On August 2 2009 I found this ad on Craigslist-Moscow that was too good to be true. It was for an incredible, 2-bedroom 2-bathroom luxurious apartment in the center of Moscow for an incredibly low price--$600 (18,000 roubles)/month. Here is the ad:
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OVERVIEW
luxury apartment in the very center near ExpoCenter and Kutuzovsky Prospect.2 rooms,kitchen,free broadband Internet, A/C, washing/drying. 2 beds, sleeps 4 people. Exclusive interior design
The apartment address is 12 Bryanskaya Street, Moscow, Russia. The apartment is managed by US-owned company. This is a spacious apartment with exclusive European interior design, 2 bedrooms, living room, full kitchen, unlimited free broadband Internet access, air conditioner, washing and drying machines, heated floors, recess lighting, and many other luxurious amenities. The apartment is located in the best central area of Moscow, 10 minutes walking distance from ExpoCenter and 1 minute from Kutuzovsky Prospect. There are many great restaurants, shops, and a super-modern Evropeisky shopping center in the area. Kievskaya metro station is within 3 minutes walking distance. After you book an apartment please contact us by email or phone with your arrival information and contact details so that we can schedule the check in and key transfer for the reserved apartment.
LOCATION & AREA
Quiet area in the very center of Moscow near ExpoCenter (10 min walking distance) and Kutuzovsky prospect (1 min walking distance). There are many great restaurants and shops in the area, a super-modern Evropeisky shopping center, and many historic monuments and buildings. Luzhniki sports stadium is within 5 miles distance. Walking distance to Moscow river.
Address: 12 Bryanskaya ulitsa, Moscow 127159, Russia
Nearest Metro / Subway: Kievskaya - 300 Meters
Nearest Airport: Sheremetyevo - 30 Kilometers
Price: RUB18,00=£400/Month
Deposit £600/Refundable
Minimum stay: One week--3 years
Address 12 Bryanskaya ulitsa, Moscow 127159, Russia
Contact: mr.wanysmith@gmail.com
luxury apartment in the very center near ExpoCenter and Kutuzovsky Prospect.2 rooms,kitchen,free broadband Internet, A/C, washing/drying. 2 beds, sleeps 4 people. Exclusive interior design
The apartment address is 12 Bryanskaya Street, Moscow, Russia. The apartment is managed by US-owned company. This is a spacious apartment with exclusive European interior design, 2 bedrooms, living room, full kitchen, unlimited free broadband Internet access, air conditioner, washing and drying machines, heated floors, recess lighting, and many other luxurious amenities. The apartment is located in the best central area of Moscow, 10 minutes walking distance from ExpoCenter and 1 minute from Kutuzovsky Prospect. There are many great restaurants, shops, and a super-modern Evropeisky shopping center in the area. Kievskaya metro station is within 3 minutes walking distance. After you book an apartment please contact us by email or phone with your arrival information and contact details so that we can schedule the check in and key transfer for the reserved apartment.
LOCATION & AREA
Quiet area in the very center of Moscow near ExpoCenter (10 min walking distance) and Kutuzovsky prospect (1 min walking distance). There are many great restaurants and shops in the area, a super-modern Evropeisky shopping center, and many historic monuments and buildings. Luzhniki sports stadium is within 5 miles distance. Walking distance to Moscow river.
Address: 12 Bryanskaya ulitsa, Moscow 127159, Russia
Nearest Metro / Subway: Kievskaya - 300 Meters
Nearest Airport: Sheremetyevo - 30 Kilometers
Price: RUB18,00=£400/Month
Deposit £600/Refundable
Minimum stay: One week--3 years
Address 12 Bryanskaya ulitsa, Moscow 127159, Russia
Contact: mr.wanysmith@gmail.com
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I responded to the Craigslist ad, and a day later, I got this email:
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Hello
Thanks for your interest in my apartment.This apartment is well furnished with wireless internet facilities and all house hold furniture.
All I want is professionals, students or families that will keep this apartment clean at all time.The apartment is now available for rent.The apartment is located at; 12 Bryanskaya ulitsa, Moscow 127159, Russia .
Pets are allowed.I spent lot on my property that I placed for rent,so I will solicit your absolute maintenance of my property and I want you to treat it as if it were your property.I really want you to keep the apartment clean always.The minimum lease agreement is 1 week while the maximum lease agreement is 3 years.
The cost for this apartment including all facilities and electricity,water,heater cost is 18,000 per month and you are required to pay for your refundable security deposit of 600EUR only after signing the contract.
The apartment is fully furnished with the following;
Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2
Double beds: Double sofa beds:
Oven Table & Chairs
Hair Dryer Shower
Towels Washing Machine
Internet Broadband Stereo/Radio System
DVD Player Library
Bed Sheets TV DVD Set
Kitchen Gas cooker
Garage Cupboard
Wardrobe Shoe rack
You can call me on my mobile Uk number, +447031866626 Also send me your mobile phone number.
I hope this is ok for you, if you need more information about the apartment please don't hesitate to contact me.
I await for your prompt reply.
Thanks
Smith
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Naturally, I fell for it and replied back that we were really interested and wanted more pictures. In the meantime, a good friend searched his email and phone number for scams and of course, it turned up on http://chicaneryconsscams.blogspot.com/2009/01/scammails-2009-p-t.html
Twelve hours later I got his second email, but this time I was onto him. In this email he included more pictures, now ones from an actual apartment at the address, which rents for $300/night (I found those on a legitimate hotel site). He also attached a "rental application." Here he starts mentioning that I'll have to wire the funds to him, after which he will send me the keys via DHL. Right.
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Hi,
Thanks I will be glad renting my apartment to you. Actually I resided in this apartment with my family before my recent transfer.I am in Notting Hill,London at present for my company's recent construction project in London. This project will last for 3 years but my wife and family are in India.
I will reserve the apartment for you till whenever you wish to move in provided you have deposited for the apartment.
I am the owner of the apartment and I resided there 2 months ago so I am sure that everything is in good condition but incase if there is any one you wish to maintain you will do it and subtract the cost of maintenance from the next month rent, this will also be stated in the contract.
I have attached the rental application form to you if you are interested in renting my apartment kindly complete it and return it back to me. Once I receive the filled form my lawyer will prepare the contract lease agreement form after signing the contract I will give you my bank details for the payment.
Once I receive your payment,I will send the keys of the apartment and receipts of your payment to you through DHL and you will receive it after 2 days.
I will be waiting for your prompt response. +447031866626
Regards,
Smith
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What a creep!
That teaches me. I've posted his emails so that anyone else searching the 'net for scammers will also pick up on him.
Yuck.
