by allisonzoes
I am moving to Prague for six months to study. In the spring I posted a housing wanted post on Craigslist.cz just to see what kind of housing would be available. I got a response from someone named John Collins within not too long. Here is his first email:
Hello,
I have a good looking and fully furnished studio for rent in a secure
neighborhood in Prague. The studio is within easy access to public
transportation and many places of interest and other side attractions.
The studio is equipped with all the necessary facilities such
as satellite TV, Washing machine,dryer,dish washer, cutlery,pots,
pans etc are all available. Internet is readily available and accessible
The studio is open to both short and long term lease.
I'm willing to rent it out at CZK8500 per month with all bills included.
The pictures are attached for your viewing.
Get back to me if you are interested.
Regards.
John
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original craigslist post:
http://prague.craigslist.cz/hou/3824856200.html
About craigslist mail:
http://craigslist.org/about/help/email-relay
Please flag unwanted messages (spam, scam, other):
http://craigslist.org/mf/65aaf911a5f26f ... 780dbd4b.3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
Could you give me the address of the place so I can know its location with respect to my school? Would it be available from mid-september to mid-february?
Thank you,
Allison
-------
Hi Allison,
The apartment is located on Rytí?ská 5, Prague 01, Prague. Well
connected to efficient public
transportation network. The unit will be available during the stated
period. Where are you at the moment?
John
--------------
Hello John,
Right now I'm in the United States, but will be flying out to London on the 13th where I will be until the end of July. I will be traveling in Turkey and Greece in August and arriving in Prague on September 16th.
I would very much like to rent from you, but do not feel comfortable making any transactions before meeting you or seeing the space. If it is still available come September I would very much like to meet with you once I am in Prague.
Thank you so much,
Allison
-------------------
Hi Allison,
Thanks for the clarification, the unit will be available during the
period mentioned. I understand your concerns quite well, and since
you're coming from the US i can provide reference from a past tenant
who's also in the US. I will also arrange for the payment to be made
into a US bank account so you will not have to make an overseas
transfer and it will also act as a form of protection.
-----------------
At this point I didn't respond until about a month ago when I sent an email to check of the apartment was still available and to let John know that I would be arriving in month (earlier than I'd initially said). John responded with this:
Hi Allison,
Yes, the unit is still available and everything can still goes as I
mentioned previously.
John
----------------
I showed both of my parents this and my dad said he thought it seemed safe and that I we could pay a small deposit to secure he place for when I arrived. I suggested this to John and asked about the reference he had mentioned earlier. His response:
Hi Allison,
I can reserve the unit for you upon payment of small deposit. I can
send you a reference from a past tenant who's also in the US or how do
you suggest we proceed?
John
-------------
Another email after more discussion about a deposit and the reference:
Hi Allison,
You can go ahead and contact Alfred Rehutai from the State of Michigan
at [email protected]. The deposit is half of the first month rent
and the balance would be paid at the point of moving in.
John
-----------
Here is the email exchange between myself and the former tenant:
Hello Alfred,
My name is Allison, I am a student about to move to Prague for five months and am considering renting a studio apartment from John Collins. He gave me your contact information as a reference since I will not be able to meet him or see the apartment before putting down a deposit. Could you give me some information on renting from John? Please and thank you.
Allison
Hello Allison,
I rented the studio during the summer of 2011 and it was a lovely experience. The apt is well furnished, located in a decent area which gives access to everything that matters and John is a great landlord. I will advise you to go ahead and rent the place.
Cheers,
Alfred
Then these are more emails from John about how to send money and the rent:
Hi Allison,
Yes, the rent is 8500 and there is also a security deposit to be paid,
although it is 100 percent refundable at the point of moving out. The
down payment goes to my niece in California, I'll speak to her shortly
in order for me to know the best way for her to receive the payment.
John
Hi Allison,
I will be open to co-sign with your father since i assume he's the one
that will be paying the rent.
I have spoken with my niece as regards the payment and she said it
will be better for her to receive via Western Union.
Here is her details,
Barbara Hutchings
12 Young St
Bakersfield, CA 93313.
You will get back to me with the sender's first and second name, total
amount sent and the Money Transfer Control Number.
John
My mom sent the deposit via Western Union and it was picked up by someone named Addie King. I emailed John letting him know I'd be arriving to Prague soon and I got this response:
Hi Allison,
Yes, payment has been received but i will not be around in Prague
during the time of your visit as i will be in Asia attending to
business.
John
At this point we assumed we had been scammed so my mom sent an email asking for the money to be wired back and we got this response:
I never said I won't be around on the move in date. Ann, relax,
everything is gonna be okay. I'm only dealing with some family issues
at this time.
John
My mom then asked when he would be in Prague and didn't get a response so I also emailed him and got this response a couple days ago:
Hi Allison,
Relax, I'll try to be available by the time you arrive in Prague and
if I can't meet with you, I'll delegate that to someone else. Sorry
for the delay in response, been busy with personal issues.
John
I responded letting him know exactly when I'd be arriving and asked when someone would be able to show me the place and haven't heard back. At this point I am very confused because it seems like he wouldn't keep responding if it was a scam since he already has our money. I am in the middle of discussing renting another place and don't know whether to rent said other place when I arrive to prague (two days from now) or to wait to hear from John. Is there anything he could gain from continuing to respond to our messages if he is a scammer? Is he a scammer?
