First, they source their rentals from scam websites like Housesforrent.ws, which ONLY allows listings to be taken down by the person who posted the listing. So let's say someone posts a listing pretending to be the owner of, oh, I don't know, my parents' home. Despite flagging this rental on Oodle twice already, they still haven't removed it.
I believe that this website is probably owned by the same person who runs Housesforrent.ws and other fraudulent websites because Oodle lists these websites as sponsored. Their business model is probably to let people post whatever they want, increasing their web traffic (and therefore ad revenue) by drawing in unsuspecting saps. My parents complain that at least once every couple of days someone drives into their fairly private property. I feel much worse, though, for the poor sap that actually falls for these types of listings and websites.
Besides the usual methods (visiting the rental, etc), one way you can avoid these rental scams is to check if the contact/company's name on the listing matches the name given on the property's tax record. You can do that by going to the corresponding county tax assessor's office's website (search:______ county tax assessor). It's also a good negotiating tool if, given a legitimate listing, you think the rental price is too high.
The other, more important measure is to use privacy-oriented search engines like DuckDuckGo and stop using Google. I was only able to find out about this stupid website because one of the first rental inquirers managed to tell me about HousesforRent, which led me to Oodle. I imagine that the people who come across Oodle already have their searches biased based on their personal search history. Even after finding out the name of its equally stupid, affiliated website, it took me a long time to find it using Google because I don't have a history of searching for (shady) rentals. By using DuckDuckGo, you have a much better chance of avoiding these stupid, scam-driven websites altogether. (At the very least, if you're going to use Google, go incognito/private browsing and DON'T log into your email or Google account - your internet activity and searches will be tracked and you'll end up causing somebody to write a long review about a stupid website).
I contacted 4 or 5 different people today, advertising pure-bred kittens at a very low price. Most were charging $500 or even less for these kittens and the photos were showing absolutely adorable, top of the line examples of these kittens. After about 45 minutes, I realized that every one of these sellers were running a scam. They all followed the same formula:
1. I texted one seller who posted that they lived in Brooklyn. This was Awemba, who was selling a Siamese kitten. When I wrote that I lived in Manhattan and I would like to come meet the seller and the kitten, he/she texted back that they were no longer living in Brooklyn they had just moved to the mid-west for a new job. The date the ad was posted was today - they obviously didn't realize I would see that. I was told the kitten would be shipped to me without any extra charge. As soon as I said I would not buy a kitten sight unseen, they dropped all communication.
2. A woman named Cynthia L. Was selling a Bengal & wrote that she lived in Trumbull, CT. Again, I texted that I would like to come meet. She wrote feel free to call - when I called I got an announcement that I should leave a message for Juan. "Cynthia's" area code was not a Connecticut number - it was the area code for San Antonio, Texas.
3. Dorothy C. Posted a photo of a gorgeous purebred Bengal that every breeder is selling for $2,500, which is the going price for these kittens. She was selling her kitten for $400. She also wanted to ship the kitten, with payment up front.
4. David F. Had a similar story - when I contacted him, his name was now Lee Wange (no explanation offered) and he was in Las Vegas with the kittens of his deceased mother so he would have to ship them. These were the terms he sent:
"When you email me the information's, we shall prepare the change of
Ownership papers before we do the delivery registration with the
Carrier. And i also note that it will cost you $500 before the kitten
Including the delivery and sale fee and you will be making the
Payment directly and UPFRONT FIRST to the delivery agency. Then you will be
Contacted by the shipping carrier and they will tell you exactly the
Arrival time of the kitten to your doorstep and I will send all the
Paper works for the kitten together with the health certificates and
Ownership papers."
I can't imagine anyone naive enought to send money under these terms! There were 2 more cases like this. All had the same method. These are all frauds. I hope this helps potential buyers to avoid getting scammed.
Don't send money to any seller who is going to ship the merchandise (of any kind) to you after your check or money order clears. Don't buy any pets on line if you don't get to see the seller and the pet in person.
We SAw on oodle an anouncement about beautiful macaw,( Adèle Adeline) we texted them, they were supposed to be to New York, close to our house,, and the person said i live to Minneapolis, but i can send you the parrot... Well another phone texted me during the afternoon, this time from California. He said my wife cell 's died, no battery (Minneapolis) i used mine ( California). Send me all your information, adress, phone, mail adress, closest airport, and you will have to pay directly the shipping agency.
Me: When do you want to ship the macaw? He will arrive this afternoon in about 4 hours from now...( woooowwhhhhhhhhaaaat?)
Me: we need time to organise ourself, we can not have the bird today.
You need Nothing, he will be delivered right at your door with the big crate, food and all the papers for only 500 plus 200 shipping...( yeepeee santa claus)
Sttttttooooooooooooppppp!
