What exactly is the scam here?

lizardboy

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2000
3,488
0
71
So I responded to this ad on Craigslist and received this e-mail back:

Hello,

Thank you for your interest in my condo for rent. I am booking appointments to view the condo and would be interested in having you take a look at the property, if you can suggest a date and time that works well for you this would be helpful.

Due to my previous renting experience I am requiring that you verify you have an acceptable credit score and would like to know more about your employment situation to avoid dealing with unqualified renters.

I would recommend getting a FREE credit report from http://www.creditscoregiveaway.com/dec which requires less than 5 minutes and has no cost to you. This is required before I will consider you as a serious applicant. This will be useful for any 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.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kelly


Are they just driving referrals to free credit report dot com? Very weird.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.
 

lizardboy

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2000
3,488
0
71
Originally posted by: boomerang
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.

The way this paragraph is written doesn't give you pause?

I would recommend getting a FREE credit report from http://www.creditscoregiveaway.com/dec which requires less than 5 minutes and has no cost to you. This is required before I will consider you as a serious applicant. This will be useful for any other properties you are looking at and is a standard in pre-rent screening procedures.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Originally posted by: lizardboy
Originally posted by: boomerang
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.

The way this paragraph is written doesn't give you pause?

I would recommend getting a FREE credit report from http://www.creditscoregiveaway.com/dec which requires less than 5 minutes and has no cost to you. This is required before I will consider you as a serious applicant. This will be useful for any other properties you are looking at and is a standard in pre-rent screening procedures.
Sorry, I didn't even read the link. I just clicked on it and it looks shaky. Sorry for my confusion.

 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
The link bounces though a few sites and finally ends up at freecreditreport.com or a host of other free reporting sites. It is a referral link, but freecreditreport.com is legit, I can't speak to the other ones. And a credit rating would certainly be required to rent. Or it would be if I was renting.
 

CrazyLazy

Platinum Member
Jun 21, 2008
2,124
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The scam is that guy gets paid every time someone registers through that link. So he spams craigslists with fake rental to get sign ups. Actually pretty smart.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: boomerang
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.

All of the landlords I have dealt with looks up your credit by themselves. They never ask you to provide that information.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: lizardboy
Originally posted by: boomerang
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.

The way this paragraph is written doesn't give you pause?

I would recommend getting a FREE credit report from http://www.creditscoregiveaway.com/dec which requires less than 5 minutes and has no cost to you. This is required before I will consider you as a serious applicant. This will be useful for any other properties you are looking at and is a standard in pre-rent screening procedures.

They want your personal information and social security number.

Also, the Craiglist Ad you linked has been flagged-off.
 

lizardboy

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2000
3,488
0
71
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Originally posted by: boomerang
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.

All of the landlords I have dealt with looks up your credit by themselves. They never ask you to provide that information.

Exactly - and I should have noticed that a few of the things in the description don't add up - the price is a little low, and the location isn't really in "downtown". Oh well, haven't checked my credit report in a while (I did it without using the referral link), good to see I'm back up to 739.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: lizardboy
Originally posted by: boomerang
Sounds like sound business practice from a landlord's perspective. I don't sense anything fishy going on.

The way this paragraph is written doesn't give you pause?

I would recommend getting a FREE credit report from http://www.creditscoregiveaway.com/dec which requires less than 5 minutes and has no cost to you. This is required before I will consider you as a serious applicant. This will be useful for any other properties you are looking at and is a standard in pre-rent screening procedures.

Yep, that's a red flag to me.
 

eddiebravo

Senior member
Nov 29, 2005
270
0
0
correction: all PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED properties will run credit checks by themselves. but if she isnt a professional landlord she cant just run your credit. i rented my apartment out for one summer and i couldnt just run the prospective tenants credit. i would go to the LEGIT free credit report site: www.annualcreditreport.com and get your credit report there. you can then black out your SS# and whatever other confidential info you get after you print it and before you give it to her. the link she gave you is obviously either going to identity rape you or do nothing but pad the pockets of whoever is running the referral scheme.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Moniker, Privacy Services
Moniker Privacy Services
20 SW 27th Ave.
Suite 201
Pompano Beach
FL
33069
US


Administrative Contact [1619701]:
Moniker, Privacy Services
Moniker Privacy Services
20 SW 27th Ave.
Suite 201
Pompano Beach
FL
33069
US
Phone: +1.9549848445
Fax: +1.9549699155

phone number also matches Florida.

At least it's not some foreign country, especially Nigeria! :p
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
15
81
A potential landlord wouldn't trust a future tenant to provide a credit score. They would run the credit check themselves.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
At least it's not some foreign country, especially Nigeria! :p
That is a privacy service, not the actual owner. You would have to call/contact Moniker to figure out who owns it. Moniker's President is Monte Cahn, his direct dial phone number is 954-984-8445. Here's his picture. Don't ask how I have this info :)