Is this a scam? How does it work?

[Steve]

So I am apartment hunting and I found a good deal (maybe too good) on Craigslist. I emailed the poster and they replied with a form letter asking me to:

"...confirm you have an reasonable credit score and (I) would like to hear more about your current employment to avoid dealing with under qualified tenants. I would suggest getting a free report from http://www.creditreportgrade.com which requires less than 3 minutes and has no cost. No viewings will be allowed until I have received your score. This will be helpful for other properties you are looking at and is a standard in pre-rent screening procedures.

I am asking that you complete the report and provide me with the numerical score, please DO NOT send the report as it contains sensitive information, you can print it for your records and bring it with you to the viewing."

So what I'm wondering is if this is A) a scam - and if so, how does it work? Or if it's just B) a waste of my time, and if so why is that?

 

[gorcorps]

Not sure it's a scam. In these times folks have to be extra careful with who they rent to, so he probably just wants confirmation you're not some deadbeat that just got foreclosed on.

 

[Brainonska511]

It sounds like a front for one of those credit report score sites. Maybe they get a commission for each person referred?

If I got back a form letter, I'd ignore it and probably look at another place.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I'm not sure that one is a scam (but like you I would be very cautious as a prospective tenant).

The one that IS a scam is when they are out of town and ask for $50 or whatever to mail you the keys. Actually had that one sprung on me while browsing Craigslist.

 

[Steve]

Well, I already found out what my credit score is (not so good) so I replied to her asking if having a cosigner would be acceptable. Haven't heard back, but not holding my breath either.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Steve
Well, I already found out what my credit score is (not so good) so I replied to her asking if having a cosigner would be acceptable. Haven't heard back, but not holding my breath either.

I wouldn't bother giving them that information either until I had seen the place. Seems kind of fishy...

If they want credit score information, they should charge you an application fee and run a check themselves.

 

[Farang]

It is a scam because that URL redirects twice to some other site. The ad is mining for people's SSN and other info, for whatever purpose.

 

[Kalmah]

Why are there so many f'ing douches in this world?

 

[Freshgeardude]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Not sure it's a scam. In these times folks have to be extra careful with who they rent to, so he probably just wants confirmation you're not some deadbeat that just got foreclosed on.

this

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Steve
Well, I already found out what my credit score is (not so good) so I replied to her asking if having a cosigner would be acceptable. Haven't heard back, but not holding my breath either.

I wouldn't bother giving them that information either until I had seen the place. Seems kind of fishy...

If they want credit score information, they should charge you an application fee and run a check themselves.

Originally posted by: Farang
It is a scam because that URL redirects twice to some other site. The ad is mining for people's SSN and other info, for whatever purpose.

Both good points, thanks for the info. I'll be deleting that email then

 

[Kalmah]

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Steve
Well, I already found out what my credit score is (not so good) so I replied to her asking if having a cosigner would be acceptable. Haven't heard back, but not holding my breath either.

I wouldn't bother giving them that information either until I had seen the place. Seems kind of fishy...

If they want credit score information, they should charge you an application fee and run a check themselves.

Originally posted by: Farang
It is a scam because that URL redirects twice to some other site. The ad is mining for people's SSN and other info, for whatever purpose.

Both good points, thanks for the info. I'll be deleting that email then

Is there a way to report scammers or something?

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Kalmah

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Steve
Well, I already found out what my credit score is (not so good) so I replied to her asking if having a cosigner would be acceptable. Haven't heard back, but not holding my breath either.

I wouldn't bother giving them that information either until I had seen the place. Seems kind of fishy...

If they want credit score information, they should charge you an application fee and run a check themselves.

Originally posted by: Farang
It is a scam because that URL redirects twice to some other site. The ad is mining for people's SSN and other info, for whatever purpose.

Both good points, thanks for the info. I'll be deleting that email then

Is there a way to report scammers or something?

On Craigslist? I doubt it.

Nah seriously, you can flag the post for the reason: Spam/overpost.

 

[OCGuy]

There is only place with a truly free credit report, and that is annualcreditreport.com

The score you would still have to pay for. Seems like a scam.

 

[Kalmah]

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: Kalmah

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Steve
Well, I already found out what my credit score is (not so good) so I replied to her asking if having a cosigner would be acceptable. Haven't heard back, but not holding my breath either.

I wouldn't bother giving them that information either until I had seen the place. Seems kind of fishy...

If they want credit score information, they should charge you an application fee and run a check themselves.

Originally posted by: Farang
It is a scam because that URL redirects twice to some other site. The ad is mining for people's SSN and other info, for whatever purpose.

Both good points, thanks for the info. I'll be deleting that email then

Is there a way to report scammers or something?

On Craigslist? I doubt it.

Nah seriously, you can flag the post for the reason: Spam/overpost.

Scamming on internet != to scamming in person?

Somebody needs to take care of this shit.

 

[bobdole369]

More likely a scam than not. Folks looking to pull your credit don't have you do it yourself. IMHO someone somewhere is either making money or stealing it via that site.

Looks to be these folks:

Domain registered in Nov 2008.

lulz - not far from my house - this area is down the street from the casino - not ghetto, but I wouldn't be here after dark. Google street view shows it (and I'm familiar with the area) - as a shopping plaza - with a crane in front of it.

This website is likely managed by some guy at a desk in that shopping plaza. Do you think he's sketchy with your SSN and your credit report?