Please when you try to $#*! people, be more smart than this...
Ps. Sorry if mistakes i come from france
First of all This fu$@g website is a complete scam.
Its sick that someone allows this site to continue to let scammers, liars, and thiefs take advantage of People. How can people be that cruel? It's Like basically violating another human being its so sad for thoes that are not as quick to catch the scam and buy into it, and fall for the scam.
People scam all over the world every day. And they target the ones who don't know.
They always want to deliver the dog but you pay a "small" "shipping fee"... 0_o my $#*!!
Some of us really have good intentions. There are sooo many red flags that people need to be aware of.
I have been visiting this site (unfortunately) for some time now, everyone wants to believe there are still honest people out there... well, it wasn't this site exactly but looking through here I and other sites a year ago I found my Isabella. She's an all black teddy bear, weighs no more than six lbs. Healthy as can be, came with papers and I even signed legit paperwork. She cost me $450. I got her proof of parents. Her shot records and all other info a pet owner needs. She also included a smallzip lock bag with food.
I live in Wisconsin and I drove six hours away just to pick her up and boy was it worth it.
She's the best companion anyone could ask for She's well behaved and oh so spoiled.
This lady had been in business over 10 years.
Had all dogs well maintained, and there were no signs of mistreatment towards the animals.
I was very skeptical about taking that risk, such a long drive, Had to keep in mind that either it's a lie or things could go wrong. Still I went with my gut feeling. And fyi. Before just taking off. I talked to the lady on the phone, saw several pictures of the dogs she had available, and she has her website. We talked for about 35 min before I felt it was safe.
To make the trip.
1. I made sure she had a real phone #
2. I spoke with her on the phone
(Not that sorry can't talk only text bs)
3. Not once did she say she was relocating, couldn't afford it, had a dying mother, husband was in Afghanistan, son is alergic...
4. All the pictures she sent me were real.
Had backgrounds, had other dogs near by,
BIG EXAMPLE:...
She would hold the puppies and a noticeable butterfly was tattooed on her hand.
(Which I saw when I picked Isabella up)
These were some things that people can keep in mind when usingwebsites to buy a dog or animals of any sort.
Well I had been looking into getting another puppy for some time now. And like before since I had no experience with this site I actually trusted it and felt well if things went well with her maybe this one could too.
So yesterday. An add for Yorkshire terrier male and female available. $300 each or $600 both. I was interested in the girl.
I text several numbers that were provided for these "fake pictures" I fell for. Almost all responded with the same stories I don't see how this time I didn't see the red flags.
One lady asked me several questions and then apologized saying that she was just ensuring her babies would go to a good home. When I asked her to call me she said she couldn't no phone calls at work. Then I actually waited until after four to ask her to call me then, and she Said no but I will later
I RESPONDED TO AN AD TO PURCHASE A BENGAL KITTEN IN LOS ANGELES FOR $300- THE RESPONSE CAME FROM *******@GMAIL.COM, THE OWNER OF THE KITTEN THEN ADVISED HE IS LOCATED IN CRESCENT CITY CALIFORNIA AND WOULD NEED TO SHIP THE KITTEN TO ME--- HIS PHONE NUMBER IS *******554, I WOULD NEED TO PAY THE TRANSPORT COMPANY THE $300 TO SHIP THE PET AND THEY REQUESTED THE MONEY GRAM TO BE SENT TO JOSEPH SPENCER IN MARYLAND SAYING THAT WAS THE PROCESSING CENTER, THIS COMPANY STARTED TEXTING ME FROM THIS NUMBER IS *******848 ASKING FOR A MONEY GRAM PAYMENT, I REQUESTED THEIR WEBSITE TO VERIFY THEIR BUSINESS IS LEGITIMATE, THEY GAVE ME: WWW.SAFEPETTRANSPORT.NET, IMMEDIATELY I SAW RED FLAGS SUCH AS NO ADDRESS LISTED ANYWHERE ON THE WEBSITE, THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE WEBSITE WAS NOT THE ONE CONTACTING ME AND THEY WERE USING A CELL PHONE FOR BUSINESS USE, NOT A REAL 800 NUMBER, THEY ALSO WERE USING A GMAIL ACCOUNT INSTEAD OF A REAL BUSINESS EMAIL DOMAIN.
THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS IS: *******@GMAIL.COM WHICH IS ANOTHER RED FLAG BECAUSE THEIR EMAIL HAS A DIFFERENT COMPANY NAME AND LOGO THAN THEIR WEBSITE.
