I got this email today.  From Michael Ray.....scam....scam....scam

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to us. We are very serious about renting the unit and very much willing to offer a month rent plus the security deposit in order to secure the unit prior to our arrival. You can send us the lease application, to enable us to review it ahead of time. I am a Civil Engineer by profession and I am currently working with Kier Construction Company, Bedfordshire, SG19 2BD, United Kingdom. I will be in the states for a couple of years and during my stay I will be working with Centrex Construction Company. You can contact Robert C. Van Cleave, Managing Director Balfour Betty's Group on 408-647-4691 as he is my reference in the states. You can call him or text him anytime of the day.

We have a financier that is based in the States, he will be the one to handle the rent deposit payment on our behalf, we will instruct him to send you a Cashier's Check to cover for the rent. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we are making arrangements with a furniture/Interior Designers company to supply the home with furnitures and have the unit decorated before our arrival. In the mean time  we will need you to provide us with the measurements of the living room and bedrooms so that we can have it forwarded to the furniture company so that they can supply the unit with furnitures that will fit in well.


Also we will appreciate if you send us pictures viewing the living room and the bedrooms. As for the lease agreement, we want you to send it to us for our review. We 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 OR 15th of June, just let me know if thats okay with you. We will be doing a 1 year lease and you can prepare the lease in my name and my wife's name (Michael and Wendy Ray.) We are coming with no pets. Just me and my wonderful wife. Let us know how to move ahead as we intend to complete this deal before we move in.



We want all the arrangements to be concrete so we always like to settle in comfortably when we arrive. we will let you know the exact date as soon as we get a booking on a flight to the states. We hope to hear back from you with the required informations soon.



Have a great day.

Michael & Wendy Ray

Cell phone#: +447024058211
Home phone#: +447024051220


Reference:
Robert C. Van Cleave
Chairman and CEO
Centrex Construction
(Balfour Beatty Construction)
Cell: 408-647-4691

This is some kind of weird scam.  Look up the number 832-615-1294 and you will see the past scams of this person.

I received the same letter from this guy in response to my craigslist ad.  .  I was suspicious when he called his family "precious".  It reminded me of the "Lord of the Rings" movie and I got a really bad feeling when I read that word "precious".
Said he was coming to the US from the UK to work for the Department of Justice.  I was mad at first at our government, hiring someone from the UK with our unemployment at almost 10%.  Then I thought it might be someone from the department of HUD trying to catch us in a fair housing violation by "shopping" us, since they provided very few details about themselves.

Here is the coorspondence from Smith Taylor.  That is the name he is using today.  Apparently he has many.  I sure hope it is not our government, spending our taxpayers money trying to find a fair housing violation.  It could even be the ACLU!!

The Initial email:
Hi Renter,

The advert on CL, is the house still available for immediate move in. Kindly get back to me with the information regarding the house.

The rent and deposit:

Picture viewing the living room:

I will be coming to the state from United Kingdom for a one year pharmaceutical research in the state.

Thanks

The 2nd email:

Taylor

Hello ,

Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months rent to start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to my arrival.  

I will be coming to the state and take up appointment with United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration from United Kingdom.

I will need you to provide us with the the following:

# Measurements of the living room and bedroom. We will be in need of this for the furniture arrangement to be in an orderly manner prior to our arrival to the state.

# Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

# As regards the lease agreement and application. We can start the lease by 1st of August and I will be doing a one year lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.

I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.

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

Smith Taylor


Reference:
Christopher S. Crutchfield
Task Force Agent
United States Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
Atlanta
206-666-4169.

The 3rd email:

As regards the rent and deposit required to be paid by me in order to secure this rental prior to our arrival,i will need you to provide me with the following information:

# Payee's name:

# Physical contact address {home/office}:

# Total move in cosst

# Telephone number:

Remember the payment will be sent via Ups second day delivery and does not deliver to p.o box address.

I will look forward to your e mail with the required information.

