44-7024-013797

Got the same number but different name from our listing on Craigslist. What a scam!!! Here's the actual email he sent....

Hello ,

Thanks for your mail, I am indeed serious about renting this unit and will be willing to offer you one month rent to start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to my arrival. You can send me the lease application, to enable me to review it ahead of time.
I am a Pharmacist by profession and I am currently working with Woodstock Pharmacy, Woodstock, Uk.  I will be in the states for the next one year and during my stay I will be working with the United States Implants & orthopedic Agency on a private research work.
I have a financier that is based in the States and he will be handling the rent deposit payment on my behalf, I will instruct him to send you a Certified Check for this as soon as you give me the go ahead to make out payment to you.  

Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival,we are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with furnitures,so we will need you to provide us with the measurements of the living room and bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture company so that they can supply the unit with furniture that will fit in well. Also send me a picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

As regards the lease agreement, I want you to send it to me for my review. I will eventually have it filled and signed on my arrival in your place as I am of the opinion that such documents are best filled and signed physically. We can start the lease by 1st of March and I will be doing a one year lease. You can prepare the lease in my name and my wife's name (Dr. John Merritt & Cheryl Merritt).

Let me know how to move ahead as I intend to complete this deal before I move in a couple of days. I want all the arrangement to be solidified so I settle in comfortably when I arrive. I will let you know the exact date as soon as I get a booking on a flight to the states.

I will look forward to your e mail with the required information.Here is my phone number +447024013797

Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious  family. I await your urgent response.

Dr. John

I also listed an apartment in NC for rent on Craig's list and got a response from Dr. Chris LaPorte drlchris@hotmail.com claiming to be a pharmacistt working for Woodstock Pharmacy in the UK moving here with his wife and daughter with the same phone number.  Same MO as above responses.  Because Craig's List warns of scamers responding from a non-local area, I thought it must have been a scam and searched the phone number.  I'm glad I did.

So grateful you all have posted.  We too have a condo in Florida for rent and received a similar email from Marris Timon, same lingo same daughter same pharmacy same siutation.  We were ready to call but happened to google the number.  THANKS again.

This is unreal!  And to think I almost fell for it.  I adveritsed an apartment on Craigslist, and got the exact same letters as listed above, only now he is going by the name of Arnold Schmit.  After four emails, I smelled a rat!  Can't believe it took me that long.  But I'm glad I googled his number and found out what he's really about.

Unbelievable!  
I also posted my home on Craig list...I sent the pics in response to the first e-mail but got suspicious with his second one...I'm glad I googled his #.

First e-mail...
cheif vossen <cheif.vossen@gmail.com> wrote:
> --
> Hello,
> Saw your advert for your item for sale,I am
> interested in buying,Get back to me with the price
> and probably with the recent pics....................
>
>
>
> Wait to read from you soon

Second e-mail....

Thanks for your response and here is a brief introduction about my
self;i am a Pharmacist by profession and I am currently working with
the Woodstock Pharmacy, Woodstock,United Kingdom.  I will be
relocating to the united states of America for the next one year and
during my stay i will be working for the United States Implants &
orthopedic Agency on a private research work. I hereby reaffirm my
interest about renting your home and will be willing to offer you one
month rent for a start, plus the security deposit in order to secure
the unit prior to our arrival to the united states.
  I have a financier based in U.S.A and he will be the one handling
the rent deposit payment on our behalf,i will instruct him to send you
a bank Check in payment for the rent as soon as you give me the go
ahead to send payment to you. I'll be coming with my wife and daughter
  Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival and in line
with my work schedule ,we are making arrangements with a furniture
company to supply the home with furnitures ,so we will need you to
provide us with the accurate  measurements of the living room and
bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture company and they
supply the unit with furniture that would fit in well... i would
really appreciaite it if you could send me some pictures of the living
room and the bed rooms.

  As regards the lease agreement form,you can have it forwarded to me
for review.though i will have it filled and signed on our arrival to
your place becuase i am of the opinion that such vital document is
best filled and signed physically. We can start the lease by 1st of
March and it shall be for a period of 12 months. You can prepare the
lease in my name and that of my wife (Dr.  Bristol & Cheryl Bristol).

Let me know how to move ahead as I intend to complete this deal
before I move in a couple of days. I want all the arrangement to be
solidified so I settle in comfortably when I arrive. I will let you
know the exact date as soon as I get a booking on a flight to the
states.

I will look forward to your e mail with the required information.Here
is my phone number +447024013797

Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious  family. I await
your urgent response.

