Of course I sent him the money! I'm no dummy!
I was looking for possible rental houses on Craigslist, and I inquired about a big, beautiful, and inexpensive beachfront property. turns out I was taking the bait of a classic Nigerian 419 scammer. Click below for the text of the HI-LARIOUS email I got back from the "landlord":
Hello and how are you doing today?
I am sorry i did not reply to your email so quickly, that's because the connection has been too busy so i could not read my email.
My daughter and I are in Nigeria now.., where my work just transfered me to for the next couple of months, i am so happy how the year started off.....and with a very good transfer, what else could be better for the year ...its pretty cool out here and all is just almost same as back there..lol..just that i loose the comfort of our weather and some other few things as well...., although we will not be moving back to the house when we get back in july, because we will be getting a newer place...but there is no way we will not have to let it out to a responsible person or family. The home is very clean and we don't want our home to be used unkept, and that is one of the reasons why i took the keys and paperworks to my new home in Nigeria because of the death of my doorman that was in charge to taken care of the place, so i will be mailling the keys to you directly from here and it will be delivered to you by express parcel delivery, i heard it is the best service from here and also offers home delivery.... The rent price is as listed per month includes no utilities eccept garbage removal alone ...and a private high speed internet connection , the security deposit is $800, which will be refunded back to you after 3 months of rent, and you will pay the rent and security deposit as payment to receive the keys and some papers for move in and also full house plan, .........then the rent goes on month to month, unless you want it another way like six months, or so.......you can also let me know....i have included the address of the house on the post so you will not have a problem going over or drive by the area of the house and see the place because as soon as i got your mail i had to flag the add so someother people does not come contacting.......NOTE: you might not need to pay the security deposit if you want to move in ASAP (this week) you will just pay the rent and i will mail the keys then you can move in at your convinience (but that will be if you will be moving in not more than 7 days from now)....
PLEASE FILL THE INFORMATION BELOW SO I CAN KNOW WHERE TO MAIL THE KEYS AND and also what to fill into the APLLICATION & LEASE FORM...
Full Name-------
Address to receive Keys-------
city-------------------------
state------------------------
zipcode----------------------
phone number 1---------------
phone number 2---------------
do you have a car--------
how many people will be staying in the house-------
do you have a pet----------
how long will you like to rent--------------
are you married-----------------
when are you planing on moving into the house---------
the you want the house furnished or not------------
do you agree to pay the 1 months and security dep before move in----
confirmation of house you are interested to rent (N:B) the information below should be as listed on craiglist
This is to confirm you really saw the advert onlinecity of house you want to rent (as seen on craigs list)-------------------------
state of house you want to rent (as seen on craigs list)------------------------
i will like you to know that as soon as you get back to me with the Application agreement form i will imprint it to the papers and attach the keys and mail them to you VIA DHL, Fedex, or EPD, (Express parcel delivery) to you after your security deposit payment has been confirmed and you get it by the next day because its a next day delivery service.......
NB: The reason why you wouldn't be able to see inside our home is because we lost our doorman and we could not quickly arrange for an agent or look for some one to immediately hand over the keys to....you know you can not just give anybody keys to your home and also to help you rent it out...that is not done so easily this days so i was advised to come down here with it since it would be very easy to mail back to any person who wants to rent......So i need you to see reasons with us....you can reach us at work on +234-7026049249 or you can also dail like this 011234-7026049249 i dont really know how you can dail it from over there......
Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you,please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words.
The best part is how he is "giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words."
So! Do I scambait him and try to get him to sculpt a bust of Gandalf or something?
Hello and how are you doing today?
I am sorry i did not reply to your email so quickly, that's because the connection has been too busy so i could not read my email.
My daughter and I are in Nigeria now.., where my work just transfered me to for the next couple of months, i am so happy how the year started off.....and with a very good transfer, what else could be better for the year ...its pretty cool out here and all is just almost same as back there..lol..just that i loose the comfort of our weather and some other few things as well...., although we will not be moving back to the house when we get back in july, because we will be getting a newer place...but there is no way we will not have to let it out to a responsible person or family. The home is very clean and we don't want our home to be used unkept, and that is one of the reasons why i took the keys and paperworks to my new home in Nigeria because of the death of my doorman that was in charge to taken care of the place, so i will be mailling the keys to you directly from here and it will be delivered to you by express parcel delivery, i heard it is the best service from here and also offers home delivery.... The rent price is as listed per month includes no utilities eccept garbage removal alone ...and a private high speed internet connection , the security deposit is $800, which will be refunded back to you after 3 months of rent, and you will pay the rent and security deposit as payment to receive the keys and some papers for move in and also full house plan, .........then the rent goes on month to month, unless you want it another way like six months, or so.......you can also let me know....i have included the address of the house on the post so you will not have a problem going over or drive by the area of the house and see the place because as soon as i got your mail i had to flag the add so someother people does not come contacting.......NOTE: you might not need to pay the security deposit if you want to move in ASAP (this week) you will just pay the rent and i will mail the keys then you can move in at your convinience (but that will be if you will be moving in not more than 7 days from now)....
PLEASE FILL THE INFORMATION BELOW SO I CAN KNOW WHERE TO MAIL THE KEYS AND and also what to fill into the APLLICATION & LEASE FORM...
Full Name-------
Address to receive Keys-------
city-------------------------
state------------------------
zipcode----------------------
phone number 1---------------
phone number 2---------------
do you have a car--------
how many people will be staying in the house-------
do you have a pet----------
how long will you like to rent--------------
are you married-----------------
when are you planing on moving into the house---------
the you want the house furnished or not------------
do you agree to pay the 1 months and security dep before move in----
confirmation of house you are interested to rent (N:B) the information below should be as listed on craiglist
This is to confirm you really saw the advert onlinecity of house you want to rent (as seen on craigs list)-------------------------
state of house you want to rent (as seen on craigs list)------------------------
i will like you to know that as soon as you get back to me with the Application agreement form i will imprint it to the papers and attach the keys and mail them to you VIA DHL, Fedex, or EPD, (Express parcel delivery) to you after your security deposit payment has been confirmed and you get it by the next day because its a next day delivery service.......
NB: The reason why you wouldn't be able to see inside our home is because we lost our doorman and we could not quickly arrange for an agent or look for some one to immediately hand over the keys to....you know you can not just give anybody keys to your home and also to help you rent it out...that is not done so easily this days so i was advised to come down here with it since it would be very easy to mail back to any person who wants to rent......So i need you to see reasons with us....you can reach us at work on +234-7026049249 or you can also dail like this 011234-7026049249 i dont really know how you can dail it from over there......
Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt in your name and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the documents and the keys to you,please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words.
The best part is how he is "giving you all this based on trust and again i want you to stick to your words."
So! Do I scambait him and try to get him to sculpt a bust of Gandalf or something?