These scammers think we are stupid! Craigslist, watch out.
DirtyLaundryDiva I am on the house hunt right now. We are in a crappy rental that is owned by a local slumlord. They own about 40 other houses!
Anyway, I am sick of the issues this place has and the landlords lack of response to our requests for repair. I was looking on craigslist for some rental and found tons of scammers! Here is a copy on an ad on craigslist that I responded to:
$900 / 3br – Very Clean Rental Ready Now – Landlord is Previous Tenant
Reply to: hous-1021670726@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2009-02-05, 8:12AM ESTProperty Specifications:
2100 Sq Feet. 4 Bdrms & 2 1/2 Bath.
Extra Large Master Bedrm with Walk In Closet on the First Floor
Addon Features such as Finished Wood Floors , Crowned Molding , and Warm Paint Colors
Clean Granite Countertops with Very Nice Cabinets & Almost New Appliances
Extra Large Two Car Garage and Yard is Completely Fenced.
- cats are OK – purrr
- dogs are OK – wooof
- it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Now other than the house looking way too good to be true I was tipped off when I received an email response asking me to provide my personal information and also my credit information so that I am able to tour the property.
Um, excuse me? Why would I want to apply for and submit my credit information for a home I haven’t even toured yet? These scammers are looking to get your personal information so they can use it! Don’t get sucked in.
Furthermore in the email this scammer claims to be a representative of Fidelity Investor Group and leaves a link for me to visit his site. Oddly enough when I visit the site: http://www.fidelityinvestorgroup.com/ I notice that it is automatically redirected to: https://www.fidelity.com/ which also sends out the red flags.
I emailed representatives at fidelity.com and received this response:
I am unable to pull up the link you provided in your email, so I cannot confirm who you are referring to. However, we do not have any affiliates who go by the name of Fidelity Investor Group. So, it sounds like it is not related to Fidelity Brokerage Services.
For more information about Fidelity Brokerage Services and other affiliates, please go to http://www.fidelity.com and click on “Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC” at the bottom of the page, in the small print.
Thank you for contacting Fidelity. If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to send us another email at any time.
Sincerely,
Daniel Merrell
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC
If you use craigslist and get a similar response from someone you’ve contacted don’t ever give out your credit or personal info unless you are meeting in person to lease the home! Beware of these shady scammers!
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They run a similar scam here where they say that they make it easy for people moving to the city from out of town. I think they prey on out of towners who don’t know how things work here but really, you wouldn’t have to be from out of town but outer space to fall for one of these scams. At least that’s what I thought until my cousin found one of these ads online.
It was for a 800sq ft. apt. for $500 a month in Midtown Manhattan. I told him that I didn’t need to see the pictures of the apartment because I could already tell it was a scam. No way, no how are you getting an apt. for $500 a month ANYWHERE in Manhattan.
They wouldn’t meet him in person because they “were in Europe right now” but if he could send them the info, they’d make sure the landlord gave him the key, blah, blah, blah. He finally wised up when he was never able to get them on the phone or access to see the apartment. Some people get suckered into the full meal deal, I guess, and hand over their info.
Yeah, that definitely looked too good to be true. I would never give out my personal info just to tour a house. That is ridiculous. After all, a salesperson should be guiding you through the home so it’s not like you are left on your own to vandalize it. Ridiculous. Nice catch!
I almost fell for this and after already being a victim of identify theft – UGH!!! I couldn’t even believe I almost fell for this crap again. My husband and I also, rent from one of our city’s slumlords – they own a ton a properties all over the city but don’t wan’t to do any maintenance and we are sick of it!! So..I turn to Craigslist to see what I come across – and WOW a beautiful apartment with granite countertops 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths stainless appliances.. So, I reply wanting to set up an appt. to look at this place that is not only bigger than my current space but nearly $400 a month CHEAPER??
I get this email response back from So I think great…I print the application and proceed to the Free Credit Report link that he suggested I use only the link didn’t work so I clicked on the link in his signature line to check if his website had the link embedded somewhere there..BUT his website was “temporarily down due to maintenance”
So, I send this guy Chad an email letting him know that I was having problems accessing his site but I do have copies of my credit report and scores that I can bring to me to the appt with my application. He never replied..
I do a little searching on the company and found the dirty laundry diva blog. This scamming sh*t is really annoying — But nice catch and thanks!!