With due regards, I hope to meet you soon

Regards

I hope this helps others
The guys email is smtaylor001@googlemail.com

unknown calls

I received the same exact message.  Call my phone company, reported it.  They are making notes on my account.  Skammmer....be careful.  This person is not interested in renting a home.

we received same letter - he is using name of Maurice Bruce for us, he is "married with child" the rest of his info is the same....task force, Chris as the reference....amazing!!

Saw your post.  glad you did it.  I have a condo in Michigan for rent on Craigs list and got the very same note.

I got a response to my ad on Craig's list from someone named Ken George.  He used the same number.  His first sent me an email asking details for the condo.  Some of them already noted in the ad.  I thought it was weird but replied.  Now he came back and is on a tight schedule and that he needs to close this out ASAP.  Gave the company name of Balfour Betty, which is legit, but then names one of their managing partners as person to coordinate with.  I am fairly sure that a managing partner is not going to coordinate the relocation of a employee.  Expecially a big outfit like Balfour.  See also ad posted on 10-25 from California Landlord. Same note per work and paragraph.

I've been contacted by Ken George.......the same email as above.....got worried when he refused to complete and return the "rental application" I sent him.........there some real jerks in the world.....

in response to a craigslist posting:


The pictures are very nice ,and ,thanks for your response on the detail regarding the home. I discuss the mode of rent with my wife and we are glad to tell you that we are contempted with the requirement. I will be coming to the state by 20th of November and I know the lease can start by then but I will keep you updated on my flight schedule to the state. Kindly let me know the utility cost and electricity as I will be willing to have this cost to myself.


Hello thanks for getting back to me regarding the apartment ,and to tell you am very pleased wiith ,am ready to move in as soon as possible ,Am a Scientist by profession speciality in Biochecmistry, 32years old, married with a babyboy. I will be coming to the state from Europe to take up an appointment with the United State Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration.

As regard the lease and application paperwork, I will like you to forward it to me for my review as I will eventually have it fill, sign by appending signatory at best physical on my arrival day to the state before I move in cos am not use to this online renting ,that is to tell you that what ever form or application can only be sign when am there but will continue with everyother neccessary things. I am making arrangement with a furniture company to supply the home with the needed furniture prior to my arrival, so I will like you to get me the measurement of the living room and bedroom.

I hope to read back from you to know little about you and your family.

Thanks

Francis
+447024048350

Reference:

Christopher S. Crutchfield
Task Force Agent
206-666-4169.

from email: merlin shokers <mshokers@gmail.com

Glad I checked. Always TGTBT.

Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months  rent to
start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit
prior to my arrival.

I am an Civil Engineer by profession, I will be coming to the state
for the next one year  and during my stay, I will be working Centrex
Construction Company. You can contact Andy Rose, Managing Director
Balfour Betty's Group on 206-666-4169 or 904-891-3775

There is a company financier who will be handling the rent and
deposit. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we
are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home
with furniture's,so we will need you to provide us with the the
following:

# Measurements of the living room and bedroom.

# Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

# As regards the lease agreement and application, 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 by appending signatory at best physical. We can
start the lease by 20th of November and I will be doing a one year
lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.

I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.

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

Engr. Ken
+447031833187
+447024011513

Reference:
Robert C. Van Cleave
Chairman and CEO
Centrex Construction
(Balfour Beatty Construction)

The first thing I did was Google htis number, (206-666-4169)!  This site came up. . . THANK GOD!  I knew this was a SCAM!!!!

Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months  rent to start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to my arrival.

I am an Civil Engineer by profession, I will be coming to the state for the next one year  and during my stay, I will be working Centrex Construction Company. You can contact Andy Rose, Managing Director Balfour Betty's Group on 206-666-4169 or 904-891-3775

There is a company financier who will be handling the rent and deposit. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with furniture's,so we will need you to provide us with the the following:

# Measurements of the living room and bedroom.

# Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

# As regards the lease agreement and application, 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 by appending signatory at best physical. We can start the lease by 1st of November and I will be doing a one year lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.

