Really bizarre house-rent scam!

[WolfeMacleod]

So, I'm looking for a new house and shop to move into, I posted several days ago.

I'm trolling around Hotpads.com when I find THIS AD for a house for rent. Decent location.
Ad says to contact johnrsargent@yahoo.com for information.
I look again at the location, and realize... I have a cousin... maybe uncle? Names John Sargent!

Turns out, this is my aunt Norma's old house. I spent many Christmas's there when I was a kid. She passed away about 6 or 7 years ago.
I email John immediately, asking him to call me. Then I call another aunt, and ask how to get hold of him directly.

She tells me John had lost the house. When Norma died, it was split between his sister and he. He bought her half.
I get hold of John via phone, and sure enough, He lost the house.. foreclosed.
Well, gee that's interesting because...

I get an email from "John Sargent" shortly after saying he wants to fill the house.

From: John R Sargent
Sent: Oct 7, 2013 8:41 PM
To: WolfeMacleod
Subject: Re: Pinehurst House for Rent


How are you ? I want to rent it out and i want it occupied on time.I won't be able to call you for now but you can reach me via Email in case you have any question you want to ask

I play the game, knowing this is a scam by now. Someone trying to scam deposit money using John name!


After a couple emails, he asks me when I'm ready to move in. I tell him "immediately" and please let me know how he wants to receive payment for the house.

You are to pay first month rent plus deposit which is $2300 in total.Let me know when you will be ready so that i can forward the payment information of my Lawyer to you.And i would like to send the keys and hard copy of the lease agreement to you.
Thank you for your time.

By this time, I have discovered that the house is owned by a company called Invitation Homes. I've spoken to the actual listing agent, and have let him know what's going on...

John's actual daughter noticed there was a phone number attached to the ad. Number pointed to a Denver, CO location.

I ask for the payment details...

This is the account information of my Lawyer,
Capital One Bank
Gregory Johnston
Acct : 331545XXXX (removed)
Rout: 111901014
200 N mesquite st, arlington,tx 76010


Once I confirm your payment I will have the package that contains the keys and house documents sent to you and you will get it in less than 48 hours.Please don't forget to send the picture of the receipt of your payment,it will be used as reference.

I get curious, and look to see if there is a lawyer in Arlignton, TX by the name of Gregory Johnston.
Sure enough, there's one relatively close...in Austin. And he does [commercial] real estate...

Greg Johnston | | Oxford Commercial*Oxford Commercial Real Estate in Austin, Texas

Pretty weird, what's going on here....

I have a Denver phone number, and a bank account number in Texas....and a name...

Which police should I try to coordinate with?

[Gogar]

Wow!

I hope you can drag it out enough to figure out what to do. That's wild.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

Number pointed to a Denver, CO location.

Originally Posted by Gogar

Wow!

Coincidence?

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Coincidence?

HAHAH!

A forum member from one of the guitar forums did some digging and found this ad. Same phone number.
Classifieds for Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming | ksl.com

Claims he's in Utah, and his name is Mark.

[bell]

I bought a bunch of furniture from a family that was duped like that...
They moves 2000 miles to his new job only to find out the realtor who rented them the house had no right to do so and bolted with the cash, the family was forced out by the back via trespassing laws.....they were screwed

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

Which police should I try to coordinate with?

All cities mentioned.

There was a 60minutes/48hours/some other news show piece about vacation rental scams just a week or two ago.

[widebody911]

There was an empty house for sale in my neighborhood with a sign in the window "This house is NOT for rent on Craigslist or anywhere else"

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by widebody911

There was an empty house for sale in my neighborhood with a sign in the window "This house is NOT for rent on Craigslist or anywhere else"

That reminds me of an April Fools joke where a friend had his guitar posted for sale on Craigslist (with his phone number listed in the ad). "Hello? What? NO THE GUITAR IS NOT FOR SALE!!!!"

[911SauCy]

You get screwed at the part -"once I confirm your payment the house papers and keys will be sent your way"-

You send the $, keys never show, the name/number/contact info disappears, and its an internet scam over state lines.

There is NO chance this guy will get caught.

[Gogar]

You need to ask for a copy of the alleged "lease agreement" before you send any alleged money.
Maybe it will help you see how sophisticated the person is.
It's also likely that if it's a scammer they can't help but put a tiny bit of 'real' info on a fake agreement that may help you.

I seriously doubt the actual lawyer Gregory Johnston is involved, it could be any person named Gregory Johnston.

Maybe tell him you want to do Paypal instead and you'll cover the fee, because your bank wanted to charge you way too much for the wire.

See if you get a different email address for the paypal.

Also, see if there is a paypal address associated with the email address you have already been given. If so, it will list a physical address and real name for the account holder.

Google the email address.
Google the phone number.
Type the email address and the email into Facebook.

[stealthn]

Seems to be a trend, this one had several renters, all with legal leases,
Chaos meets would-be Calgary renters after more than a dozen learn they've been scammed at Temple duplex | Calgary | News | Calgary Sun

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

You get screwed at the part -"once I confirm your payment the house papers and keys will be sent your way"-

You send the $, keys never show, the name/number/contact info disappears, and its an internet scam over state lines.

There is NO chance this guy will get caught.

I spoke with the branch manager at the Capital One Bank today and let her know what was going on. Forwarded her the emails, as well.
A little later on, I called back to follow up with some more information. She explained that he had just been in, trying to collect his money.
She noted that it was NOT the same "Gregory Johnston" as in the link above.
She's reviewing the account, apparently.

He gave yet another phone number after another email, this time leading to Tucson, AZ.

Originally Posted by Gogar

You need to ask for a copy of the alleged "lease agreement" before you send any alleged money.
Maybe it will help you see how sophisticated the person is.
It's also likely that if it's a scammer they can't help but put a tiny bit of 'real' info on a fake agreement that may help you.

I seriously doubt the actual lawyer Gregory Johnston is involved, it could be any person named Gregory Johnston.

Maybe tell him you want to do Paypal instead and you'll cover the fee, because your bank wanted to charge you way too much for the wire.

See if you get a different email address for the paypal.

Also, see if there is a paypal address associated with the email address you have already been given. If so, it will list a physical address and real name for the account holder.

Google the email address.
Google the phone number.
Type the email address and the email into Facebook.

Good stuff here. I may try to get him to accept a Paypal. He's already suggested MoneyGram, when I told him the bank said there was an issue with doing a wire transfer.

So, it's confirmed that there's someone in the Arlington, TX area involved in this.

[LWJ]

What is great here is that Wolfe is F'ing with this thief. I love it. Given that there is more power with more people, how can I assist? A phone call? An email? I need someone more clever than myself to show how I / we can make this guy cry.

Larry