If you are looking for a roommate and you placed ads on the internet on roommate listings, you might not at first recognize this type of scam that's surfacing the web. The type of scam I'm referring to are known as roommate scams.
How to Recognize a Roommate Scam
After you placed an ad on a roommate listing and gotten some replies from potential roomies, you might come across a reply to your ad that looks like this:
Hi,
I saw your ad and i'm looking to rent room or seek a roommate who is nice and honest. My name is Denise and i'm 29 yr. old broker currently living in London with my uncle. I am honest, trustworthy and caring individual who enjoys making good friends and having good time.
i plan to come to the united states to work at a new brokerage firm on an 8 month contract. I just want to confirm the rent, utilities and if there is any deposit. What's the amount to move in altogether. I can pay you 3 months rent and would like to move in right away. I will have my associate in the united states send you a cashiers check for 3 months payment. Deduct your part for the rent and send the rest back to me so I can purchase a plane ticket and pay for moving expenses.
Please forward me your full details where you want payment to be mailed
Name
Address
city,zip
email
phone
bank you will be using
Thanks and i will be waiting for your details so I can proceed with payment!
regards,
Denise
THIS IS A SCAM!
There are similar roommate scams out there where people claim to be from Canada, UK, Nigeria, Australia, Sweden, etc. Ways to quickly spot a roommate scam goes as follows:
·The person is a foreign national
·There are usually a lot of grammatical errors and broken English in their writing
·They claim they are moving to the US for work, school or a modeling contract
·They usually only give their first name and if you reply with an email asking for their full name, address and email, they refuse to give it to you.
·They want to pay you in advance or send you their "final paycheck" from their current employer, asking you to deposit the check in your bank account as form of payment for the rent deposit.
·They want you to cash a check, money order or cashier's check in your bank account (usually 2-3 times more than the amount of the rent) and ask that you withdraw the portion that's needed to cover the rent.
For example, if the rent deposit is $1,500, they will say that they will send you a check for $4,500 and ask that you deduct the $1,500 from their check. They then will ask you to mail the rest of the money back to them ($3,000) either by Western Union or wire transfer so they can purchase a plane ticket and/or pay for moving expenses. The checks, money orders and cashier's checks are counterfeit!
·They offer for "an associate" or "sponsor" they know in the US to send you a check, cashier's check or money order for you to deposit in your bank for the rent deposit (again the check, money order and cashier's checks are fake!)
·They request your personal information like full name, address, phone number, personal email account and bank where you will be depositing the checks. Sometimes they will insist on a particular bank for you to deposit their fake checks.
·Their emails make the assumption that you have chosen them to be your roommate and will ask you to remove your ad off the roommate listing.
·You receive similar emails that sound almost identical, but using different names and job occupations.
·If you request info from them like their current home address, scans/fax copies of their passport, visas and employer contracts, they will refuse to give you the information and make excuses why they can't.
·If you do communicate with these roommate scam artists through email or telephone (at first not knowing you are about to be scammed) and request a little more time to do research or explain you are interviewing other people, they will get nasty and impatient with you and barrage you with constant emails, IM and phone calls.
How The Scam Works
If you inadvertently communicate with these scam artists and accept a check, cashier's check or money order from them, once you deposit the check into your account and withdraw money , you "technically" are stealing from your bank.
How?
Remember, these checks are counterfeit! If you have only $500 in your bank account and you deposit a counterfeit check for $4,500, your account will state that you have a balance of $5,000.
If you withdraw $3,000 from your account and send it Western Union to these scam artists so they can pay for "moving expenses" or "air fare", (leaving $1,500 to cover the rent deposit) you have just illegally withdrawn money from your bank.
Your bank WILL contact you once they realize that the check you deposited is a fake and you WILL be held responsible for the $3,000 you "technically" stolen.
And by the way, the $1,500 that's left in your account will no longer be available to you because the check was a counterfeit.
Once you realize you have been a victim of a roommate scam, your next step is to contact the police and/or the FBI. However, understand that the $3,000 you sent to these scam artists is now gone.
Sorry!
Want to know how you can prevent becoming a victim of a roommate scam? It's easy!
Learn how to recognize a roommate scam email.
Knowledge is power and there are tons of examples of scam emails on the internet for you to review. Research for yourself and learn how to recognize a roommate scam, or any internet scam for that matter, if you receive one.
Also, when answering emails on roommate listings, always be sure to verify as much information as you can. Ask questions and don't be shy about it.
Remember, you are looking for a roommate who is going to move into your house or apartment. You have every right to protect yourself. Trust your gut and listen to any red flags that may go up if you believe you received an email that appears to be a roommate scam.
Lastly, do not give out any personal information without first getting some information of your own. Not only could you become a victim of a roommate scam, but you could also become a victim of computer hacking where scammers can gain access to your personal computer.
Remember, be safe!
Good Luck!
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