Craigslist Mary Loveth Scam

Craigslist is just a plain haven of sleaze.

So I  tried to sublet my San Francisco apartment.

To get the ball rolling, I put on ad on Craigslist trumpeting my apartment to sublet scenario. (Yes, it’s always fun to sublet your apartment to random strangers who will most likely have sex in your bed).

Low-and-behold, I got this email response from maryloveth8@gmail.com:

Hello,

I’m Mary Loveth please i would like to know if the temporary

vacancy is still available for rent?

Find out what sorted details I’ve learned about Mary Loveth after the jump……..

The stilted English seems a little strange. Regardless I answered back; toting the fruits of that which is my San Francisco apartment. Mary Loveth once again emailed back, but using a slightly different gmail address: (maryloveth28@gmail.com instead of maryloveth8@gmail.com):

Well,i live in Alberta Canada….I’ll be traveling down to the states for my  vacation and project making,I am 28yrs of age…..I  want to know how many month sublet the place  is available for?and the rent deposit ? and when it is available to move in…. if there’s any form of me signing a lease then i will handle that aspect as soon as i make confirmation payment for the sublet to be secured  for me and when i finally arrive i can fill and be able to sign any lease  form..I Will be waiting to read  from you and will send you a pic of me in my  next email..

Mary Loveth

ARC RESOURCES LTD.

Suite 2100, 440 2nd Ave SW

Calgary, Alberta

T2P 5E9.

Still nothing too weird. The woman needs a place to stay during her “project making.” Then I got her follow up email. Mary Loveth kept her word; she provided a photo.  (“Note; attached are my picture for you to know who you are renting to.”) Here is Mary Loveth’s photo in the actual size she sent.

The email she (if it is a she) included read as follows:

Thanks so much for your prompt response……This is a little about me.I am into Gas and Energy resources.I will be ready to move in by  August 20th  …I am single and love my work…I am very happy for your reply that shows the kind of person i am renting from…..I’m really glad to have details about the room…its just great..its what i am looking for…you are God sent and the price is just perfect for me….i am an easy going lady and surely u will enjoy my stay in the states….i really want to promise u that we ll surely have the best of time..Here’s is just more about me…My name as you know…..Mary loveth

Hair: Black

Eyes: Brown

Age: 28yrs old

Height: 5′ 6″ (167cm)

Weight: 122 pounds (55.0 kg)

Body: Average

Activity Level: Active

Smoking: No

Drinking: No

Marital Status: Single

Children: I have no kids

Zodiac Sign: Picses

Languages I speak: English

Religion: Christian

My favorite cuisines: Indian, Italian, Japanese/Sushi, Mexican, Seafood,Soul Food, Thai, Vietnamese My favorite music: Dance/Electronics, Disco, Easy Listening, Pop/Top 40, Rap/Hip Hop, Soul/R&B and Soundtracks. My favorite physical activities: Basketball, Working Out, Dancing, Swimming and Hiking/Walking Well i would like you to provide me with your details so that i can pay you in advance and get everything secured before my arrival to the states..OK? so please i would like you to send me.

Your Full Name:

Address(Street Address,apt #,City,State and Zipcode:

and Phone number:

and as soon as i get this, i will have it forwarded to my boss and he would write you a check and send it to you asap I Would be waiting to hear from you asap…

Ok, a few strange things here. Mary Loveth claims that she works in the Gas & Energy field and the only language she speaks is English, yet she can’t even formulate a sentence. Also, why does she need her boss to write a check for her apartment?

The whole  tone and language of her email response seemed a little familiar; especially the heavy Christian aspect and how I am “God sent.”  It reminded me of the emails I get from people who claim to be wealthy princes in Nigeria who need my help to get millions out of their country.

So I did a little Google search under Mary Loveth. And ah-ha! Here’s what I got:

SCAMMER BEWARE= MARY LOVETH; ARC RESOURCE

So that’s where I’m at with Mary Loveth. I want to find out exactly what kind of scam she (most likely he) wants to pull on me so I’m going to continue to egg her (or him) on.

I’m pretty sure the type of scam Mary Loveth wants to pull with her “boss’s check” involves a combination of one of the following
1) Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier’s check

• you receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.
• cashier’s check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.
• value of cashier’s check often far exceeds your item – scammer offers to “trust” you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service
• banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
• scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)

2. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

• Scam “bait” items include apartments, laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets – but could be almost anything
• Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money – this is FALSE, once you’ve wired money, it is GONE.
• Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Netherlands – but could be anywhere
• Apartment listing may be local, but landlord/owner is “travelling” or “relocating” and needs you to wire money to them abroad
• Deal often seems too good to be true, price is too low, rent is below market, etc

How should we bait scam artist “Mary Loveth” along? I will keep everyone updated with daily posts involving Mary Loveth and her Craigslist scam.

Come back tomorrow for more wire transfer email cam fun!

Harmon Leon is Freedom Haters.org