Full Disclosure Finance

21 responses so far ↓

• 1 McLarty // Feb 12, 2008 at 7:41 pm

  Wow…I heard of this scam actually a while ago, and sortof rolled my eyes, and figured I’d be smart enough to not get scammed too. That being said, I’ve rented for 4 years and have actually preferred dealing with “international” tenants. I’ve never had a problem. But you’re e-mail chain story here highlights how real this actually is…so…thanks for sharing!

• 2 Wayne // Feb 23, 2008 at 7:45 pm

  Thanks so very much for this article. I have just been contacted by Joan B regarding a room I have to rent here in Melbourne, Australia. After recieving 2 emails from her, things definately didn’t add up.
  1. She say’s her father is American and her mother is Welsh, but her emails show that english isn’t first language.
  2. My add for the room was through a local university and she stated that she had just completed a Masters Degree in Nursing and was coming here for research. Unfortunately the university campus that I advertised on does not do any research work and definately has nothing to do with Medicine.

  So as the alarm bells rang I decided to put Joan_godisgood into my internet search engine and your article came up confirming what I had suspected. With this information I will now warn others and the relevent authorities here in Australia as well as the university concerned.

  Again thankyou for you article.

  Wayne…

• 3 Rita // Mar 28, 2008 at 5:58 pm

  Thanks for this posting. The person’s name with me is Yein and she is from China and her father is Eric Bergin and he lives in the UK. Yein is enrolling for her Masters in Accounting??? at Newcastle University NSW Australia.
  These people were also using another name with me to rent one of my rooms, hence posing as 2 different girls – Vivian. Who is 25 yrs old, who will pay for the deposit or bond. Her mom has a client in the US that owes her money and who has made a money order for the deposit and airfare of Vivian, which I will receive and then send back the money for vivian’s airfare.

  These people aren’t that smart. They clicked on I knew they were posing as 2 girls to get me, they sending inquires from Vivian’s email.

  All similar details to what you written here. It was strange from the beginning. Another thing too, I didn’t post any mailing address on the University’s student accommodation website and then all I’ve got a money order.
  I too received the e-mail of who and how to send the money transfer through western union, and that I’d receive a watch as a gift too. In response to this I replyed back;
  Hi Eric
  What is the name if your daughter? I have confusion of who the money is for….She will be arriving at Sydney airport? If she takes taxi it will cost over $300 to get to the accomadation…..all of which monies are dealt with through the real estate agent……To be honest I don’t like doing business this way…..

  After this reply to the scammers, I actually received a phone call from Eric, the father & a bogus phone to call back on,+447506173506 The voice is of asian accent.

  The money orders were stamped from TASMAINA, Australia & stamps on envelope from REPUBLIQUE DU BENIN.

  E-mails used: yeinwoo@yahoo.com
  ericbergin08@yahoo.com
  ericbergin08@gmail.com
  ericbergin08@googlemail.com
  vivian_peters101@yahoo.co.uk

  What got me here to this website, is that my sister suggested I Google the travel agents name.

  Thankyou for your posting..great help!!!

• 4 Justin // Apr 5, 2008 at 1:07 am

  Glad to hear the post is helping out.

  I am receiving 1 email per week that is clearly from this scam. I now reply:

  DO NOT CONTACT ME AGAIN

  It is actually quite funny to read all of the stories. I think someone should put them all together into a book or something. I can’t fault them on creativity!

  Appreciate the feedback,
  Justin

• 5 Bittner family // Apr 18, 2008 at 5:57 am

  Just had the same experience in country Victoria. Joan B. and Eric Bergin. Same story of needing accommodation, no money to lose. Obvious that English is a second language. Rang me one night to see if I had received their emails requesting the $2000 to be wired to London. Sounded Indian. Didn’t get any money from me, but hard to find a tenant mid-semester. Emails used Joan B joan_godisgood@yahoo.com

  Kathy, Ken and Toni

• 6 cory // May 28, 2008 at 10:34 am

  Wow! Our daughter just received a “CIBC money order for $4000.00″ via courier to pay for Shaun Harrington’s 1st and last month’s rent plus damage deposit and a request for her to use the accidental over payment to reimburse the shipper for his belongings that were on their way. “Shaun” was a 28 years old who was a contractor for “Oracle” that as it happens has no office in her town. She called me to ask about the money order (before being advised that she needed to pay his moving expenses) and I advised her to take it to CIBC who informed her it was a fraud and showed her the flaws in the cheque. As a university student looking for a roommate and posting it on Craig’s List it was a perfect opportunity for her to be taken advantage of. He had emailed her several times and called her 4 times. When she requested to speak to his employer he never replied to this request but kept persisting with presumptive emails that he would be moving in. His emails always ended with a “god bless” the last of which told a sad tale of how in the middle of his move his mother had lapsed into a coma… how tragic. While she is disappointed in being played it’s a great lesson learned very cheaply costing her nothing but time. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.

  “god bless”

  Cory B

• 7 Liz // Jun 15, 2008 at 10:06 am

  Well I am not one for falling for a scam but we had 2 rooms for rent and received letters from these addresses. They are all scams, lucky I clude in before anything happen. So please be were of these.
  ericbergin08@yahoo.com
  allgoods_inc@hotmail.com
  amy_banes@yahoo.com
  macks_fabrics001@yahoo.com
  grace.martins111@gmail.com
  cindyliverson@yahoo.com

  Please beware, they are good at what they do. One other issue they are getting the email addresses for rooms from the University’s and Colleges

• 8 Liz // Jun 15, 2008 at 10:14 am

  If any one has been getting emails from these sites, you can contact your local OPP or RCMP. Ask to speak to phone busters, they will take the information from you. Do not email these people back. If you do receive money please do not cash it, take it to the police right away.

