Scammers only want stupid people to respond to them.

It may be the worst time in history to be a Nigerian in need. Especially if you’re a former prince.

Scam emails with promises of easy riches have become so psychically entangled with the West African republic, it’s a wonder swindlers haven’t adapted their yarns to claim a different origin. At this point, only a fool would see Nigeria in a message and not immediately hit delete.

But Microsoft Research says that’s exactly the point.

So begins an article published on the National Post website on June 21, 2012.

To read the rest of the story click here.

The scam letters are mailed from Spain and include the following sender details:

Barrister Larry James
Cambs Legal Consultants
Calle de Zurbano 10, 28001 Madrid Spain
Tel. +34 (603) 150 681, Fax +34 (911) 820 379
E-mail Address: larryjames.esq@wss-id.org

Excerpt from the letter:

Dear [recipient],

Do permit me to introduce myself briefly; I am Barrister Larry James of the [fake company name]. Actually, I got your contact information through the [your country] public records while searching for a last name similar to my late client a business magnate by the name [fake name] who lived in Spain for Nineteen years; he died along with his family during Atlantic Hurricane Katrina which occurred in August 2005. Do not be amazed by this letter. I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be attached to this transaction.
Prior to my explaining further, I must first make an apology for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a predictable way of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this claim I decided to reach you via this media to join me to put claims on this vault before it is seized or confiscated by the authorities. Before the catastrophe; He deposited Consignment/Vault containing the sum of $11.4M (ELEVEN MILLION,FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with a Finance/Safe Keeping company here in Spain and he did not disclose the exact content of deposited diplomatic box to the treasure house as cash but Personal valuables for security ad personal reasons.

(….rest of scam )

I wait for your quick response

Kindest Regards,
Barrister Larry James

Do not respond to such letters. Report the scam attempt to your local police and anti-fraud authorities.

This scammer uses direct mail to target victims, telling them that a deceased person with the same last name deposited millions with a “financial institution” and that the victim can become the beneficiary.

The personally addressed scam letters are posted from South Africa but may also come from other places.

Scammer details:
Barrister Jonathan Andrew Kalyan Moroka Esq. aka J.A. Kalyan Moroka or Andrew J.K. Moroka

Tel. +27 73561 8630
Home fax: +27 80098 2236
Office Fax: +27 86514 0721

Report the scam attempt to your local police.

Scammer details:
David Philipi, Almargo Asesores & Asociados S.L., Apartado Postal Correos 42032 Valencia 46017 Spain, Tel. +34 603 128 418 Fax +34 911 817 384 Cell phone +34 653 453 891 email: davidphilipi@ozu.es. fake website http://www.almargoas.com (domain just recently created, on 16 september 2010, and for only one year, the shortest term possible).

Report the scam attempt to your local police.

New scam: http://paris.en.craigslist.org/vac/1978097500.html
- Advert Craigslist September 28th.
- Requested to fill out form (agency not registered). Woman calls herself Kate Hagi.
- Asked to provide deposit of 600 euro’s in advance. First paypal is ok; asked to transfer to person: shawannamoore@aol.com. Then we get e-mail mentioning that accountant of Kate has alerted her that paypal has been hacked, and then we get request to wire via Western Union.
- The same apartment is for rent for 680 per night via housing website for expatriates. Quite a difference.
- We get a phone number of Kate, that is picked up by a gentleman that does not speak english well, aparently her assistant (Nigerian???)

Scam ad posted on craigslist:

EUR200 / 3br – EXCEPTIONAL 3 BR LUXURY DESIGNER LOFT IS A BEAUTY OF STYLE & COMFORT (2nd Arrondissement)

Date: 2010-09-28, 7:13PM CEST
Reply to: katehg7@gmail.com [Errors when replying to ads?]

This exceptional 310m²/ 3336ft² 3 bedroom luxury designer loft is a beauty of style and comfort: the perfect Paris vacation escape. Every desire has been anticipated in order for you to enjoy a holiday of leisure and pampering. This 3 Bedroom/3 Bath apartment with private balcony is situated on rue Greneta. Now renovated as a state of the art luxury residence, the loft offers an experience of superior quality and comfort, with a wide range of spectacle(please inquire) to enable you to have the most relaxing holiday possible.

The luxury designer loft is a huge space divided over three levels.

Main level:
The main level is about 160m2 and has 8.2 meter/27 foot high ceilings. There is a large living area with a home cinema, composed of a 3 meter/18 foot projection screen and Dolby surround sound stereo, HiFi, a DVD player, and a full range of premium cable channels.

A fully equipped chef’s kitchen and dining area overlook the spacious living room. The state of the art kitchen has everything you will need for gourmet cooking and entertaining. The kitchen features a sub-zero full sized fridge and freezer, oven, stove with 4 gas burners, dishwasher, blender, steamer, food processor, espresso machine, filter coffee maker, all utensils, etc.

There will be fresh flowers and a fully stocked kitchen upon your arrival, with bottled water, fresh-squeezed orange juice, fresh fruits, milk, butter, champagne, oils, vinegars, spices, teas, coffee, cookies, and more.

Bedroom 1: Main level – This bedroom features a queen bed and independent bathroom with a huge walk in shower, double limestone sink, wood floors, and a toilet.

Laundry facility: There is a washer/dryer combination for your use.

Level 2:
Master Bedroom: This luxurious room has a queen bed with access to the balcony.
The en suite bathroom has an oversized tub, rain shower, and toilet.

Bedroom 3: This cozy bedroom has a couch that opens into a comfortable queen bed, a desk and access to the balcony. When not in use, the room doubles as a perfect study/ office.

