NJ real estate scam submitted by reader

I received the following e-mail from Amber in New Jersey about a scam that someone tried to pull on her while looking for an apartment on craigslist…

The guy from the UK used this email: “Alan Erickson” alan.ercks@gmail.com. Now when suspicions arose because I’d asked him to call me a number of times or to send his number for me to call and he never answered certain questions, kept pushing the money wires and some bullshit third party parcel service that’s blacklisted from the Better Business Bureau (www.tnt.com) I googled his name and found a broker in New Jersey who dealt in apartments in and around Montclair where our supposed apt was. I thought….hmm, I’ll call him, sort of beat him to the punch and so I left a message. The REAL Alan Erickson called me back and explained that this guy had done this to many people, and he’s tried to track the guy down and get him for identity theft/fraud. The ad has been removed because we reported for abuse by myself and the real Alan…so I wish I’d have saved it. Basically, if it is too good to be true…on Craig’s List, it probably is.

The First Email we received in response to our interest in the place:

Hello,

Thank you for your interest. I have available the apartment located in Montclair, NJ with 2 bedrooms, 1 living room and 1 bathrooms, square ft. 1000-1350. Because I moved with my job in United Kingdom, London, i need money to pay the rent here which is very expensive and that is the reason i want to rent the apt at this low price and to find a good person for it fast. I can rent you the apt for maximum 5 years this is the period i have contract here but i can rent it for a low period too. I`m the owner of the apt and it’s exactly like in the PICS. The rent for 1 month is $900 including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator). You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys but I hope that we will find a compromise.

Thank you for your interest and wait news from you.

Another email (it’s interesting to note that the guy chose a place that was a) empty – when we drove by the place and peeked in it was empty) b) the pics were of the actual apartment – he was very good):

Thank you for your reply and yes pets are ok. Like I have inform you before, the price you shall pay for one month of rent will be $900 US, with no extra taxes to pay. The money I want to receive it monthly to my bank account, I hope will be no problem for you to wire the money to my bank account. The apartment is ready for you, you will need only to receive the keys and the contract to check it, and see if you like it. Obviously we need a way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after. I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days, if you move fast as well. The solution is provided by a company called TNT which is similar to FedEx, DHL or UPS, which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys. I have found a procedure that will allow you to pay for the rent of the apt only after you will receive the keys and rental contract, through this way you will see it and decide if you will stay in the apt or not before I receive my payment. Please click on the link bellow to visit the TNT website to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained:

This was the last email he sent before we called him out:

Hello,

The deal will go through the Escrow Service TNT will provide us with .You will only have to deposit TNT $900 which will cover the rent for the first month you will be moving in.I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the keys and the contract signed by me right away. I will explain you step by step how this process will work:

1 – To start the process all i need is your full shipping info.

2 – I will go at TNT to deposit the keys and the contract in your name as the intended receiver.

3 – TNT will check the envelope to see if everything is in order and also the legal papers that will come along with the keys and proof of ownership.

4 – TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the keys and the papers in their custody and that i am the real owner of the apartment i am renting to you, in which you will also have all the instructions to complete the Money Gram transfer to the TNT Agent.

5 – At this point you will have to go to a Money Gram Location and make a money deposit on the TNT Agent Name for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit for the first month of rent.

6 – After you make the deposit you will have to send the transfer information’s to TNT.

7 – TNT will verify the payment information’s and if everything is in order they will proceed with the delivery of the keys and the contract.

8 – After you receive the package, you will go and check the apartment and in 2 days you must contact TNT to inform them if you keep the apt or not and if all is in order you will instruct TNT to send me the information’s about the money deposit and I will be able to receive the funds. If you don`t like the apartment they will be sending the money back to you and you will send back the keys and contract. Also pay the Money Gram transfer fees from the total amount you need to deposit and send the rest in balance.

Let me know if we can do this and email me all your full shipping information so we can proceed with this deal

SO many details…and he was a scammer.

And like Amber said, if it’s too good to be true on craigslist it probably is.