'Tard of the Week - Denver Renters

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Seems those charming folks in Nigeria are at it again. But this time, instead of needing your help getting their funds out of the country, they want to rent you a house.

Using ads on Craigslist, they offer homes for rent at ridiculously low prices. When someone answers the ad, they respond that they're "for a crusade to West Africa (Nigeria)," and that the renter should send the deposit. They then send a blank key, and the renter is out of luck, since (not surprisingly), the advertiser doesn't own the home in question.

Here's my question. Who decides to rent a house without looking at it? Who sends deposit money to Nigeria for a house in Denver without seeing the property and meeting with an agent?

'Tards, that's who. And they're getting taken.

I understand the desperation involved in trying to find a suitable place to live, especially if you have children, but who thinks something like this is legit?

Christ, people are dumb.

6 comments:

John the Scientist said...

Sometimes, stupidity is painful...

Jeri said...

One of my friends got taken by a puppy rescue scam that also had a Nigerian element - had to go to Nigeria suddenly and leave a newly acquired bulldog puppy behind, needed someone to take it quickly.

Ouch.

What would happens in the one in a million chance that an actual, credible, real business deal comes along featuring a Nigerian entity? No one would believe it.

mattw said...

In the reverse of that, when we were trying to find someone to take over the lease on our apartment last year we put an ad on Craigslist and we were getting all kinds of people trying to scam us. Most of those people said they were coming from England, but who knows.

Janiece said...

Jeri, you're right.

I would never consider anything that had any connection to Nigeria.

Nathan said...

Dear Sir or Madam.

I am most sincerely contacting you regarding a most excellent business opportunity for our mutual benefit to all. THIS IS NOT A SPAM.

My uncle has recently passed on and was not a rich man, but having spent years collecting sticks, he leaves a most wondrous collection of sticks. Sticks of every size, color and shape imaginable. These are truly wonderful sticks. I am able to offer sticks for a most reasonable price.

Please make any offer for sticks. I know you will find them useful and decorative and they must provide many years and hours of future enjoyment.

P.S. There may be a small additional fee for the sticks to make their way through Customs Inspection.

THIS SI NOT A SPAM!!!

Janiece said...

I bid 500 quatloos on the sticks!