizio_leto@yahoo.com faizfaiz93@gmail.com faaizkaamil72@yahoo.com faaizkaamil001@yahoo.com faaizt@yahoo.com faaowowa@yahoo.com fabian.grahams@yahoo.co.uk fadedemiowo@yahoo.com fademidemio@yahoo.ca fadeolamidemi@yahoo.com fairfax.gabriel@hotmail.co.uk fairfax.trevor@yahoo.co.uk fairfielda@hotmail.com (Rebecca Grant) faithndhopeinugod@yahoo.com faithinulord00@

Scammails A - E 2010

2010-01-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

075010marquis@gmail.com (Marquis Granny) A a3a1273lam@yahoo.com aaaarron009@ymail.com aaaayyy97@yahoo.com aadbiel@gmail.com (Adrina) aakellyswuw@rocketmail.com (Aaron Lam; ph: +447045730253,+447011173785) aanunimofe@gmail.com aanuowotopo@yahoo.com aanuirede@yahoo.com aanuireoluwa@yahoo.com aanunimofeoluwa@yahoo.com aanuoluwamaaabo@yahoo.com aanuoluwanimofe@yahoo.com aanutotayo@

Welcome to 2010...

2009-12-31T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hi all ~ welcome to a brand new year and the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Some kinda ride, eh?This January is also the start of the third year of this blog. Who knew that chemotherapy induced insomnia would have turned out to be so useful? (I'm much better now, thanks.) Sometimes friends ask me why I still do it and, I suppose, it's because I can. It may sometimes be a bit

If you see something like this...

2009-12-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

....be prepared to keep looking.Like a previous post on 'lists', certain phrases or ads are liberally scattered about by our happy scamophiles and it seems inevitable that I'll run into them. So, when they really start to stick out, I'll print examples of them here.Mind you, I've noticed lately that once I bitch about something they're doing to make their ads stick out like sore thumbs, they

Charmed I'm sure....

2009-12-08T21:31:00.000-08:00

Once they get a word they like, they just don't let go ~ guess which one is showing up everywhere....EUR550 / 1br - Charming clean come with fully furnished in the very tasteful (Vienna, Ferchergasse) - 2009-12-03EUR450 / 1br - CHARMING one(1) bedroom fully furnished apartment (Brussel) - 2009-12-01EUR400 / 2br - TWO CHARMING BEDOOM APARTMENT (Brussels) - 2009-11-30EUR350 / 2br - Well Charming

You're trying to tell me something, aren't you?

2009-12-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

EUR530 / 1br - EXTREAMLY BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT IN GREECE (Greece City) - 2009-11-30EUR1120 / 1br - EXRTREAMLY FURNISHED BIG BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT (Paris) 2009-12-10EUR550 / 1br - Charming clean come with fully furnished in the very tasteful (Vienna, Ferchergasse) - 2009-12-03EUR500 / 1br - Set in the boost of the city with fully furnished (Berlin, Martin Luther Strasse) - 2009-12-

He's making a list and checking it twice...

2009-11-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

I suppose if you're writing the same scamvert over and over again, creativity takes a bit of a beating so I'm chucking in examples of ads/lists that are repeated ad nauseum. If you see any of 'em in the ad you're considering, keep looking....This is also to remind you to be a little picky about doing your homework while home hunting ~ if I can find scamverts like these without even really trying,

I've gone blank! Just fill me in....

2009-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

Intrepid Renter has run amok again (which seems to be his favourite exercise at times *g*) and the following is one of the examples he has sent in. I suppose the scammer's coach kinda forgot to mention to tidy up the blanks he was filling in ~ or do they really think no one is going to notice?From: breden steme Date: Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 4:52 PMSubject: Re: apartment

Words for the new world...

2009-09-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

I was noodling through rent ads on a rainy Sunday and decided to think of a word to describe scam ads. I've googled it and see where it has only been used twice (as far as I can tell) so I have decided to lay claim to it ~ or at least try to make it popular.So, for those of you seeking accomodations, pets, electronics or whatever on the internet (where scammers can be found in ever increasing

She showed me her room/isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

2009-08-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

(Title lyric from Norwegian Wood by John Lennon and Paul McCartney)So ~ what's wrong with this picture?(My roommate sez that guys who put up ads like this are too stupid to steal ~ sometimes I think he has a point.)NOK2200 / 3br - 3 Bed room with Garden for Sale or Rent (Norway)Date: 2009-08-25, 12:19PM CESTReply to: dr.tom_uk@yahoo.co.ukThis House in good location , am giving it out because i

Moving on up....

2009-08-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

There you are ~ poised and packed for your next move on up to someplace a bit nicer and, hopefully, affordable.Well, you won't if you fall for the 'send the money to a third party until you're satisfied' ploy. Anyone reading through my posts has seen the one about Paypal being proposed as the holder of the funds and what a scam that is. I've seen rent.com, gumtree.com and findaproperty.com used

And you don't even have to send cash!

