I found an ad on Craiglist and reached out to a [email protected] I was soon contacted by an Arabella de Bruyne [email protected] All of her messages to me below:
“Hi,
Thanks for your interest in renting my apartment, I’m flexible in renting 3- to 24-month lease.
It’s a one bedroom with one bathroom apartment, here you can see some pictures: https://myalbum.com/album/6GaqZ2X9wpBV
Apartment address: 210 Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94103
The apartment comes fully furnished and with all the necessary amenities, exactly as you can see in the pictures, with dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioning, TV and internet. The pets are accepted. Also, it’s a private parking space available for free.
The rental price per month is $900,00, security deposit is $900,00 so the total cost to move in is $1,800.00.
My name is Arabella de Bruyne and I’m originally from Amsterdam, Netherlands. I have worked in the United States for three years and I bought the apartment during my stay there. I’m the owner of it. Now, I have moved with my work in Madrid, Spain for at least 4 years and I’m interested in renting through Airbnb. I’m looking for a serious and responsible person to care, keep the house clean and see it as his own home. It would be great if you can send me some personal information about you (age, employment, lifestyle, etc)?
If you are interested please let me know so I can explain how you can rent my apartment through Airbnb.”
“Hi again,
As I’ve said in my previous email, I will rent the apartment through Airbnb. I don’t know if you have used Airbnb before. Airbnb is the biggest rental company in the world, you can rent a property everywhere in the world and if something goes wrong, you are covered and protected by them. If it’s something you don’t like, or if the apartment isn’t as described, you will receive a full refund with no further questions in 24 hours, but I’m sure you will love my apt and this will not happen. On the move-in day, you will meet with an Airbnb agent in front of the apt, he/she will give you the keys and show you the apartment.
To make the Airbnb listing I need a few details from you:
1. your complete name along with a picture of your ID;
2. The date when you want to move in;
3. How many months you want to rent the apt;
4. how many people will stay there;
5. Your whats app number so we can speak directly.
After I will receive your details I will list the apartment on Airbnb and they will send you a link where you need to book your stay and complete the payment for your reservation within 24 hours.”
“Dear XXX,
We can make the first contract for 6 months and after this period we can renew it.
I do not intend to come back to us or sell the apartment in the next few years, so this will be your new home.
Everything sounds great! I just wanted to let you know that I have decided to rent the apt to you. I hope you will enjoy it and will take good care of it!
I will make the Airbnb listing today and you will receive an email from Airbnb once it’s done.
Thanks, Arabella”
After I sent my payment through Transferwire.com to the following, no more communication from Arabella:
– Their email: [email protected]
– Full name of the account holder: MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALVEZ LOPEZ
– Country: SPAIN
– City: MADRID
– Address: Calle Solana 1
– Postal code: 28830
– IBAN: ES52 0182 1294 1602 0386 8988
This is obviously a scam. The link to the place is also no longer available. Please be careful out there and I hope no one else makes the same mistake I did.
hello!
i was just scammed by this people as well. same month. i just had a question, were you able to retrieve your money ?
Victim Location 11233
Total money lost $1,078.65
Type of a scam Travel/Vacations
I’ve been looking for apartments online and I seen one located in NJ I messages the person about them renting their apartment. they told me because of them living in Canada I can set up reservations to see the place thru Airbnb. I was sent a link (looks exactly like Airbnb official website) and was even talking to someone whom mad it seems as if they were an agent working for Airbnb." we’ve gone back in forth for 5days setting the process for me to view the apartment."I’ve given you that link for live chat information and the email. I’ve contacted the real Airbnb to make sure they’ve received my information and everything was set. that’s when I was informed that I was scammed and I did not send the 1075.00 to them it was a fake Airbnb website. now I’ve contacted my bank to inform them I was scammed and the balance of 3.65 that was on my card was also taking off. I used my whole paycheck assuming I was really going to view an apartment and that I was moving. no money or anything, I have nothing now. This action took place 10/16/2018. Please get back to me ASAP!!!!!!!