Please help. Thank you.
Hello,
I have a good looking and fully furnished studio for rent in a secure
neighborhood in Prague. The studio is within easy access to public
transportation and many places of interest and other side attractions.
The studio is equipped with all the necessary facilities such
as satellite TV, Washing machine,dryer,dish washer, cutlery,pots,
pans etc are all available. Internet is readily available and accessible
The studio is open to both short and long term lease.
I'm willing to rent it out at CZK8500 per month with all bills included.
The pictures are attached for your viewing.
Get back to me if you are interested.
Regards.
John
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original craigslist post:
http://prague.craigslist.cz/hou/3824856200.html
About craigslist mail:
http://craigslist.org/about/help/email-relay
Please flag unwanted messages (spam, scam, other):
http://craigslist.org/mf/65aaf911a5f26f ... 780dbd4b.3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
Could you give me the address of the place so I can know its location with respect to my school? Would it be available from mid-september to mid-february?
Thank you,
Allison
-------
Hi Allison,
The apartment is located on Rytí?ská 5, Prague 01, Prague. Well
connected to efficient public
transportation network. The unit will be available during the stated
period. Where are you at the moment?
John
--------------
Hello John,
Right now I'm in the United States, but will be flying out to London on the 13th where I will be until the end of July. I will be traveling in Turkey and Greece in August and arriving in Prague on September 16th.
I would very much like to rent from you, but do not feel comfortable making any transactions before meeting you or seeing the space. If it is still available come September I would very much like to meet with you once I am in Prague.
Thank you so much,
Allison
-------------------
Hi Allison,
Thanks for the clarification, the unit will be available during the
period mentioned. I understand your concerns quite well, and since
you're coming from the US i can provide reference from a past tenant
who's also in the US. I will also arrange for the payment to be made
into a US bank account so you will not have to make an overseas
transfer and it will also act as a form of protection.
-----------------
At this point I didn't respond until about a month ago when I sent an email to check of the apartment was still available and to let John know that I would be arriving in month (earlier than I'd initially said). John responded with this:
Hi Allison,
Yes, the unit is still available and everything can still goes as I
mentioned previously.
John
----------------
I showed both of my parents this and my dad said he thought it seemed safe and that I we could pay a small deposit to secure he place for when I arrived. I suggested this to John and asked about the reference he had mentioned earlier. His response:
Hi Allison,
I can reserve the unit for you upon payment of small deposit. I can
send you a reference from a past tenant who's also in the US or how do
you suggest we proceed?
John
-------------
Another email after more discussion about a deposit and the reference:
Hi Allison,
You can go ahead and contact Alfred Rehutai from the State of Michigan
at [email protected]. The deposit is half of the first month rent
and the balance would be paid at the point of moving in.
John
-----------
Here is the email exchange between myself and the former tenant:
Hello Alfred,
My name is Allison, I am a student about to move to Prague for five months and am considering renting a studio apartment from John Collins. He gave me your contact information as a reference since I will not be able to meet him or see the apartment before putting down a deposit. Could you give me some information on renting from John? Please and thank you.
Allison
Hello Allison,
I rented the studio during the summer of 2011 and it was a lovely experience. The apt is well furnished, located in a decent area which gives access to everything that matters and John is a great landlord. I will advise you to go ahead and rent the place.
Cheers,
Alfred
Then these are more emails from John about how to send money and the rent:
Hi Allison,
Yes, the rent is 8500 and there is also a security deposit to be paid,
although it is 100 percent refundable at the point of moving out. The
down payment goes to my niece in California, I'll speak to her shortly
in order for me to know the best way for her to receive the payment.
John
Hi Allison,
I will be open to co-sign with your father since i assume he's the one
that will be paying the rent.
I have spoken with my niece as regards the payment and she said it
will be better for her to receive via Western Union.
Here is her details,
Barbara Hutchings
12 Young St
Bakersfield, CA 93313.
You will get back to me with the sender's first and second name, total
amount sent and the Money Transfer Control Number.
John
My mom sent the deposit via Western Union and it was picked up by someone named Addie King. I emailed John letting him know I'd be arriving to Prague soon and I got this response:
Hi Allison,
Yes, payment has been received but i will not be around in Prague
during the time of your visit as i will be in Asia attending to
business.
John
At this point we assumed we had been scammed so my mom sent an email asking for the money to be wired back and we got this response:
I never said I won't be around on the move in date. Ann, relax,
everything is gonna be okay. I'm only dealing with some family issues
at this time.
John
My mom then asked when he would be in Prague and didn't get a response so I also emailed him and got this response a couple days ago:
Hi Allison,
Relax, I'll try to be available by the time you arrive in Prague and
if I can't meet with you, I'll delegate that to someone else. Sorry
for the delay in response, been busy with personal issues.
John
I responded letting him know exactly when I'd be arriving and asked when someone would be able to show me the place and haven't heard back. At this point I am very confused because it seems like he wouldn't keep responding if it was a scam since he already has our money. I am in the middle of discussing renting another place and don't know whether to rent said other place when I arrive to prague (two days from now) or to wait to hear from John. Is there anything he could gain from continuing to respond to our messages if he is a scammer? Is he a scammer?
Please help. Thank you.