2009-06-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

I found this in my mail this morning and just thought yah... yah... yah... Being that this spam mail will reach out to however many gadzillions and may find it's way to some people who have been harmed through a scamming, I can see where those people might still be innocent enough to believe that this email may have some validity. In that way lies madness, folks ~ don't even go there. And

Constructing castles in the air, no doubt...

2009-06-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

There's so many landlords transferring to Nigeria to work that I am surprised to hear that they have unemployment problems there. Except in the crusader and missionary fields ~ they have *got* to be up to their hindquarters in those by now.I am so sorry for late response,it was due to my job,i have been busy here working..Good to hear from you and thanks for having interest in my place and is

Things you can do to help...

2009-05-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

This came in my mail today and I thought I would post it cuz it's a pretty basic question:How could I contribute to the e-mail list of "nefarious characters"? Because I am looking for a flat in Geneva I have found some.I tried sending this response but it came back as undeliverable so here it is:Post them in the comments section as the information shows up in search engines. And, sooner or later

Let me hold that for you ~ Part Two

2009-04-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Once again Intrepid Renter has flushed out something interesting enough to post here.I think we've already established in our prior post that PayPal, Gumtree and Findaproperty.com aren't going to be the kinda resources to hold your money while you wait for an opportunity to inspect the apartments expecting to receive the keys from an absentee scamlord. Nor is it wise to think that wiring funds

Picture this...

2009-04-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

There are some photos used by scammers I see over and over and over again which I'm just kinda sick of seeing at all. I thought I would post a few of 'em just for the heck of it.I'm also throwing in the odd one from current scam ads before I get tired of seeing them too. :)If you find yourself looking for an apartment and see these photos, flag the ad for deletion and keep looking. I don't

Let me hold that for you!

2009-03-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Intrepid Renter was at it yet again last week (he's such a scamp!) and received a response from yet another of our would be 'scamlords' regarding a place in Halifax.I may have sprained a brain cell or two trying to follow the convoluted sell job Scamlord was extolling but, thanks to Intrepid Renter's posting, you can now check it out for yourself...This is the ad:* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

STOP! DON'T DO IT!!!

2009-03-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

Folks, sorry for the flashy thingie but I think that people really need to be aware of this and to think about what sort of personal information they are depositing on the internet or sharing with total strangers.Intrepid Renter wrote me today to say: 'Here's an interesting new scam. New to me, at least.'He had sent an inquiry regarding a rental ad on Craigslist asking for a bit more information

Scammer Bios N - Z 2009

2009-01-02T21:00:00.001-08:00

Everybody has a story to tell and those who are looking to squirm their way into our hard-earned funds aren't any different ~ just a tad imaginative at times. As you make your acquaintance with them, feel free to share the information and we will work hard to highlight their endeavours for the benefit of the global community.Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these

Scammer Bios A - M 2009

2009-01-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Everybody has a story to tell and those who are looking to squirm their way into our hard-earned funds aren't any different ~ just a tad imaginative at times. As you make your acquaintance with them, feel free to share the information and we will work hard to highlight their endeavours for the benefit of the global community.Please keep in mind that there are quite likely real people with these

Scammails U - Z 2009

2009-01-02T19:18:00.001-08:00

U uaed_beydounsuher@yahoo.com udolf.ward@yahoo.co.uk udu_edib@yahoo.com uksms@yahoo.co.uk (Gordon Moore) ulianeniepmann93@yahoo.com umfree01@yahoo.com unerh8j4@yahoo.com uniqueapts2@gmail.com upfrontwaywa@yahoo.com upson.holmes@yahoo.com uriah.ward@yahoo.co.uk use_apart01@yahoo.com usher_man1@yahoo.com ussher.kitty@yahoo.co.uk ut_bryola@yahoo.com uwe_vie@yahoo.com uy_vemju@yahoo.com V

Scammails P - T 2009

2009-01-02T19:17:00.001-08:00

Ppablofotan96@googlemail.compablowood0@gmail.compadimi82@yahoo.com pagecottage@yahoo.com paice.james@yahoo.co.uk paisley.rthonian@yahoo.co.uk pakiea@yahoo.com (Anu Pakie; ph: +447031878634)pampascal@hotmail.compankaj_nagpal2004@yahoo.co.inpabanuphrasad@ymail.compalaceofpeace@hotmail.com (John Makin)palma.dinunno@gmail.com mpalmer.drnick@yahoo.co.uk pameladawson147@

