Scammers

Topic: Scammers (Read 1205 times) previous topic - next topic

Scammers

April 09, 2009, 01:23:43 AM

Me and my fiance, as of late, have been searching for a place to live. She's finishing her 2 year degree up at a community college, then coming to join me at USF with our daughter.

Last night, my fiance emailed me some prospective locations. One in particular she asked me to look at. It was a 4br/2ba house, for $900 a month, utilities included. I looked at the ad on Craigslist, and it looked pretty nice. Definitely a good find for a college student.

So my fiance responded to the ad. The"owner" emailed her. He said his name was John Rondas or Rondia or something. Well this John guy said he was a missionary, and had brought his entire family to West Africa to do missionary work. He said the reason the rent was so low was because he was a pastor, and that he wanted to help someone in need. Plus he just wanted someone to take care of the house while he was gone. He sent us an application via email to apply to live there. Alyssa (my fiance) filled it out, but before sending it back, had me go look at it, since it's right near USF. (I live on campus).

So I arrive at the house, and I see a Century 21 sign in the front yard. I call the number, and the agent lets me know that the ad is a scam, and when you send the 400 dollar security deposit, you never hear from the guy again.

Apparently, this guy is not a missionary at all. The house is actually owned by none other thn Bill Grammatica (Arizona, New york) and somehow the scammer knew the guy was gone so he took pics and said the house was his.

What kind of person pretends to be a missionary in hopes of scamming someone? What was the guy antiting people do once they saw the Century 21 sign in the front yard?

People like this make me sick...there's better ways to deal with a recession than scam people.

Scammers

Reply #1 – April 09, 2009, 01:36:46 AM

Happens every day. I got scammed once. Really hard to get over your own stupidity after it happens. This is why nice guys finish last.

Glad you caught it ahead of time.

He will get his. Law Enforcement down there is rough (if he is actually in Africa). They give you options not rights. Work with a guy from Nigeria. Wealthy family in Government. Brother drives a new Jag there and was stopped while on his and his friends way out to party. Had close to 10Gs on them (common to go party from what he told me). Got stopped at a check point by the Police/Military and they accused him of drugs and every stereo type you cold think of. Gave him the option of his car or the money. Well one call to his Mom and that ended that. Since she is in Government there she has the power to have them removed or fired with a few calls. Power table flipped real quick.

That being said Karma's a b****.

Scammers

Reply #2 – April 09, 2009, 02:22:26 AM

A couple of my friends got taken by the Nigerian scams..all I can say is..if it sounds too good to be true...then it very likely is.

At least you didn't lose your entire checking account like my pals did...

Scammers

Reply #3 – April 09, 2009, 02:36:00 AM

If it says west africa or nigeria in the ad it's a scam... plain and simple

Scammers

Reply #4 – April 09, 2009, 03:07:07 AM

Quote from: DVP;266520

Happens every day. I got scammed once. Really hard to get over your own stupidity after it happens. This is why nice guys finish last.

Glad you caught it ahead of time.

He will get his. Law Enforcement down there is rough (if he is actually in Africa). They give you options not rights. Work with a guy from Nigeria. Wealthy family in Government. Brother drives a new Jag there and was stopped while on his and his friends way out to party. Had close to 10Gs on them (common to go party from what he told me). Got stopped at a check point by the Police/Military and they accused him of drugs and every stereo type you cold think of. Gave him the option of his car or the money. Well one call to his Mom and that ended that. Since she is in Government there she has the power to have them removed or fired with a few calls. Power table flipped real quick.

That being said Karma's a b****.

I'm sorry I neglected to mention that the "missionary" is not actually in Africa. It's just the storyhe fed us.

Scammers

Reply #5 – April 09, 2009, 03:41:23 AM

Quote from: Carl;266526

If it says west africa or nigeria in the ad it's a scam... plain and simple

egggzzzzzzzactly!!

Scammers

Reply #6 – April 09, 2009, 04:21:40 AM

This also reminds me, this past fall, Nicole was at her work one afternoon, but before I had to be at my work. Anyway, she saw an ad in the local paper about a free yorkie puppy...anyway, the ad didn't have a phone #, just an email addy.

Right off I suspected bullshiznit...so I emailed the person(s) and inquired about said Yorkshire terrier.

The response (from a supposed minister, no less) was barely intelligible, and to the point, was ALSO from a missionary/minister recently moved to Africa. He basically wanted my phone number, and if I had a credit card to pay for shipping of said yorkie from Africa to wherever I was...needless to say...we don't have a Yorkie..

A sure sign of a Nigerian scammer is poor english, grammar, sentence structure, and rambling train of thought.
There's so many ways for a scammer to get ahold of your money...ya always gotta be sharp. I even had a telemarketer ask me right off for my social security #...now THAT was some lame-ass shiznit. I flat told her I don't give info out to ANYONE, and click, hung up on her silly ass, lol.

Scammers

Reply #7 – April 09, 2009, 08:35:14 AM

One of the scams I had pulled on me was someone called from the "local courthouse" said that I had a warrant out for my arrest for failure to appear for jury duty. But, everything could be settled over the phone with a quick and easy credit card payment. All they needed was my social security number, and a credit card number, I pay a small fine, and the warrant would be cancelled. I told them I would rather be arrested than give my SS number to some stranger over the phone and hung up. Did some research and found out it is a scam people are running.

Scammers

Reply #8 – April 09, 2009, 10:57:16 AM

Now that I think about it a minister wanted to trade me a Blazer for my SHO... I never went to far into it since I didnt want it. Could have been a scam, maybe not.

Around Christmas time I had some scammers come into work. They got one over on me, and 2 other stores. I let them walk with 5000 of stuff on a stolen CC. I cant say how they did it but they knew our system, fake ID (looked GREAT), and an accomplice on the phone. There is a loop hole they dont train us on in the system, safer not to tell then have people know and possibly get to scammers.

Its easy money. That is if you have no morals.

Scammers

Reply #9 – April 09, 2009, 03:30:20 PM

Quote from: 83Heritage;266548

One of the scams I had pulled on me was someone called from the "local courthouse" said that I had a warrant out for my arrest for failure to appear for jury duty. But, everything could be settled over the phone with a quick and easy credit card payment. All they needed was my social security number, and a credit card number, I pay a small fine, and the warrant would be cancelled. I told them I would rather be arrested than give my SS number to some stranger over the phone and hung up. Did some research and found out it is a scam people are running.

I'd ask them how they can access your driving record and criminal history, but they don't have your ss# on file.

Scammers

Reply #10 – April 10, 2009, 10:43:07 AM

Similar to this on TV the other night (might've been Dateline). Scammers apparently are now taking advantage of all of those folks facing foreclosure, and whatnot. Want to refinance your loan to save your house?...call us, we'll help...

Anyway, if you are not familiar with the "bank" you are dealing with, or there's no real background to a landlord, I'd be wary. Lucky you didn't get tagged for $1000's.