Victim Location 80906
Type of a scam Rental
Found this apartment for rent on Craigslist. Listed as a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment at First & Main Apartments. 1000-1200sqft, but the posting doesn’t say that. Listed as being available for rent for $600/mo including all utilities and junk. Normally these apartments are available for $1000-$1200. Craigslist posting 6699574456 says to email [email protected] if interested. Received email from Edward Avery at [email protected], says he moved to Texas to train new employees, that he owns the apartment, and he is looking to rent it completely furnished for $600/mo. He asks for a copy of your drivers license. Then he says to look for an email from Airbnb regarding the rental. Received email from Jasmine Hinds at [email protected] Says you are renting the space at $600/mo, $1320 for move in total. Says you can only pay in bitcoin and you have to bring cash to one of two ATMs in town and transfer to random account via bitcoin.
Victim Location 20705
Total money lost $1,400
Type of a scam Rental
I was contacted by a "Sgt. Thomas Mitchell" regarding an apartment he advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after contacting him at "[email protected]" regarding the apartment details, I was contacted by a "Jeff Wood", claiming to be with Customer Service at Airbnb. I thought that "Sgt. Mitchell" was advertising on both Craigslist and Airbnb to rent the apartment out faster. Anyway, "Jeff Wood" contacted me from the "[email protected]" e-mail address, not a real Airbnb e-mail address as I found out later. "Mr. Wood" told me that I should send $1400 through MoneyGram to a "Mr. George Bates", attorney for Airbnb, if I wanted to reserve the apartment. I was told that after I did this, I would be given a confirmation number with all of the details. However, after I sent the money, I haven’t heard anything back from any of these three individuals. I confirmed, through MoneyGram, that a "Mr. George Bates" did indeed pick up the money that I sent to a Walmart store with an address of 4xxx Michigan Avenue, in Canton, MI. 48188. The MoneyGram reference number is . "Mr. Wood" also gave me an address for "Mr. Bates" at Griswold St., in Detroit, MI. 48226. So far, I’ve reported this fraud to Craigslist (which has removed the original apartment posting), Airbnb, MoneyGram, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FTC the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and the local Beltsville Police Department. The Beltsville, MD. police report case # is .
Victim Location 20705
Total money lost $1,400
Type of a scam Rental
I was contacted by a "Sgt. Thomas Mitchell" regarding an apartment he advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after contacting him at "[email protected]" regarding the apartment details, I was contacted by a "Jeff Wood", claiming to be with Customer Service at Airbnb. I thought that "Sgt. Mitchell" was advertising on both Craigslist and Airbnb to rent the apartment out faster. Anyway, "Jeff Wood" contacted me from the "[email protected]" e-mail address, not a real Airbnb e-mail address as I found out later. "Mr. Wood" told me that I should send $ through MoneyGram to a "Mr. George Bates", attorney for Airbnb, if I wanted to reserve the apartment. I was told that after I did this, I would be given a confirmation number with all of the details. However, after I sent the money, I haven’t heard anything back from any of these three individuals. I confirmed, through MoneyGram, that a "Mr. George Bates" did indeed pick up the money that I sent to a Walmart store with an address of Michigan Avenue, in Canton, MI. 48188. The MoneyGram reference number is . "Mr. Wood" also gave me an address for "Mr. Bates" at Griswold St., in Detroit, MI. 48226. So far, I’ve reported this fraud to Craigslist (which has removed the original apartment posting), Airbnb, MoneyGram, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FTC (reference number ), the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and the local Beltsville Police Department. The Beltsville, MD. police report case # is
Victim Location 22911
Type of a scam Credit Cards
I think I was recently involved in a scam from a Chinese airbnb host. It seems that someone created a fake host account, hacked into my account, and booked a trip to their location. I went sent a random email entirely in Chinese that I thought was a mistake until I had a random bill for an 11 night stay somewhere in China that I definitely did not book. When I messaged the host to resolve the dispute they responded in Chinese. Luckily I was able to stop payment on the $546 fee and get all my money back. This seems like a likely scam, so watch out!
Victim Location 65791
Total money lost $1,200
Type of a scam Rental
Was asked to transfer funds to a bank account in Mexico. When that would not go through was asked to complete the deposit through Western Union. Received an email from the property owner that the payment was invalid and must be resent. After checking with Western Union the money was transferred without an problem.