Well it could just be someone working at a rental agency in florida.


Moniker, Privacy Services CREDITREPORTGRADE.COM@domainservice.com
Moniker Privacy Services
20 SW 27th Ave.
Suite 201
Pompano Beach
FL
33069
US
Phone: +1.9549848445
Fax: +1.9549699155

 

[randay]

lol, man people are dumb. ill have to seriously consider social engineering as my next job.

 

[kranky]

Probably a scam to drive people to the site to collect $ for referrals.

After the redirects, you can see an affiliate ID in the URL, so you know there is referral money going on. Did you notice how many things you are signed up for once you request your "free" report?
- Credit Report America "membership", $30/month(!) after a 7-day trial
- Fraud Protection Resource Center, $7/month after a 14-day trial
- Identify Theft Protection, $10/month after a 21-day trial
- plus a $1/month "transaction fee" for EACH membership.

And "prior charges for all programs are non-refundable".

They intend to sucker people in, and for those who don't cancel or read the fine print, sock them with nearly $50 a month in fees. When the charges hit, the person calls to cancel, but what's already charged is non-refundable.

Oh, and the site where you end up has this policy:
Affiliate Policy
Credit Report America has an aboslutely 0 tolerance policy in regards to affiliates using mis-representations to promote our offer, or breaking any other FTC law. Any person or organization, internal or external to Credit Report America, who chooses to break FTC advertising policies in order to promote our offer in any way will be dealt with through the strictest of ways to elimiate such actions as well as prevent the possiblity of their recurrance in the future. All affiliates promoting our product must first agree to our affiliate policy which strictly prohibits from breaking any FTC policy. If you ever see any violations of this policy by any such affiliates please contact abuse@creditreportamerica.com.

 

[bostonpapa]

So

 

[bostonpapa]

So I suppose this is a scam but I gave all my info on creditreportgrade.com and I just saw this forum and I'm freaking out... What can I or should I do? is there anything I can do? I gave my SSN and my CC# and etc...
Thanks,

 

[Chronoshock]

Generally speaking, asking for a credit report for renting isn't a scam. As people have mentioned, it is part of increasingly standard procedure to make sure you are renting to a safe person. Some things you may see when applying for a place include a credit report, pay stubs, references, and criminal history/background check (this is usually done without the applicant's knowledge).
The fact that they're referring to a specific site is scammy, and probably bad. If I were renting out a room and was requesting a credit report, I would ask for it to be obtained in some way, but it should have at least one of the 3 main credit reporting agencies' scores on it.

 

[Mojoed]

Originally posted by: bostonpapa
So I suppose this is a scam but I gave all my info on creditreportgrade.com and I just saw this forum and I'm freaking out... What can I or should I do? is there anything I can do? I gave my SSN and my CC# and etc...
Thanks,

:Q

I would go to www.annualcreditreport.com NOWWWWWWWWW and get your reports/scores for all three credit bureaus and read them carefully for any new open lines of credit, loans, etc.

If you even suspect any unauthorized activity, I would put a FREEZE on your credit. You'll have to do this three times, one for each credit bureau.

Credit freeze.

Credit Freeze FAQ

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Mojoed

Originally posted by: bostonpapa
So I suppose this is a scam but I gave all my info on creditreportgrade.com and I just saw this forum and I'm freaking out... What can I or should I do? is there anything I can do? I gave my SSN and my CC# and etc...
Thanks,

:Q

I would go to www.annualcreditreport.com NOWWWWWWWWW and get your reports/scores for all three credit bureaus and read them carefully for any new open lines of credit, loans, etc.

If you even suspect any unauthorized activity, I would put a FREEZE on your credit. You'll have to do this three times, one for each credit bureau.

Credit freeze.

Credit Freeze FAQ

What? No. Jesus, these offers are affiliate marketing offers. The company isn't out to ruin your credit, they want to make money! Just call the company (they are required by law to have an 800 number) and get yourself removed from their rebill process. Once you're done with that, forget about it. They aren't going to sell your information to the Russian Mob or anything like that.

edit: here's the 800 number: (800)-712-7224

here are their terms of service: http://www.creditreportamerica...rms-and-conditions.php

If you do not manage to cancel within the allotted time, please just call your credit card company. Explain to them you feel the terms and conditions were not clearly stated and that you were lured into the offer. 95% of the time you will not be liable for the charges.

 

[thescreensavers]

Link in the OP gets blocked lol

Site blocked. www.lynxtrack.com is not allowed on this network.

This site was categorized as:

Adware, Advertising

also they seem to spam

http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/lynxtrack.com

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Link in the OP gets blocked lol

Site blocked. www.lynxtrack.com is not allowed on this network.

This site was categorized as:

Adware, Advertising

also they seem to spam

http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/lynxtrack.com

That's one of the tracking domains for Hydra, an affiliate marketing network. Like I said in my above post, bostonpapa has nothing to worry about. These guys spam this stuff, but you ultimately sign up with a semi-legit company that have rules and guidelines about cancellations. Trust me, it isn't worth their time to sell your credit card info to someone else.

 

[bostonpapa]

So I really don't have to worry about creditreportgrade.com giving my information away or anything like that? I contacted my credit card companies and changed those numbers just in case...
How does companies like creditreportgrade.com work? sorry I'm pretty clueless about things like this.