Scammails K - O 2009

2009-01-02T19:15:00.001-08:00

Kkabasasasasa@yahoo.comkadaraopapo7878@yahoo.comkadunarent@yahoo.com (Norman Hush; ph: +447024097532)kallekergel@yahoo.comkamasedada92@yahoo.comkamikaze_we@in.comkamsat80@yahoo.comkamsonlockwood@yahoo.com (Kamson Lockwood)kane.kelly77@yahoo.comkantduck@yahoo.comkaren.collins14@yahoo.comkaren.collins93@yahoo.comkarenfironzen@yahoo.comkarenfisher08@gmail.comkaren.scot02@

Scammails F - J 2009

2009-01-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

F fabricant.michael@yahoo.co.ukface.idibia@yahoo.com fada_eshe@yahoo.com fairbracematthew@yahoo.com fallon.michaell@yahoo.co.uk famyotte@gmail.com faqeer40@gmail.com farayolamiloseyi@yahoo.com farookgul@ymail.com faroqgul@yahoo.com farrelly.paull@yahoo.co.uk farrelly.pauls@yahoo.co.uk farrielisa@yahoo.com farron.timm@yahoo.co.uk farsook_yer@yahoo.com farwes_trying@yahoo.com fatbelldrew@

Scammails A - E 2009

2009-01-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

017curielkxpv@gmail.com1shacksdaddy@gmail.com1src4r@gmail.com (Gustav S.)2scott34lb@gmail.com (Scott Brutter)22colins591@gmail.com46@yahoo.ca (James Eric or Steven Eric)Aa1beedee@yahoo.comaalbertjohannes@googlemail.coma_andrew89@hotmail.comaaron.christiane@yahoo.co.ukaaron.oscar@hotmail.comabassbauer@gmail.com abelardadolph@yahoo.co.uk (Abelard Adolph)abel.rakel@yahoo.com abelram90@

You might well ask...

2008-11-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

By the time people ask me the same question more than once, I start thinking that I might want to answer them in the blog so that everyone gets the same information. C-J sent me these questions in an email the other day and it made sense (to me anyway) to answer them here.I am thinking about renting an apartment in Melbourne and I googled the mail addresses I’ve been keeping contact with. I

What we're up against...

2008-11-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

Quite often a poster will express the opinion that the person behind whatever rent scam they notifying us about should be stopped. There's no argument on that point but it isn't that easy.I've said before that I think that Ruedeseine at http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/ has a good rent scam blog and I want to share a couple of links to articles that are posted there just as something

The things ya see...

2008-11-15T00:19:00.000-08:00

Wandering around is seldom boring ~DKK3000 / 2br - GLOOMING TWO BEDROOMS APARTMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR RENT. (COPENHAGEN) - Doesn't that seem like it should come with its own personal ghost story? Glooming ~ sounds like something MacBeth would come riding out of...** WERE SORRY SMOKING ALLOWED * - I'm sorry smoking is allowed too ~ I'm having a hard enough time staying off the evil weed. *sigh*well

Let's keep the 'real' in realty...

2008-10-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

While being involved in life, I hadn't been watching the ads for a couple of weeks ~ well, not terribly closely anyway. (For those who have suggested I get a life, I have one ~ what I don't have is a television which leaves me *lots* of time to noodle about.)Anyway, I noticed a whole series of ads in Amsterdam that contained this phrasing (with variables in the leasing amount):LEGAL contract by

While you're passing through....

2008-09-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks (I think) to Chris Walters at www.consumerist.com for posting a link to my blog with his entry at http://consumerist.com/5053894/beware-of-apartment-scammers.It had been a quiet blog day until his posting and then... (Or as kapow! as it's been for the site. :D) I had gone out to pick up a couple of great pizzas, had a nice dinner with roomie and then stopped by to look at the statistics

As easy as ABC...

2008-09-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

Boy, you just have to hand it to our bizzy scammers... Even when they are all tired out they are so willing to be obliging. They'll rent to you if you have pets, if you have large families, if you answer their ad, if you can breathe, if you're a Martian ~ and they'll even make it so smoooooooth and simple for them to get their sticky fingers into your pocket. Hardly any effort at all on your part

WebsitesDotcom are not always your friend

2008-09-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

So there I was with my morning cup of tea and I decided to wander around the Craigslist rentals while waiting for it to cool a bit and to stir my barely awake brain cells to life. Some people do crossword puzzles ~ I look for ad anomalies.I started with Australia since it has a very small ad section and because I figger 95+% of the ads there are complete fiction. (Read them long enough and just

Stolen lives

2008-09-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Early in the month, I received this email:Sent: September 3, 2008 8:06:58 AMDear Ms - whatsyourname..Found Your website and wanted to let You know that some one is using my name and private address in their "appartmentscam" dealings. How do I send message to all the webmaster to ban whoever is doing this ?? Regards and best wishes. Johan K. V. Svanholm, N3RF, Chm SVANHOLM RESEARCH LABORATORIES

I can't resist...