You dummies - of course it's a scam. Just ask them not to bother with going to the bank and getting a banker's draft and going to the post office and waiting
for the post - get him to send the money to you via Western Union - just like they want you to do!!! Their excuses for not sending but only receiving from West. Union are hilarious.

Thanks for the helpful postings.

Same phone number was on a response to my rental offer, but now his name is Dr.James. Claims to work for the Woodstock Pharmacy, in Woodstock UK, and will be moving to NYC (with his precious family) to do research for the United States Implants & Orthopedic Agency...

Maybe he needs an implant of something somewhere.

Thank G-d for this website. I am undergoing the same story as I've read on much of these posts. This scammer is trying this scam on me right now. I posted my rental on backpage.com (Village Voice) as well as on Craig's List.

I heard from a real estate broker friend of mine, that what they often do is pressure you on time, overpay the deposit + 1st month and ask and then ask you to write them a refund check for the amount they overpaid. Their check takes 6 days until it bounces and in that time, I assume, they hope to get your payment. Its really a mystery to me still.

I am posting the intial email I received (this time he was Dr. James and his wife is Cheryl James). He says he works for Woodstock Pharmacy, applies great pressure, mentions the daughter, and says he's coming to do pharmaceutical research. Here are the emails (notice he asked me to email him to a different address then the first one he used):

from: rukkiey200@hotmail.com
Hello,
    I saw your apartment advertised on backpage.com and am interested in renting it. I will be signing a one year lease for it and want to know the requirements for renting it. i.e
Monthly Fees:
Security Deposit
Electricity/Utility Bills

I will be doing a one year research on pharmacy work while in the states and will be staying with my wife and daughter .I will appreciate it if i hear from you in time as i will want to conclude the rental process before the end of March.So mail me back to my personal mail rukkiey_jackson4real@yahoo.com

Thank you.

- After I responded with some details he responded back immediately from: rukkiey_jackson4real@yahoo.com:

Hello ,

  Thanks for your response and here is a brief introduction about my self;i am a Pharmacist by profession and I am currently working with the Woodstock Pharmacy, Woodstock,United Kingdom.  I will be relocating to the united states of America for the next one year and during my stay i will be working for the United States Implants & orthopedic Agency on a private research work. I hereby reaffirm my interest about renting your home and will be willing to offer you one month rent for a start, plus the security deposit in order to secure the unit prior to our arrival to the united states.

  I have a financier based in U.S.A and he will be the one handling the rent deposit payment on our behalf,i will instruct him to send you a bank Check in payment for the rent as soon as you give me the go ahead to send payment to you. I'll be coming with my wife and daughter.

  Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival and in line with my work schedule ,we are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with furnitures ,so we will need you to provide us with the accurate  measurements of the living room and bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture company and they supply the unit with furniture that would fit in well... i would really appreciaite it if you could send me some pictures of the living room and the bed rooms.
   
  As regards the lease agreement form,you can have it forwarded to me for review.though i will have it filled and signed on our arrival to your place becuase i am of the opinion that such vital document is  best filled and signed physically. We can start the lease by 1st of April and it shall be for a period of 12 months. You can prepare the lease in my name and that of my wife (Dr.James & Cheryl James).

Let me know how to move ahead as I intend to complete this deal before I move in a couple of days. I want all the arrangement to be solidified so I settle in comfortably when I arrive. I will let you know the exact date as soon as I get a booking on a flight to the states.

I will look forward to your e mail with the required information.Here is my phone number +447024013797

Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious  family. I await your urgent response.

Dr.James


Hope that helps...

Morris Timmon is now a Reverend and using the phone number 447031859061.  Very good written English and cleverly started out with a brief inquiry regarding the rental (in this case, Savannah GA), then added more info and inquiries regarding room sizes, utility costs, etc with continued communication from me.

No direct response to my statement that "Before securing any lease on the unit, a credit/criminal check is required by the property manager.  If you are still interested, I will request the form granting permission for these security checks to be emailed to you"...just more info, questions and reiteration that his "financier in the states" will handle the transaction.

Latest info he provided regarding his employment: I am a Reverend and am presently ministry in St. Luke's Church, St. Luke's Close, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2US, United Kingdom. I will be in the states for the next one year with my wife and my daughter and during my stay i will joining Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns and Suffragan Bishop David Bena at Saint Luke's Anglican Church in spreading the word of GOD.

This is probably a variation of the Nigerian scam, in which the prospective tenant will send a check for over the $amount and request that excess funds be sent back to him or his financier in US dollars

Wow, almost identical but now he's

Arnold Schmit (drarnoldmit055@gmail.com)

Dr.Mike Bedard contacted me via email regarding a rental in Naples, Florida that I had
advertized in Craiglist. He mentioned that he was coming in May and was working for David M.Cote, CEO of Honeywell Int'l.

