Kitties in Diapers Aidan's blog

Craiglist Scammer – Akin Omec, Mrs Docas and Rev Steven

The girlfriend and I are looking for a new apartment/house to rent. We came across Craiglist.com and looked in the Edmonton section. We found a couple awesome offers. After we contacted the landlord scamer we received this reply:

Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am Rev.Steven ,the owner of the house you are making enquiry of Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had packed due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in the WINIPEG and presently my house is still available for rent including the utilities like hydro,washer and security, Also dishwasher and dryer was there. it is furnised.

Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i will like you to get in touch with my wife in the canada for more discussion as She is with the keys and the documents to the house.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for absolutementenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

Email my wife Mrs. Dorcas on (mrsdocas_kaybaby@yahoo.com) and she will attends to you better.

Thanks and you are welcome
Rev. Steven

All of this seemed quite strange. After a little bit of googling it was easy to tell they have a real elaborate scheme going on. I decided to have a little bit of fun with them and followed up with this Mrs. Dorcas. Here is what I sent her:

I saw your ad on Craigslist and sent an inquiry. Your husband told me about his situation and gave me your e-mail address. I am very interested in this house. Would it be possible to send me some pictures or can we book a time to view it with you. Also can you please tell me the exact address of the house?

The reply:

Thanks for the email and also Yes,my husband in respect of Rev Steven owed the house in (10311 - 111 Street, Edmonton,Alberta, T5K 2Y8) and also want you to know that it was due to my husband transfer that makes us to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean and tidy at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own.So for now,Am here in CANADA ,WINIPEG our new house and also with the Documents and keys of the house,We try to look for an Agent that we can give this documents before we left but could not see and we are as well as dont want our house to be used any how in our present that is why we took it along to us here and as you know that,my husband over in the West africa for a mission of God,so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house.So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in Renting home.Hope you are Okay with the price with hydro,heat laundry facilities,air condition and so on. i look forward to hearing from you ASAP so that i can forward you an Rent Application Form to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent,also are you ready to rent it now or when?

I would of like to know how they came up with this address. Its not even on the west side of Edmonton, like the ad described. Anyways, I followed up:

Thank you for the quick response.

 

Just to answer some of your questions.

Currently I'm living with my girlfriend in the Monopoly Marvin Gardens district. We are looking for a larger living headquarters for us and our miniature horse. Our current place is a two story igloo. Its very cozy and does its job of keeping the Bears out. Northern Canada is a very dangerous place. Although we are looking for a cheaper solution with rent increasing. And your description sounds wonderful.

We are currently renting our igloo on a month to month basis. We will not have any issues moving into your new home in a matter of days.

A few questions about our future arrangement:

How will we work out the payments if you're currently living in Winnipeg?
Is the house fully furnished?

Look forward to your response.

Good hearing from you that you shall be promising us that our house will be well taken care of,and i appreciate your expression.So, i want you to stick to your words.Is that okay with you?And the below is the final question that you must answer to qualify for this the rent of my house? and yes the house is correct the price is $900

RENT APPLICATION FORM
Also,Pls let me get this answer.
1)Your Full Name
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number
3)How old are you?
4)Are you married?
5)How many people will be living in the house?
6)Do you have a pet?
7)Do you have a car?
8)Occupation?
Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.
Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you,please we are giving you all this base on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words,you know that,we do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this.
Regards.
Await your reply now.
Mrs Docas
Thanks for the speedy response. I'm so excited.

1)Your Full Name: Aidan Lightyear
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number: 10159 - 120Street, Igloo #23, Edmonton, Canada, North Pole
3)How old are you? 23
4)Are you married? No
5)How many people will be living in the house? 1
6)Do you have a pet? Yes, a miniature horse
7)Do you have a car? No, I own a dog sled
8)Occupation? Secretary for a professional ice block Igloo store

I really look forward to getting out of this Igloo and living in your home. The pictures look so wonderful! How can I send you the money before someone else applies for it?

Thank you so much, and my word means a lot to me. I promise that we will keep the house clean and will pay rent on time each month.

Thanks very much for your reply i can see your willingness in this rent and how are you and work? However,Reverend told me that,if you are ready to rent the house now,then that will not be a problem but we will advice you due to a responsible person like you, to be able to afford the 1st month fee now ($900.00) and also i would like to send the following document to you via the UPS to the address you send to me and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possible occupy our house immediatly , Hope UPS can deliever to your present house or your office, pls let me know the prefer one.Pls once again,we are giving you this on trust and do not dissapoint us that you will take good care of our house and i promise you that, you will love the house..

Here are the contents of the document you will recieve from me.

1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
2)Paper/Permanent house form(Containing your reference details)
3)The house documetary file.
4)Payment Receipt.

So for now i will like you to email my husband that you are now are new tenant and also if you are ready for the first month rent payment now i will like you to email my husband about that so that he can forward you the information you will use to make the rent payment as soon as possible.

I couldn't believe they are believing anything I have said so far. So I emailed her "hubby" for the payment information.

It is my gladness to hear from my wife that, you are the lucky and new tenant of ours, how are you and i hope all is well with you.Pls, i will only urge you to take very good care of the house because i am not after the money of the rent but wanting it to be tidy and well taken care of.

Inaddition,I will want you to locate nearby Western Union office or international money gram in your location for sending the month payment,($900) and once this payment has been received,then a receipt for FEBRUARY payment will be issued to you for bonafide occupancy,it will include the document that you will be receive within 2 days of payment in your door step.

Here is the payment receivers details and this information is for my partner in missionary job;

Receivers Name: Akin Omec
Receivers Address: 38 Alafia Street
City: Mushin
state: Lagos
country: Nigeria
code: 23401
Amount sent($900)
Secret Question (What is my first name?)
Answer? aidan
Also get back to me ASAP the payment is transfer with the below details from the Western Union office.
TCN control number?
Senders First name and last name
Senders Full Address?
Senders Tel number?
I look forward to hear back from you soonest. N-B:- I want you to note that,the payment can be effective soonest so that i can instruct her to get the package post to you immediately and she will get back to you with the tracking number to confirm the package in your door step and pls make sure you always keep the house tidy and get all the forms inside the document, expecially your reference form get fill once you get it.Rev Steven

I haven't wrote back yet to these assholes. Although I really don't think anyone would ever fall for this scam. However, there are many people in this city desperately seeking a home. If anyone has any ideas on how I can further mess with these people please let me know. Thanks.