2008-09-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

This comment was attached to my previous post and, though I thought of just answering it with another comment, I feel it deserves a bit wider response.The comment was:I forgot to add that its very reliable here in San Francisco - a few scams, but it's more trustworthy than some of our slumlord rental agencies like Citi Apartments and Skyline Realty. Seems like this "scam" angle is a lot of hype,

Come on in....

2008-09-11T00:42:00.000-07:00

This time there actually has been a head's up that there might be a few more of you than usual popping by today ~ well, those of you who read the The Province anyway. So come on in ~ you've been expected.I'll make this relatively short, ok? I tend to be pedantic enough as it is without encouraging me to be more so. :)This blog is *not* the definitive blog on rental scams abounding on the

If I had known you were coming....

2008-09-09T15:38:00.001-07:00

If I had known so many of you would be showing up today I would have baked some cookies and made tea to welcome you all. I'm good at it ~ cookie making that is. My roommate, his dog and my hips will testify to that!I mentioned in an earlier post that my daily 'hits' are modest at the best ~ mebbe 50-70 a day on average. Lately it's kinda boosted up to 80 with the odd surge when someone posts

Will the real whatever please stand up?

2008-09-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

M'friend, Intrepid Renter, sent me this today and there's just something about it that is so..... shareable.This is the ad ~ slick, eh?$1300 / 3br - SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE FOR RENT (edmonton )Reply to: brownmarys9@yahoo.com Date: 2008-09-06, 2:19PM MDTWhy rent with us? When you rent from a typical landlord, you’ll get lots of attention from them – right up until you sign the lease & hand over your

Ahhh... A breath of fresh air...

2008-08-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

Succinct ~ now that's not something that we get from our industrious 'Fawbush' scammers as a rule, is it? Here's an example of brevity we seldom get from the little bots.From: David K. Fawbush carlsboom01@yahoo.comSubject: details APT. InquiryTo: c***@yahoo.comDate: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 6:29 AMThank you for taking your time in responding to my AD. the room is still available, well right now

Did you know.....?

2008-08-21T21:58:00.001-07:00

People sometimes ask me how I know an ad is bogus other than having it reported or by emailing the 'landlords'. Trust me, after reading a few thousand, it's not all that hard to figure out but sometimes it's so darned obvious. These are not hysterically funny but I get a good giggle now and again.Feel free to add any sure fire clues you find.Meanwhile, did you know:That Toronto is in Adelaide,

Into the Western Union/Moneygram black hole we go!

2008-08-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Receiver's Name: ERIC MURPHY Address : 32/45 PANSEKE ROAD. City : EBUTE METTA State : Lagos Country : Nigeria Zip code : 23401 TEXT QUESTION : WHO IS THE GREATEST?? ANSWER : ALMIGHTY GOD +2348022961927RECEIVER'S NAME: ERIC MURPHY ADDRESS : 360 VICTORY CHURCH STREET, LAGOS, NIGERIA 23401. TEXT QUESTION :FAVOURITE COLOUR ? ANSWER : BLUEReceiver's Name: Abraham Peter Address: #606 Walter

A little much, don'tcha think?

2008-08-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Someone forwarded me a scammail today and this was the first paragraph. Nothing personal to those who hold their spiritual beliefs near and dear, but anyone who comes at me this hard and heavy would find me backing out the nearest exit....Hello cheri ,I want you to know that am so happy and excited once again for promise to take very good care of my apartment my Almighty God continue to shower

For sure this ain't Kansas!

2008-08-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

In traipsing around the 'net I run into lots and lots of sites and blogposts about scams and scammers, learnings things that I might overlook or otherwise not come across under ordinary circumstances.One I found a few nights ago is http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/ which I thought was quite organized and it's obvious the owner has been putting some thought into what s/he posts so I

For this you get that....

2008-08-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

Answering this: Spacious One Bedroom Apartment (Paris)" Entirely renovated and refurbished in 2007, the apartment offers a cosy environment, bright and sunny and peacefully quiet,furnished with good taste in a modern style.A dining corner with a table for 3, and a partial wall separating the living room itself from the kitchen,fully equipped with all necessities including a dishwasher.The double

Lies, damned lies and....

2008-08-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

People are good at sending me copies of the emails they receive (and I manage to accumulate enough of my own) so I am quite used to the torrent of 'God' that comes out of them. Since I have a dim view of those who espouse a spiritual philosophy they have no intention of incorporating into their life practices, it may be safe to say that I find it more irritating than a comforting panacea to any

Ohhhh... Is that what the pest looks like?

2008-08-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

I know that many of you have been doing searches on the Brunner/Tzonson clan who already are listed (lord, but the scammers using those names are a hyperactive bunch ~ they're everywhere!)M wrote to me this morning saying:I was searching for a flat in london, on gumtree.com, and I was ready to pay the deposit when the guy told me about western union, then I searched on the internet and found your