Since: Monday, February 7, 2011

Email Address: davidmpittonrocketmail.com

Post Title: $700 / 3br - Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on for rent in (Grand Junction CO)

Location: western slope

States affected: CO - colorado    

Notes:
I was searching on Craigslist for a place to rent. I came across a listing for a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath for $700. I sent an e-mail to this person asking if the house was still for rent and what utilities were included in the price of the rent. Below is the first e-mail that I received back:

Greetings!
Thanks for your email.. The house is still available. I decided to
rent the house because we are going to spend more time here in West
Africa , about 5 years.. Let me start by introducing myself.
I must confess that I am very new in this landlord business..
However, My name is David M Pitton . I and my wife own the house located at (659 Bradford Ct Grand Junction, CO 81504).Due to my job as a civil engineer, I works for a German company called JULIUS BERGER CONSTRUCTION CO., and now i have been transfer to West Africa to work in a branch in West Africa.I spent less time in the States so I could not get a hold on any Realtor to handle this rent issue, although it was when I knew how long we are going to stay in Africa that I decided to rent out the house. However,the initial plan was to sale out the House. which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell.The house include the utilities like Heat, A/C in wall/window, Hydro, cable, Garbage Disposal, Fireplace , Fridge, stove, Dishwasher, Dryer, Breakfast Bar, Dining Table and Sofa Set,Refrigerator,Canopied deck overlooking nature.,internet access e.t.c. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money , but want it to be clean and for you to take it as if it were yours.

The rent is: $700
Security Deposit: $1000
For this 3 BR/2.BA.
Pet are also Welcome.



PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

RENT APPLICATION FORM
FIRST NAME:__________________
MIDDLE NAME: _________________
LAST NAME: __________________
PROFESSION: ________________
PHONE () __________
(CELL)PHONE (____) __________
(WORK)PHONE () __________
(HOME)
KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE: ______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ___________
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________
IF YOU HAVE A PET,
NAME OF PET: _____________
KIND OF PETS: _____________
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE? ______________
DO YOU DRINK? ______________
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____

I did fill out the application and asked again what utilities were included in the price. This is the next email that I received

Hello,

thanks for getting back soon, i must confess that my family and i were very happy that you filled the form well and it is in a good condition for us to accept you as our new tenant, anyway we just want you to know that you can move in our house as soon as you want, and you can leave anytime you want, but before moving out you just have to inform us at least a month before you leave OK, so that we will be able to look for a new good tenant like you do, and i have conclude with my family to accept payment for the first month from you which is $700 and $1000 for security damage deposit the total amount is $1700 so that you can move in our house as soon as you want because my family are already willing to have you as our new tenant, and the package containing the keys and documentations will be delivered to you within 24hours through Courier Service to the address that you have provided when filling the lease application after your deposit is confirmed here. Here are the contents of the document..

1) Entrance and the rooms Keys?
2)Paper/Permanent house form?
3)The house documentary file?

so since you say that you are ready to move in our house now i will have to pack all the keys and document of the house together so that parcel will be shipped immediately, and we have make inquiries on how you can get the deposit to us and we are told that Money Transfer Facilities is the best way, also I will like Western Union Money Transfer, that will be better, I will advise you to pay now so that you can have all the keys and paperwork and moving! So get back to me and i will give you the information you will use to send the money to me you can also call me on this number+2347043327703 or 011-704-332-7703

Thanks and i hope to hear from you soon.
Best Regards

After receiving this e-mail, again I asked him what utilities were included and what we had to pay. Finally after another time of asking, he told me that all of the utilities were included in the price for rent. And he was also willing to work with my husband and I on the security deposit. In the midst of talking to him, I also e-mailed the Julius Berger Construction Co to verify his employment. My husband and I were both looking very forward into moving into this house, when I received an e-mail from Julius Berger today that stated they do not, and never have employed David Pittion. This made us search deeper into things where I found that another person had posted on here that they too had gotten the same e-mail. I am filing a report with our local police department and will definitely not be sending this person any money. I am so thankful for this web-site helping me to discover this scam and saving my family money!!!

Report to the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/