Ha. Nice Try, Scammer.

I saw this too good to be true apartment listed on Craigslist the other day ($750/month for a 1,000 square foot 1b/1b condo, right up the street from where we are now), and emailed the guy to see if there would be any open houses.  Here was his response to my email (address and phone numbers redacted).  I think it speaks for itself, but I've made my favorite phrases bold.

Hi,

I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist. My name is Edwin Ross. The home is still available but presently I'm not around.. I did bid for a portion of petroleum land sometimes ago in West Africa and fortunately I won the  bidding so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up because I will still have to rebid for it in the next 10 years. I came over here with my wife, we both bought the home when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the home so I have to look for an agent, after getting one, we got a deal but later my wife advised against that. She said we may not be able to win the bidding next  time, in other to keep our head when we return that we have to keep the home. I reasoned with her and accepted her advise. So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents. Later we decided to  have the home rent out, we would have give the same agent this job also but the truth of the matter is that the agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the  absolute care for the property. I know there is no  way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the home because we won't be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a  feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the home and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the home if you can promise me & my family that you will sure take very good care of the home for us as if it was your own.

Please if you are ready now to occupy the home kindly provide the information below for record purpose 

RENT APPLICATION FORM

Full Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone (        ) ________________________

Date of Birth_________________________________

Other Phone (       ) ___________________

Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________

Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone (       ) ____________________________

Are you married____________________________

How many people will be living in the home____________________________

Do you have a pet____________________________

Do you have a car____________________________

Occupation____________________________

Move In Date____________________________

1 or 2 Month Rent Payment will be Deposit Down Now Before You Move in?____________________________

Reference Details_________________________

Pictures of all the Occupant that will stay in my home.

TAKE NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE BY AND SEE MY HOME FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING GET THE APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO ME SO THAT I CAN  SHIP MY KEYS TO YOU FOR YOU BE ABLE TO GO AND LOOK AT THE INSIDE OR MOVE IN IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD HAVE REALLY LOVE TO SHIP THE KEYS TO SOMEONE IN STATE BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THERE RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE USE OF ANY THIRD PARTY THAT IS WHY AM HANDLING MY PROPERTY MYSELF..

Monthly Fee: $750

Security Deposit: $500

Pets Allowed:

Available :Available Now for move in.

NB: I will like you to give me a call on this effect to know how serious you are in this rent.

So pls get back to me today.

I await your reply ASAP.

Edwin Ross.

I could not figure out why he wanted photos of his tenants (but not any credit card information), unless it was for some creepy reason...Will thinks he makes fake ID's.  I think he's probably right.  It was flagged for removal on Craigslist pretty much immediately after I received the email, so I'm guessing a ton of other people were almost-scammed as well.  

I never would have thought to take a picture of a random apartment building and post a fake ad about renting it really cheaply, trying to get people's information.  Crazy, eh?