Rental Scammers Using Craigslist to Target Landlords

NOTE:  I have closed off comments to this post due to comments consistently containing names, email addresses and phone numbers. 

I recently posted an ad on Craigslist in Hartford, CT for an apartment I have for rent.  In addition to the people actually interested in renting, I received about 20 scam e-mails. 

Here’s my favorite:

Good-day       With sound of good health.  I’m Professor XXXXX Paleontologist “A fossil Hunter”  Am interested in your apartment/house
for rent posted on Craigslist.com  With the little descriptions you gave
there-in, am satisfied and it redeemed my stress of searching around
for an apartment to rent. I would like to make an inquiry if the apartment is
still available for rent and the duration in which you want to lease the
unit. Preferably 6-12monthsGet bak to me with the following:1- Security deposit fee ?
2- Monthly rent fees ?
3- Utilities if applicable ?
4- Dimension/measurement of the unit {s} ?
5- Crime rate of the area where the apt is located ?
6- Park lots if any ?
7- If the unit is Furnished or Unfurnished ?
8- Total Move in fees ?

ProfessorXXXXX
The Fossil Hunter {Paleontologist}

Never mind that the guy refers to himself as “The Fossil Hunter,” when you click on the link with his name, it takes you to several references – all to a man born in the 1700s!! Other signs that it’s a scam:

• Poor English.
• Asking questions about details you already gave in the advertisement. In my case, all the questions in the e-mail would have been answered if the writer had actually read my Craigslist post.
• No direct contact information.
• The writer is overseas.  While you can’t tell for sure with this e-mail, many of the scams are from people claiming to be in other countries.

How do the scammers make money? If I had contacted this person, he/she would have likely offered to pay the rent for the apartment site-unseen.  In addition, the person would have offered that his/her employer will include money for expenses in a check, which I would cash and then send the difference to my new “tenant.”  Obviously, I would never see my new tenant again – or my money.