I THEN QUESTIONED THE CARRIER SERVICE ASKING FOR DOCUMENTS TO PROVE THE KITTEN WAS REALLY AT THEIR FACILITY READY TO SHIP, I REQUESTED A PHOTO OF THE CAT IN THEIR CARE, A RECEIPT OF THE REGISTRATION PAPER THE OWNER SUPPOSEDLY PAID $30 FOR REGISTERING THE CAT WITH THEM TO SHIP.
WHEN I QUESTIONED THE CARRIER COMPANY WHY THEY USE GMAIL INSTEAD OF A REAL DOMAIN THEY SAID WE ONLY USE OUR DOMAIN FOR HTML EMAIL, WHICH THEY HAD ALREADY SENT AN HTML EMAIL FROM THEIR GMAIL SO THAT WAS A LIE.
I TOLD THEM I WOULD NOT SEND MONEY GRAM BECAUSE IT IS NOT RECOVERABLE IF THIS IS FRAUD, THEY THEN ASKED FOR MY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD INFORMATION BY TEXT ALONG WITH THE LAST 5 OF MY SSN. I REFUSED. THIS IS ALL COMMUNICATION VIA TEXT WITH THIS CARRIER COMPANY.
I CONTACTED THE KITTEN OWNER BY TEXT AND SAID PLEASE PICK YUP YOUR KITTEN, I DO NOT WANT TO WORK WITH THIS CARRIER COMPANY.
HE SAID NOW I AM OUT $30 FOR REGISTERING THE PET...
THEN I REQUESTED PROOF FROM THE CARRIER COMPANY TO PROVIDE PROOF OF RECEIPT FOR THE REGISTRATION INCLUDING THE OWNERS HOME ADDRESS AND FULL NAME, THEY SENT OVER A ELECTRONIC RECEIPT WHICH DIDNT HAVE A SIGNATURE THAT MATCHES THE OWNER NAME, IT COMPLETELY LOOKED LIKE FRAUD.
THEN I REQUESTED THE ACTUAL LOCATION ADDRESS FOR THE CARRIER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND SAID I AM ASKING TOO MUCH QUESTIONS.
THEN I REPLIED BY EMAIL TO THE CARRIER COMPANY TO STOP CONTACTING ME BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WAS A SCAM AND NOT TO CONTACT ME AGAIN, THEY STARTED TO HARASS ME BY EMAIL:
On Jul 17,2015, at 7:38 AM, Lauren
Your company is a scam don't contact me again
Lauren
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 17,2015, at 6:50 AM, unitedship safepettransport <*******@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Client,
We now know they sent you, tell the person who sent you to trouble our agency that you people all of you your plans wont succeed. You ask a receipt, picture of the kitten. We asked you if those are all the information you need and nothing else you say yes we send it to you, you come up with another bloody question sure if we give you, which we can do you will come up with another useless question. We do not even know how on this earth you had the luck of trying to buy a pure breed bengal kitten from your sender at $300. You sender must be in a deep financial problem or surely he should be into drugs. The value of the kitten is worth over $2000, we do not understand if your charmed your sender to let you have a pure breed bengal kitten for that amount. Its not normal you must be into witchcraft and surely has used one to your sender
On Fri, Jul 17,2015 at 12:11 AM, Lauren
What is the address for your crescent city location where the kitten was dropped off at?
Lauren
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jul 16,2015, at 2:57 PM, unitedship safepettransport <*******@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Registration receipt and pics of Paul
>
>
>
THEN THEY REPLIED AND SAID THEY WILL SEE ME IN COURT.
From: unitedship safepettransport <*******@gmail.com>
To: Lauren
Sent: Friday, July 17,2015 7:00 PM
Subject: Re: Registration receipt and pics of Paul
Like we said we meet in court you are going to bring your own website expert who knows how to build a website that made you access our website as rubbish. Also the receipt we sent to you and other details you asked us might be you needed those information to use and defraud people. Get a good lawyer and to face our company lawyers. We evidence of all the poor insulting words and messages you have been sending us, what we will want you proof to us those words
I REPLIED THAT I AM FILING A POLICE REPORT FOR HARASSMENT AND FOR THEM TO LEAVE ME ALONE!
I TEXTED THE OWNER OF THE KITTEN AND REQUESTED THE ADDRESS WHERE HE SUPPOSEDLY DROPPED OFF THE KITTEN AND HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE ADDRESS AND SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT UP WITH HIM. AND DIDNT WANT TO BE INVOLVED, HE IS COMPLETELY INVOLVED IN THIS SCAM.
SO END OF STORY I AM NOT GOING TO REPLY TO THEM AGAIN, THEY HARASSED ME BY EMAIL AND THEY ARE A COMPLETE SCAM.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS SITE!!! SCAMMERS EVERY WHERE!!