He is now on the Topeka, KS Craigslist running this same scam. I Googled the phone number and found this site. Thank you to everyone who has posted, they go back to 2010! It breaks my heart to know that he has been successfully running this scam for so long. I wonder how many people have given him $199?

And in milwaukee

Yes this company takes up most of the posts in Craiglist under homes in the Charlotte, NC area. The pictures are clearly pulled from other web sites and usually just show a fancy kitchen. It is very frustrating to look for real rental options. There are as many as 20 separate posts a day. This is definately a scam. I am going to write to Craiglist and let them know.

Saw an add in a North Carolina Craig's List add. By looking above, i will not even try this number. Thanks for the info.
*If you search just the phone number and go to page 2+ of your google search, you will find that this number is listed across the country and linked to craig's list!!

Thanks y'all Cruz me and my husband was really looking in to it thanks so much

These rent to own with bad credit ads are all over syracuse, ny Craigslist too.

Also we were scammed by this one. This was a reply I recvd after inquiring about what looked like a normal ad.
The property is a 3 bedroom 3.5 bath with garage and washer and dryer. Dogs and cats are allowed with a $100 additional deposit.
The requirements to rent our property are as follows:
1. PhotoID
2. 1st months rent and optional pet fee
3. Rental Agreement, I'll bring this to the showing
(It's month to month, 6 month or one year)
4. Background check for each applicant
The service we use is Tenant Verified: link.
This is an affordable way for me to screen applicants based on previous addresses and job history. If you have a felony or bad tenant history, I am flexible and I'll work with you.
Contact me when you have your background check. It's in a .pdf, you can print it and bring to the showing or email it to me. I am looking for serious tenants not window shoppers or tire kickers, I have 3 rentals and a full-time job.
What's the best contact number for you? Are you available tomorrow?
Enjoy your Sunday!
Wilma Egnew

The email was not the same in the ad (legseloise405@yahoo.com) then the reply (wilmaegnew@yahoo.com)  that should of been my first clue.   But just wanted to share this one too! Be careful of Craigslist as its becoming a joke for rentals.

Posted elsewhere on 800notes by someone who used to work for these scammers:

"I was a former employee and made BANK, not knowing what a SCAM it was. Mike Davenport (check out his Facebook page) is a failed punk rocker (with the Ataris) who lives on a sprawling ranch in Santa Barbara, CA, one of the wealthiest and most upscale cities in the world.  His neighbors are Oprah and Al Gore. He runs a drug den/telemarketing company on 433 Milpas St., Santa Barbara. Undercover police were frequently scoping the locale.
B. Gopi is the multi-millionaire Indian who owns LOTUS Interworks in Santa Monica, CA. They initially teamed up but eventually got greedy and screwed each other. After extended litigation, they settled. BOTH are still running SCAMS that have changed company names over and over again -- every time the Attorney General brings in the hounds."

Yes, it's our old friends at American Standard Online, a scam started by a washed up musician and his girlfriend.  They claim to have a list of properties available for $199.  This list is available elsewhere for free.  

http://flakelist.org/page/viewpub/tid/1/pid/3665

Showing up in the Urban Tulsa classifieds section.  Sounded too good to be true, quick Google search on the number brings this up.  I guess everyone's gotta make a living, but don't be one of the suckers he makes a living off of.

I have never received a call from this company, but I am in the process of looking for a home and this company's ads are all over Craigslist. I knew it was a SCAM when there was no address posted. I am quick to google phone numbers and addresses when looking for rentals. If you are unfortunate enough to  pay your $199 and you receive a list two words... Public Records... Foreclosures are a matter of public records, which means anyone can go to the court house or the county website usually and look them up, this is what bankruptcy attorneys do when a person is facing foreclosure... Just an FYI, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is... Also, be aware, it is likely you will not be able to LEGALLY take over the monthly payments of a home facing foreclosure... The only way a foreclosure can be stopped is if the OWNER files bankruptcy or the LENDER agrees to modify the mortgage with the current OWNER of record... Some companies sometimes trick people into deeding their properties over to them, but are not making the mortgage payments, this scam right here is a quick and easy way for you to end up on the streets by way of the Sheriff putting your things out on the front lawn due to foreclosure.. BEWARE!!

