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Elliot Kendall
March 26, 2008
02:35 PM
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Check overpayment scams |
| Yesterday, a scammer contacted several people who were using myBrandeis classifieds to advertise housing for rent. He was running a so-called "check overpayment scam" in which he attempted to pay for apartments with a check for more than the asking price, then asked that the difference be sent on a third party. The checks would be fraudluent, however, and any money sent to his accomplices cannot be recovered.
Although this scammer's account has been closed, people advertising housing on myBrandeis should be on the lookout for similar scams. You should be especially suspicious of potential renters operating from overseas and looking to send or receive money by mail. If you believe you may already have been the victim of a scam, please contact Public Safety immediately.
For more information, please see the FTC's page on the check overpayment scam. |
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Peter DiMasi
May 13, 2009
02:51:24 PM
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rental scams |
| They are still out there scaming. I have been in contact with two people a supposed female student and her uncle with the same scam so be aware. They when on about some lame story how the studen was abused and needed a safe place to live, I played along till the end when he wanted to pay me $9000 for a sumer rental and asked for my banking info, when I called him on the scam he hung up.
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Alexander Trott
June 9, 2009
06:03:13 PM
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A similar scam was tried on me. A girl who was supposedly abroad and soon to be coming to Brandeis was looking for a summer place. It seemed fairly legit until I got a check in the mail today for $4000 dollars--odd, considering the renting price was $1875. The only feasible explanation is, of course, a check overpayment scam. Of course, this person won't be getting a dime from me, but it still sucks that I lost my chance to rent to actual people. This person put up a pretty convincing back story, though, so be advised.
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Dave Dugdale
September 1, 2009
02:03:44 PM
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rental scam detection tool |
| I created a rental scam detection tool to help students figure out if they are entering in to a scam. At the end of the tool you can check an email address to my blacklist database to see if you are dealing with a know scammer.
I hope it helps students.
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noel herman
October 9, 2009
02:34:37 PM
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rental scam |
| same scam tried on me starting yesterday. girl in Russia (St. Petersburg!) accepted to brandeis, saw my listing on brandeis, wants me to contact uncle in UK who will pay for 3 months rent. I asked girl (Julietsmith81@yahoo.co.uk) for detailed references, and name of course of study). But she provided no details other than referring me to her uncle again who can't wait for me to call him ... Thanks a lot for your mail,to tell you a few about myself and how long i intend to stay, also the possible questions you might want to ask,i intend to arrive in the last week of October or first week in Nov.The program will last for a period of 12 months but my uncle said i should negotiate for 3 months that after i must have settled down that he would pay up for the rest of the months.
I am a British citizen by birth,but my both parents are late and i am under the care of my step mum after the death of my parent,after my mums death my dad married another wife and 3 years later my dad died and my step mum has been making life a living hell for me now and that is why my uncle feels i should leave as soon as possible out of Russia.
Here is his email (alvinsuttle@yahoo.co.uk) His name is Mr. Alvin Suttle,My uncle is presently in England and really wants to know how far i have gone with my search for an accomodation.Here is his number +44-7031908086
Do get back to me.
Juliet BEWARE ...
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Laura John
November 12, 2009
08:41:53 AM
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Same scammer - St. Petersburg |
| How are these people getting into mybrandeis anyway? I got the same (obviously fraudulent) email as the previous poster. Charming.
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Ian Rifkin
Administrator
November 12, 2009
09:47:19 AM
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Hi Laura, my.brandeis.edu is a public Web site -- Anyone can create an account. This has been useful, for example, for local landlords to post legitimate apartments for rent. Ian
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