Metro Man: Landlord Beware - The Transcript
By Jerry Attkisson
A friend suggested we place a rental ad on www.craigslist.com for our apartment. The following is a transcript of what transpired via e-mails with one prospect with some comments in italics.
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Good day Sir/ Madam,
My name is John Yearwood; I am 24 years of age and a citizen of the United Kingdom and will be relocating for a short period of two years on a research programme to the United States. As I was reviewing rental adverts, I got particularly interested in your property, I would like you to email me pictures, and I would also like to know the exact fees to be paid monthly and the security deposit in order for me to pass information to my sponsors.Thanks for your assistance.Cheers.
ME:
Will get pictures within a day or two. $1,500 per month inclusive of all utilities and other costs. Security deposit of one month’s rent.
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Good day,I really appreciate your response and details provided, my sponsors (Japan tobacco Inc) have agreed on the monthly fees to be paid for the next two years on my behalf. Therefore, they agreed to pay up front the amount of $1,500 payment for the first month rent plus $1,500 deposit starting from my moving in date which will 10 April; also since I will be staying for two years, the company has agreed to pay in a monthly installation. Furthermore, I would like you to know a US Cashier cheque will be issued to you in an excess amount by my sponsors for the first month rent, security deposit and my travelling expenses. (Please see attached note); the excess amount will be sent to me immediately as soon as you receive payment from my sponsors through western union money transfer.
However, the information below is required from you by my sponsors to have payment sent to you immediately in order for you to hold down this property until I arrive: Name on US Cashier Cheque, Full Contact Address, Home Phone Number, Mobile Number.
Finally, I would like to know how peaceful is the neighbourhood and how close is the property from the bus/train station as I will be leaving on the 9th and arriving on the 10th†of April. My main purpose of relocating is based on my research proposal on Tobacco Industries (Financial Analysis); and I was granted a part time sponsorship on my accommodation and travel expense. Also all necessary Paper work will be treated by me when I arrive and set to move into the property.
I await the details soonest for payment, so I can start my moving in plans ASAP.
Regards, John Yearwood
ME:
John: Thanks for your information and interest in our apartment. I am attaching the information that I placed on Craig’s list to make sure you got all the details. Your planned move in date of April 10th will work for us. Japan Tobacco should send the $3,000 payment to Jerry Barden Attkisson, 165 Seventeenth Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Home Phone: 404-892-2xxx, Mobile: 404-543-7xxx.
The neighborhood, Ansley Park, is very peaceful with several parks and many trees. From the airport you take the train, MARTA, to the Arts Center Station; all trains will go to that station. It is a 3 block walk to our house traveling east from the station.
We will have a lease for you to sign upon arrival and will send you a copy in the next few days. The only thing additional that comes to mind is there is no smoking allowed in the apartment and since we live at the property as well we do not want a loud tenant with many parties or overnight guests.
The apartment is unfurnished and I wonder what your plans are for furnishing it? There is an IKEA store nearby where you can find everything you need at attractive prices.
Can you send me some references and a cv that will give me a better understanding of who you are? Your picture is good and the letter from Japan Tobacco is helpful.
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Thanks for the details provided as these details will be forwarded to my sponsors for payment to be made out to you as soon as possible. Please as soon as you are in receipt of the cheque payment, do not hesitate in calling me directly on my mobile on 00447852564xxx (international and area code have been included) or you can email me; so I can furnish you the details of how I can get the excess funds for my flight ticket. Furthermore, you can use my information below to set up the lease agreement prior to my arrival... (Yearwoodl provided a London address, a date of birth, a passport number and national insurance number). Also, the good news is that my sponsor†will send you payment†this coming week, pls as soon as you receive payment do call me or mail me immediately.
Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.
JOHN
ME:
Will do. What are your plans to furnish the apartment?
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Good day Jerry, Hope you are doing great today; Please i would like to know if you have received my check payment from my sponsor of $6,000; I will really appreciate you getting back to me with the latest development. Thanks.
ME:
Yes. I did receive it. Thought you were arriving on the 10th.
A cashier’s check drawn on Chase Bank arrived on a Saturday afternoon, and I immediately took it to SunTrust Bank at my nearby Publix. I told the teller I was suspicious this was a fraudulent check. He suggested I not deposit it since I would be charged a fee if the check was returned unpaid by Chase and that my account would also be debited for the $6,000. He further suggested I contact Chase with the information on the check to see if they could verify its authenticity. I sent an e-mail to Chase and soon got an automated response warning me of scams along these lines but not addressing my specific situation. I also sent an e-mail to SunTrust and received a reply suggesting I contact the Secret Service.
Soon I received a phone call from the prospective tenant requesting I send him a money order for the excess $3,000. Stalling for time, I told him it was too late in the day to do and the next morning I was tied up until 2 p.m. Atlanta time. I explained in the meantime I had rented the apartment, which I did, and I would send back his entire $6,000. He said he was disappointed not to get the apartment but it was obvious he was delighted at the prospect of getting back $6,000 instead of $3,000. I attempted to hold the prospective tenant at bay until I could find some way to have him apprehended; the fact he would be getting back twice what he anticipated kept him on the hook.
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Hello Jerry, I’m so happy to speak to you and i was shocked you rented the property at the last minute, however; i really appreciate your honesty. Please, i will need you to transfer the†funds of ($6,000) as we agreed on the phone conversation to be sent via Western Union transfer there should be an office outlet nearer to you and send the funds; so i can make it on the 13th and look for another property with an agency. The information for the transfer of funds via western union money transfer; the total money you will deduct about $270 as the western union transfer charges in sending the funds to me and my sister. This is the information for the transfer of the funds: (Yearwood provided the name of a second party he identified as his sister with a London address and asked that $270 of the $6,000 be used to wire the money). Please, as soon as you get the transfer done, Please, give me call or email me with the following transfer information,
I called the Secret Service and was transferred to their electronic fraud division, where I got voice mail. I left a message and sent an e-mail explaining the situation. I thought perhaps they could arrange to have someone deliver what appeared to be a Western Union money order to the address and apprehend John. I finally heard from the Secret Service, which said such frauds were so common they could not possibly follow up, especially when they originated out of the country and involved so little money.
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Jerry, Please can you send the funds this weekend; so i can inform the new agent of the exact day i will be arriving Atlanta.Thanks.
ME:
John: I apologize for not getting the money order sent to you on Friday, but I have been extremely busy. I noticed you have called me numerous times and called my home number as well. I hope I can catch up over the weekend and the first of the week take care of this matter. Because I have been so busy I have not yet deposited the cashier’s check which I hope to do on Monday or the first of the week. Please bear with me and there is no need to telephone me since I will take care of this as soon as I can. I am sorry this has probably delayed your trip to Atlanta.
PROSPECTIVE TENANT:
Jerry, Please i will really appreciate you sending the funds today before 10pm US time due to the fact i will need to be in the US on saturday morning and meet up with a rental agent. Thanks for your understanding. Bless.
ME:
John: I know you have been dismayed by my taking so long to get you the $6,000. The fact is I have given this matter much careful consideration and have decided to cash the check and keep the money. I need the $6,000 a lot more than Japan Tobacco needs it, and, besides, they are inflicting great harm on the public through the sale of their products. So, I’m sorry that you cannot get your hands on the money and wish you a good life.
Jerry
I have heard nothing further from John Yearwood and don’t expect to. If you want to tell him what a jerk he is, you can e-mail him at john_yearwood88@yahoo.co.uk. If you are still wondering whether the check was fraudulent, it was.
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