This time his phone number is: 44+7031859061

He is a scam artist who claims to have a financier.

Phishing scam "Pharmacist from Woodstock Pharmacy in UK wanting to rent my apartment

I just noticed something about these posts.  They all quote the number beginning with 44, the international code for UK.  There is no thread for 07024013797, which is the way you would expect it to appear in the UK.  This means that, although the caller is using a British number, he/she is calling exclusively to people outside the UK. That also makes it more difficult for the victims to contact the telecoms carrier to track it down.  The scammer has really got this one worked out hasn't he? Let's hope he is caught before someone loses a lot of money to him.

This guy now goes by Barry Winstone and here is another e-mail response to a Craigslist listing                                                                                    
Hello,


      Thanks for your mail and details on this unit, i am indeed serious about renting this unit and will be willing to offer you 2 months rent plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to our arrival.


Could you be kind enough to let me know what the electricity/utility cost would be?as i will really need to have this unit to myself. You can send me the lease application , to enable be review it ahead of time.i would eventually have it signed physically when i arrive.In my opinion, appending signatories should be done properly and at best physically.Please , send me a picture view of the living room and bed rooms.


This is an international situation .With this arrangement, my financier in the states,will be effecting your payment deposit to you.I believe we can work together and ensure every arrangements that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the
tenancy should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper understanding.


In view of my work schedule, i would want us to finalise basic arrangements.  I will arrive the united states by first week in may, with my wife and a 10 yr old daughter


If you require any specific information, you can call me on my number  447031859061


Thanks

I also had exactly the same experience, same story from Scott Waltman.
Something did not sound right to me, specially his english being from the UK.
I google it and what a surprise!!
The phone number he used is 447024070838.
Thanks for posting your experiences I would have fall for this.

Just researched similar emails for a friend....this is a new take on the Nigerian oil fax/email scam that started som 25 years ago....

Just researched similar emails for a friend....this is a new take on the Nigerian oil fax/email scam that started som 25 years ago....

I just love this...I knew he was a scammer but I like to play the game so I did and here is his response:  he is now a reverend....

Thanks for your mail, I am indeed serious about renting this unit and will be willing to offer you first month rent to start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to my arrival. You can send me the lease application, to enable me to review it ahead of time. I am a Reverend and am presently ministry in St. Luke's Church, St.Luke's Close, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2US, UK.  I will be in the states for the next 2 years and during my stay I will joining Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns and Suffragan Bishop David Bena at Saint Luke's Anglican Church in spreading the word of GOD.


I have a financier that is based in the States and he will be handling the rent deposit payment on my behalf, I will instruct him to send you a Certified Check for this as soon as you give me the go ahead to make out payment to you.Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival,we are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with furnitures,so we will need you to provide us with the measurements of the living room and bedroom so that we can send it to the furniture company so that they can supply the unit with furniture that will fit in well. Also send me a picture viewing the living room and thebed rooms.


As regards the lease agreement, I want you to send it to me for my review. I will eventually have it filled and signed on my arrival in your place as I am of the opinion that such documents are best filled and signed physically. We can start the lease by 1st of June and I will be doing a  year lease although i may not arrive until Early July You can prepare the lease inmy name Rev  (DR) Allen James  and my wife  (Rev) Mrs Kate James

Let me know how to move ahead as I intend to complete this deal before I move in a couple of days. I want all the arrangement to be solidified so I settle in comfortably when I arrive. I will let you know the exact date as soon as I get a booking on a flight to the states.I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.Here is my phone number +Tel: 01994 801434 or +447824013797 Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious family. I await your urgent response.


Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious family. I await your urgent response.May God be with you and your

family.

Rev.(DR) James.

I received a response to my Craigs List condo rental listing just like the others.  Dr. Mike Bedard and his wife and daughter, looking for a 1 year rental, minimal details, wanted assistance with furniture delivery, etc.  So glad that I googled his information--saving me lots of wasted time.

ME TOO!  From Joel Mills.  1 year old girl.  Sent pix - very cute.  Yeah, right!  He was working for the govt in the first email and a doctor in the next.  Here was my response:

Good one “Joel.”  I’m on to you.  I know there are a lot of dumb Americans out there... But I’m not one.  Sorry, try some other poor sucker!  +4470... Numbers are from Nigeria.  People from UK don’t use yahoo.com.  You should already have your airline tickets if you’re coming in a week.  Get real!