I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.

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

Engr. Peter
+447024011513

Reference:
Robert C. Van Cleave
Chairman and CEO
Centrex Construction
(Balfour Betty Construction)

Email about an apartment for rent on Craig's List.

We reported it to the attorney general and ftc.

i just got this one in my email a couple of days ago.
His name was Thomas Smith.

Wow scammers are going all out now a days in regards to preying on people's hopes and dreams to save their houses.  Please don't fall for these people
>
> Hello ,
>
>  Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months rent to
> start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit
> prior to my arrival.
> I am an Civil Engineer by profession, I will be coming to the state
> for the next one year and during my stay, I will be working Centex
> Construction Company. you can contact Andy Rose, Managing Director
> Balfour Beatty's Group on 206-666-4169.
>  There is a company financier who will be handling the rent and
> deposit. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we
> are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home
> with furniture's,so we will need you to provide us with the the
> following:
>
> # Measurements of the living room and bedroom.
> # Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.
>
>  As regards the lease agreement and application, 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 by appending signatory at best
> physical. We can start the lease by of october ending and I will be
> doing a one year lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.
>
>  I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.
>
> Thanks and sincere regards from me and my precious  family. I await
> your urgent response.
> Engr.John
> +447031833187
>
> Reference:
> Robert C. Van Cleave
> Chairman and CEO
> Centex Construction
> (Balfour Beatty Construction)

I am running an ad on Craigslist to sell a 16 year old car.  As usual I respond to Q and A not covered in normal Ad.  His original request was what his total cost would be.  I responded with  the price as marked and that all other fees were his responsibility.  This is the  response I got:


Thanks for your response.  Consider it gone as i have decided to buy
it. I would arrange for payment immediately and my shipper will come
for the pick up after payment. I will pay you by cashier's check

To hasten up this process. The payment i'm going to issue will exceed
your price, you are to deduct yours and have the differences wired to
the shipping company through WESTERN UNION or MONEYGRAM Money
Transfer. Pleases delete your post from for sale  list and reply with
your...

Full Name
Mailing address
Phone number



I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information. I
await your urgent response.

Engr. Ken
206-666-4169

I got several e-mails from this guy, Ken George, about renting my place in MA.  He won't stop e-mailing me and trying to get me to take shipment of his furniture!  He's pissing me off and I know he's a scam artist.  I wish the cops would kick the s*** out of these people!  Leave us hard working people off of your phony emails!  I'm freakin pissed off!  I got the same exact message, word for word, as Anon Lee Cty, Florida posted on this website!

I got an identical message - clearly a scam.

---------------------------------

Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months rent to
start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit
prior to my arrival.

I am an Civil Engineer by profession, I will be coming to the state
for the next one year  and during my stay, I will be working Centrex
Construction Company. You can contact Andy Rose, Managing Director
Balfour Betty's Group on 206-666-4169.

There is a company financier who will be handling the rent and
deposit. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we
are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home
with furniture's,so we will need you to provide us with the the
following:

# Measurements of the living room and bedroom.

# Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

# As regards the lease agreement and application, 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 by appending signatory at best physical. We can
start the lease by 1st of October and I will be doing a one year
lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.

I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.

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

Engr. Ken
+447031833187

Reference:
Robert C. Van Cleave
Chairman and CEO
Centrex Construction
(Balfour Beatty Construction)

Just got a response to my Craig's list ad - identical to others on this message board.

From: "John Jay" <johnjayz003@gmail.com>
To:
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 3:12:56 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: $1200 / 2br - Garage, free water, VERY CLEAN (Naples) (map)

Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months rent to
start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit
prior to my arrival.

I am an Civil Engineer by profession, I will be coming to the state
for the next one year  and during my stay, I will be working Centrex
Construction Company. You can contact Andy Rose, Managing Director
Balfour Betty's Group on 206-666-4169.