The wraparound mezzanine overlooks the main room of the loft. There is a second flat screen TV in the lounge with premium cable channels and a DVD player. There is free unlimited WiFi high speed internet access in the apartment and a printer/scanner/fax for your use during your stay.

All 3 bedrooms are air-conditioned!

Rental Includes
Cable TV: English channels include CNN & BBC
Champagne, Fresh Fruit Basket, & Flowers on Arrival
Complimentary Concierge
Daily housekeeping – available upon request
Detailed guidebook of apartment & neighborhood
Fluent English & French Speaking Greeter
High Speed Wireless Internet w/ Ethernet Cable
Mac Laptop Computer
Maid service once a week for rentals of 10 days or longer
Printer/Scanner/Photocopier/Fax (separate fax line)
Telephone
Three separate multimedia viewing centers with DVD and cable
Amenities
Air conditioning
Balcony with breakfast table & chairs
Bathroom 1: En suite Oversized Bath, Overhead “Rain Shower”, Double sinks, Toilet
Bathroom 2: Oversized Walk-in shower, Double sink, toilet
Bathroom 3: Large walk in “hydro-jet massage” shower
Bedroom 1: Queen Bed
Bedroom 2: Queen Bed
Bedroom 3: Double Bed
Bose stereo system with surround sound & iPod dock
CD Player
Coffee maker
Crib, high chair and folding push-chair available at no extra cost (bedding for crib provided)
Dishwasher
DVD player
Espresso Machine
Fully equipped kitchen with cooking utensils, dishes, & cutlery
Hair dryer
Half Bath: toilet & sink
Home Cinema
Linens & Towels
Microwave
Oven
Private Gym & spa in the Loft
Private Sauna + Hydrojet massage shower
Projector
Refrigerator & freezer
Stove
Washing machine & separate dryer
Wood Floors
Nearby Attractions
All of Central Paris
Beaubourg/ Pompidou Center
Bike rentals
Boulangeries, pâtisseries, and fromageries
Fashion Boutiques (Etienne Marcel, Passage du Cerf, Place des Victoires)
Food and Produce Markets
Gym & Pool nearby
La Bourse (French Stock Market)
Le Marais
Louvre
Montorgueil Market
Palais Royal Gardens
Seine River
Shopping
Sightseeing
Spa nearby
Theatres/Cinemas
Trendy boutiques, cafes & restaurants

Tagged: apartment rental scams, internet scams, nigerian scam videos, nigerian scams, scammers, scams, western union scams ]]> http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/how-to-unmask-rental-scammers/feed/ 108 ruedeseine http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/paris-aims-to-curb-apartment-rentals-to-tourists/ http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/paris-aims-to-curb-apartment-rentals-to-tourists/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:27:56 +0000 PHSW http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/?p=2530 ]]> Scamwatch reported this development back in December 2009.

Today’s New York Times has a full report on the crackdown on private apartment rentals in Paris. The rules haven’t changed, they’re simply now being enforced.

PARIS — Many people buy a pied-à-terre in Paris to use for a few weeks a year and to rent the rest of the time. Most of them don’t realize, however, that they are breaking the law — something the city is now trying to address.

To read the full New York Times article, click here.

Prospective short-term renters should take note, as for tenants there are consequences, i.e. an illegal rental can void any insurance coverage in case of accidental damage.

EUR45 / 1br – Our Available one Bedroom Apartment in Paris (Paris)

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Date: 2010-06-21, 1:03AM CEST
Reply to: peopleshome@london.com

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General Facilities:

Amenities and services at a glance:

24 Hour Emergency Number Air Conditioning Airport Transfers On Request (Additional charge)
Grocery Shopping/Delivery Service (Additional charge. Weekdays only) Lifts To The 5th Floor Maintenance/Emergency Service
Pets Allowed (Additional charge. Restrictions apply) Secure Entry System Security
Weekly Linen Change Weekly Maid Service/Housekeeping

You can visit our website http://www.peopleshomeservice.com for more pictures,information and other available apartments..

Totally fake advertisement, totally fake website. Don’t fall for it.

Its mission is to inform and educate renters everywhere about the ever-growing number of increasingly sophisticated online rental scams.

It continues to grow thanks to the hundreds of readers who have taken the time to warn others by leaving comments.

Thanks to the power of Google, by sharing information online we can help raise awareness.

Many thanks to you all.

The countless readers who have written to say the site saved them from a scam makes the effort worthwhile.

To mark our two-year anniversary, we have a new site design, with easier navigation across the site.

Good luck in your apartment search!

Stay safe!

Also watch out for everydayhomelettings.org

EUR45 / 1br – MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW AT http://www.rentalscitypalace.com (PARIS/FRANCE)

Date: 2010-05-16, 8:11PM CEST
Reply to: rentalscitypalace@gmail.com or homeforhomes@gmail.com

you can make your booking through our website at http://www.rentalscitypalace.com or send an email to rentalscitypalace@gmail.com
Full Kitchen Guest Handbook/Directory Hairdryer
Heated Towel Rail Hi-fi System High Chairs Available On Request
In-room Safe On Request Ironing Facilities Luxury Towels and Linen
Microwave Oven Portable Air Conditioning Units, On Request
Power Shower Refrigerator Tea/Coffee Making Facilities
Telephone Washer/Dryer Wooden Flooring
Work Desks On Request.. you can make your booking through our website at http://www.rentalscitypalace.com or send an email to rentalscitypalace@gmail.com

you can make your booking through our website at http://www.rentalscitypalace.com or send an email to rentalscitypalace@gmail.com