OH MY GOD, Im so glad I saw this. This same guy posted an ad here in Greensboro, NC. I asked him some questions about it and he replied with the “rental application” and a link to do a free credit report. He sounded like he was in a real hurry. But he never told me where the apartment was. So I thought it was fishy that he wanted me to fill out the application right away. Plus that web address didnt work. It always just said “Website under maintenance” or something. And this morning I tried to look up his office here so taht I could call him, and couldnt find an office. I almost got sucked in, so thank you thank you thank you for posting this!!
I am glad I googled the guys name and Fidelity. I am looking for temp housing in Pensacola, FL area. This group is all over the site with listings there. I got the same email back and thought it was odd – that and the fact that every interaction I’ve ever had on craigslist has been fraud and it took me to this page. Same guy – Chad Kent. A bunch of scammers. There is a special place in hell for people like them.
I am glad I googled this too, because I emailed the address listed in the Craigslist app, and just thought the email reply I got sounded fishy.
After searching some more, I was starting to think it was a scam. This post was on the Nashville craigslist site for apartments/houses for rent!
I’m so glad I found this, it confirms my suspicions! Thank you for posting this!
I just responded to this post today thinking that I was going to get an amazing deal, but after the email he sent me and his acting like he was in such a big hurry, I knew that it couldn’t be legit. I emailed him and asking to see the property before filling out anything. Guess what? No response!
They almost got me. Glad I googled it first. Jessica Southern with Fidelity Investors Group. This really sucks! We need to find a place and none of them seem to be real. Thanks for the info.
I was searching for apartments in Clarksville, TN when I came across an amazing apartment. It had beautiful floors, granite counters, huge bathroom, etc. for really cheap. The craigslist ad didn’t have an address or anything, so I sent an email to the poster Jessica Southern at Fidelity Investors Group. When i got the email response, I realized it sounded fishy. The person just sent me the links to fill out the app and the link to get my credit check. I looked at the app and it wanted a crap load of private information: my bank info, the cars I drive, license plate no, driver license no, etc. I would never send anything like that over the net anyways, I prefer to do things of that manner in person. After I checked the email, I got into google and looked up Jessica at Fidelity; the first link that came up said “SCAM” and the next link was this one. I’m glad that I looked more into the situation before I fell victim to identity theft. Your post really helped, especially since all of these other people posting on here had similar stories, even the same check, Jessica! I feel sorry for all that get hurt from the scum on the net.
Same thing here.
Saw the *exact same ad* for a place in Raleigh/Durham, NC. Jessica Southern strikes again.
Luckily, I googled her name and found this before replying.
Thanks for nothing jessica!
Jessica Southern. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. There is no way I’m getting a nice, clean studio apartment for only $400 rent. Sorry.
Wow! How weird! There is a Jessica Southern in my area as well! What are the odds.
The scary part though, I would have gone for the ad but a ton of flags came up when she didn’t answer one question that I asked in my original email and just sent the typical email as mentioned above.
Thanks to everybody on this site, it confirmed everything. I do have to admit it was very nice sending her a response with my thoughts about her.
I got a reply from one of these guys with pictures of the house. The house was supposed to be in an industrial town in New Jersey, but they forgot to photoshop the palm trees in the background out. I must have laughed for a good 20 minutes.
Chad Kent is at it again in “North San Diego County.” Thanks for the info! I’m going to go flag it right now!
I too came across this guy, Chad Kent in a Bloomington, IL craigs list add and was suspicious. I was glad to see your postings.
thanks for the info –I was close –he hit allentown pa
Chad Kent – another posting in Abilene, Texas –
$765 / 2br – Large Home Available Today (Abilene) – he requested that we fill out an app and pull our own credit reports – has never responded to my request for a phone number to contact him – he works through email only. Nothing in Abilene Texas as nice as the pictures show is that cheap. I have sent 3 emails to him requesting contact and exact location info for the property listed and today have received no response. I googled his name by chance and found this posting. I have no turned in any of my info or forms to him and I will not unless I see an actually property and make direct contact in person with him. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to whoever submitted the original post.
————————————————————————–
Reply to:see below
Date: 2009-05-27, 12:16AM CDT
Home Extras:
Excellent Eating Area
Refinished Cabinetry in Kitchen Area and Living Room.
Countertops are Granite in Both Bathrooms and Kitchen Area.
Extra Large Two Bedroom Two Bathroom with Oversized Closets.
Frigidaire Clean Washer Dryer also included is a New Dishwasher and Frigidaire Fridge.