There is a company financier who will be handling the rent and
deposit. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we
are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home
with furniture's,so we will need you to provide us with the the
following:

# Measurements of the living room and bedroom.

# Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

# As regards the lease agreement and application, 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 by appending signatory at best physical. We can
start the lease by 1st of October and I will be doing a one year
lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.

I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.

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

Engr. Ken
+447031833187

Reference:
Robert C. Van Cleave
Chairman and CEO
Centrex Construction
(Balfour Beatty Construction)

Just got this one !!!  a reply to my rent ad on craigslist.
Thanks for reporting


From: Ken George <kengeorge080@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 3:16 PM


Thanks for your mail, I will be willing to offer you 2months rent to start with plus the security deposit in order to secure this unit prior to my arrival.

I am an Civil Engineer by profession, I will be coming to the state for the next one year  and during my stay, I will be working Centrex Construction Company. You can contact Andy Rose, Managing Director Balfour Betty's Group on 206-666-4169.

There is a company financier who will be handling the rent and deposit. Due to the limited time that we have before our arrival, we are making arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with furniture's,so we will need you to provide us with the the following:

# Measurements of the living room and bedroom.

# Picture viewing the living room and the bed rooms.

# As regards the lease agreement and application, 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 by appending signatory at best physical. We can start the lease by 25th of September and I will be doing a one year lease. You can prepare the lease in my name.

I will look forward to your e-mail with the required information.

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

Engr. Ken
+447031833187

Reference:
Robert C. Van Cleave
Chairman and CEO
Centrex Construction
(Balfour Beatty Construction)

He is e-mailing me , wants to rent apt. from craiglist. Please stop this bug.

I have received several emails from this guy.  I knew it wasn't right and I thought he'd go away.  I googled the number and name and found this site.  Thanks to everyone for reporting and warning others.

This is a total scam, do not cash any checks you may receive.  I have called the bank.  DO NOT CASH CHECKS!!!  You will be responsible for any monies sent from your own account.

I received the same information from this person for renting a house in Arkansas.  We need to catch this person.

I received a response to an ad placed on craigs list for a rental in Arkansas.  Christopher Crutchfield's name was used as a reference.  Taylor Smith was coming from the UK to study in Arkansas.  He would not answer any of my questions.  Please get this person caught and stopped.

I also received an email from this guy with Christopher Crutchfield listed as a reference.  I was immediately suspicious.  It was also in response to an ad for a home for rent on Craigslist.

This # used as reference from a guy saying he was a special task force worker. Said he was transfering to "United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration from United Kingdom." referenced this # to christopher crutchfield. Said his name was Taylor smith and left this as his number +4470024048350
Sent from email address- smtaylor001@googlemail.com

Wow, I just received an email with the same reference number.  I was a little skeptical because of the way he wrote his letter.  Very little imformation has been provided about the person or their family.

206-666-4169 was provided as a reference for a person that contacted me about renting a house I advertised on Craig's List. The person is in UK and the house in in California.  I haven't been asked to send them money yet, but I've had one other similar request to rent the house from another individual that is supposedly relocating from the UK. Too much of a coincendent. This smells like a scam.

I listed an apartment for rent and this Peter Mervyn responded.  I only put my email for any reply and his communication was stilted as though English was not his first language. I require references and credit checks, his reference was this Christopher Crutchfield and the number was the one above.  I tried to call it and got a fax chirp.  I did fax, but checked the area and it is Seattle and I live in PA.  So I googled the DEA office and called them and they have no task force agent by that name.  Then I googled the whole Christopher Crutchfield thing and this site is what came up. I will follow up on this but with whom?

This number is in use by an Internet Scammer. It is a K7.net number, which is a voicemail service which will record your call and then send it by e-mail to the scammer. If in any doubt then please make contact at www.scamwarners.com

responded to an add for an apartment for rent.  they gave limited details as to who they were.  This number was used as a reference for:

Christopher S. Crutchfield
Task Force Agent
United States Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
206-666-4169.

The name of the person who was replying to the add was Peter Mervyn.