They are also posting in Denver Colorado area!

He's back in NJ. Thank god I googled the phone number before calling... Thanks to all of you for reporting!!! Craigslist ad

$950 / 2br - 1000ft² - Lovely top floor renovated unit (Wayne, NJ)
Date: 2011-11-14, 11:19AM EST

Lovely top floor renovated unit in classic 6-unit bldg, with south-facing porch, in-unit washer/dryer, Brazilian cherry floors, skylight, roof rights, deeded off-street parking, stainless appliances, granite counters, breakfast bar, dining area, extra storage in basement.

Call +18773951301. . .RENT TO OWN!

They call and don't leave a message, to all of you who have blogged here, thanks for the information.

Geez...sure glad I looked this number up! The post I saw was for a 3bdr townhome for $995... yeah, sounded too good to be true.. guess it is still.. HAHA...

Location of this add: Morgan Hill, CA and Santa Clara, CA

blessings!

interesting.  I missed a call from this number and came here to look it up...

and realized the the last post on the survey was... *mine*


So after I told them "no thank you" they ... try to call me again?




that sounds like a scam indeed.

I just received a call from 8772941301.

They claimed they were part of a college conducting a survey of health care.  I told them "no thank you" and that I was on the "do not call list".  They claimed that doesn't apply to them and I again said "no thank you".

They said "Uh hum" and we both hung up.

Sherie, this number just called where I work. The asked for an employee who I believe is having some finacial difficulties right now. It was a lady that called. She actually left an extension number of 1301. I know you posted your post awhile back but just in case you do read this, I wanted to pass along this woman's extension. When I asked her if this was a personal call to our employee she said, yes. I then explained that we didn't pass along "personal" calls to employees. She was actually very polite and apologized and said she would try another number.

i believe he is now posting under the american classified/ thrifty nickle, too.

It's the number for a rent to own company. From what I have been reading, it is a scam. Good luck

Do you have some info on this number?

They also use the number 877-395-0320

I called this number in regard to a rent to own situation.  The lady said the company was, I think, American Homes.  She send listing of homes but we haven't checked them out yet.  However, they have already taken the $199 from our account.  I'm afraid that it is a scam.

THEY'RE IN ROCHESTER, NY CRAIGSLIST AS THIS-
$870 / 3br - pet friendly 3 bed room residence. Great floorplan
Date: 2011-04-06, 6:59PM EDT
Reply to: see below

Unbelievable neighbor hood on this residence while rent-to-own!
877-395-1301
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 2309714274
Contact: Shan Toson, 973-2 13

Thanks for all the posts. Saw it on CL in Dallas, thought something was weird when there was no contact name or address for the home.

Thanks!!!   All of you just saved me!!!!   Im here in Bridgeport Ct. I knew it sounded to good to be true!!! good-thing he didn't get my $199

Thanks!!!   All of you just saved me!!!!   Im here in Bridgeport Ct. I knew it sounded to good to be true!!! goodthing he didn't get my $199

Thanks!!!   All of you just saved me!!!!   Im here in Briidgeport Ct. I knew it sounded to good to be true!!! goodthing he didn't get my $199

He's now scamming the York, PA area as well.  Glad I checked here first before calling!

He's posting all over the Salt Lake City valley locations here in Utah as well.  Knew it was a scam when I saw it, glad I confirmed it on this site.  I say we all keep calling and hanging up on him, maybe he'll get the hint.  ;o)

Seems to be the same company posting in Portland Cragislist too.  Take over mortgage payments on "pre-forclosure" homes