Extra Large Garage and Additional Parking.
Home is Ready for Move-In ChadK.Rentals@gmail.com
cats are OK – purrr
dogs are OK – wooof
Location: Abilene
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 1190825797
Haha, almost the exact same apartment available in Charlottesville, VA. I would never submit that kind of info without even seeing the place, but I’m glad I did some checking before wasting any more time.
$760 / 2br – Beautiful Unit Currently Available Tomorrow (Charlottesville)
Reply to:see below
Date: 2009-05-29, 9:04AM EDT
House Includes:
Beautiful Dining Room
Cabinets Refinished in the Cooking Area and Living Room.
Granite Surfaces in Both Bathrooms & Kitchen Area.
Extra Big 2 Bed 2 Bath with Large Closets.
Energy Star Newer Washer + Dryer also comes with Like New Dishwasher and Energy Star Fridge.
Extra Big Garage & A lot of Parking.
House is Move-In Ready ChadK.Rentals@gmail.com
* cats are OK – purrr
* dogs are OK – wooof
* Location: Charlottesville
* it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Glad I saw this, my friend (no, really, my friend!) saw this same type of ad here in N.J., only it was a bit more detailed w/the owners being missionaries in Africa for a few years, looking for a quick rental. My friend went so far as to try to contact the number listed, yes trying to call Africa! Her boyfriend and I kept telling her it was a scam but this appealed to her idealistic side. She had stopped looking for rentals, convinced that this was going to be her place.
I too am looking for something to rent, but feel I cannot trust anyone on Craig’s List. There are way better scammers than this one, such as someone trying to rent you their home that they are drowning in back mortgage payments in.
The old adage is true, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Emily
@mamasick
They even put up an ad for an apartment in Ames, IA! I figured it was a scam so i just emailed “Jessica” back saying that i had my credit report and was ready to look at the apartment. It’ll be interesting what she says (probably won’t reply though).
oh ya, and on their website had many links on how to protect your identity including several videos from Foxnews and others. The IRONY!!
OMG!! I am so glad that I googled Chad Kent and Fidelity Investment Group! I found an ad for a house here in Denver on Craigslist so I e-mailed him and go the very same “fill out the rental app and bring your credit report” response. He then said to call him when I had both, don’t e-mail him, but he conveniently left off his phone number. I am so glad I didn’t fall for this scam. Oh and when I went to look the ad up again this morning (less than 12 hours after seeing it on craigslist) it’s nowhere to be found!
This woman took lots of monies from me…. ahhh so many of my monies, and then I gets nothing…nothing from Ms Jessica, she just disapear…awhhhh….
So encountered this guy in Bellingham WA, I filled out the credit report through mysecurecreditreport.com , is this also part of the scam, he told me NOT to email him the information, is there some other way he can access it at this point? I have not sent him anything but now I am concerned. Help?
Chris C. – It is probably too late, if they want your info my assumption is they already have it.
I didn’t even click on the free credit report part, I already knew my score.
The free credit site is provided by them, so when you put in your information its only going to their database.
Whois Data: Locked their name out.
[Querying whois.internic.net]
[Redirected to whois.enom.com]
[Querying whois.enom.com]
[whois.enom.com]
=-=-=-=
Visit AboutUs.org for more information about fidelityinvestorsgroup.com
Registration Service Provided By: NameCheap.com
Contact: support@NameCheap.com
Visit: http://www.namecheap.com/
Domain name: fidelityinvestorsgroup.com
Registrant Contact:
WhoisGuard
WhoisGuard Protected ()
Fax:
8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #110 – 732
Westchester, CA 90045
US
Administrative Contact:
WhoisGuard
WhoisGuard Protected (39d2937c7bb24a1bbaf0818ab6c5972f.protect@whoisguard.com)
+1.6613102107
Fax: +1.6613102107
8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #110 – 732
Westchester, CA 90045
US
Technical Contact:
WhoisGuard
WhoisGuard Protected (39d2937c7bb24a1bbaf0818ab6c5972f.protect@whoisguard.com)
+1.6613102107
Fax: +1.6613102107
8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #110 – 732
Westchester, CA 90045
US
Status: Locked
Name Servers:
ns1.dreamhost.com
ns2.dreamhost.com
ns3.dreamhost.com
Creation date: 09 Feb 2009 00:20:36
Expiration date: 09 Feb 2010 00:20:36
I was expecting Hong Kong, but could be a shell company.