• 9 Jen // Jun 16, 2008 at 8:24 pm

  I was contacted a month ago by a Debbie Banes (debbiebanes@yahoo.com) who stated she was from WI, looking for a room to rent and she would be going to the university here and wanted more info. I asked her several times when she was moving and she did not reply until I said I was re-listing the room. Messages from her and her “step father” Eric Bergin were almost exactly the same messages as the first post. I was getting suspicious since she was not forthcoming with info about when she was moving and never called me or gave me her phone number. I couldn’t find her in the university directory and started an online search for her and her step dad. When I googled her step dad’s email ericbergin08@yahoo.com I found these posts. She was supposed to have moved in by today or yesterday and she never showed up. She sent me an email stating she was still interested and asked us to hold the room. Obviously I am finding another roommate.

• 10 Sai Family // Jun 25, 2008 at 2:17 pm

  I was contacted a few weeks ago by a Debbie Banes (debbiebanes@yahoo.com), Stacey John (jstay01@gmail.com) who stated she was from WI, looking for a room to rent and she would be going to Richard Stockton College in NJ and wanted more info. I asked her several times when she was moving and needed more info before I would rent the house to her. She did not reply but state that money is not an issue. Messages from her and her “step father” Eric Bergin and Francis Sheen were almost exactly the same messages as the first post. I was getting suspicious since she was not forthcoming with info about when she was moving and never called me or gave me her phone number. I started an online search for her and her step dad. When I googled her step dad’s email ericbergin08@yahoo.com I found these postings. I called the FBI and they told me to send both checks to them for further investigation

• 11 Liz // Jul 3, 2008 at 2:07 pm

  FYI:

  Anyone that has a room for rent. Information you need to know. If you are renting a room to anyone who says that they are from over seas. Before giving them any information just a them to first provide you with a LETTER OF ACCCEPTANCE from the Canadian Embassy ( don’t tell them it has to be from the Canadian Embassy) if they have it they will provide you with a number on it. Also they must provide you with a student visa number.
  If they don’t do that don’t waste your time with them.

• 12 Liz // Jul 5, 2008 at 9:49 am

  FYI: Just to let you know, any student that comes to Canada to study. Must have a Letter of Acceptance from the Canadian Embassy and a valid passport, if they can not provide you with that then don’t waste your time on them.

• 13 jh // Aug 13, 2008 at 1:25 pm

  thanks for the info!! i just received an email from ‘debbie’

  Date: Tue, August 12, 2008 12:43 pm
  To: debbiebanes@yahoo.com
  Priority: Normal
  Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version | View Message details

  Hello,
  How are you doing today? My name is Debbie, i am a student from WI and i am
  coming to study at University of Missouri – St. Louis so i need a place to live
  asap, either furnished or unfurnished, so i got your email online that you have a
  place available for rent and i decided to get in touch with you so tell me
  everything about the place and i will appreciate if you send some pictures as well,
  tell me the price monthly, when it will be available and the terms of lease but i
  would love to rent for one year or more. Oh sorry i almost forget to tell you about
  myself. Where do i start, Ok my name is Debbie and i am 25 years old from WI, i am a
  gentle and respectful girl, i mind my own business, i don’t party and no night party
  either, i am neat and i don’t smoke too. Get back to me asap.
  Debbie

• 14 Nellie // Aug 15, 2008 at 6:52 pm

  Yes, I’m one of the stupid idiot, who was cheated with my hard earn cash. What I’m not clear, why did my bank – CIBC accepted it and after 2 weeks, they said it’s a fraud cheque. The money was deposited into my account and I waited almost 5 working days before I sent the money back to them. My tears and my money is dried now. what can I do?

• 15 Nellie // Aug 17, 2008 at 7:19 am

  The culprit will change their name and address.
  Hopefully, the law will catch up with them

• 16 maria // Aug 17, 2008 at 3:58 pm

  pls. pass the word around

• 17 hiral // Aug 28, 2008 at 2:19 pm

  thank you so much for this posting… Debbie Banes (debbiebanes@yahoo.com) emailed me asking for a place and i said it was still open but when i asked her for her phone # so we can talk on the phone instead of emails she never got back to me but she said she would mail the check asap which i never got and its been over a week so i googled her name and this is what i found thank you so much because now i found another room mate thanks

• 18 Craig // Sep 3, 2008 at 5:15 pm

  Debbie Banes has been emailing with a request to rent an apartment. Said the check has been sent. No check has arrived. Now she has her father, Steve Banes, emailing that he will be paying the rent. I’ve asked for a phone call but one never comes. What’s the point of this farce?

• 19 Craig // Sep 4, 2008 at 6:44 am

  Here’s the scam:Hello Craig Brigham,
  How are you doing today , thanks for your honest transparency am glad you did kept the unit for my Daughter and i hope you are aware she will be renting from Sept. 2008 to May 31st 2009, I will appreciate if the unit is all set for her move in for this date as am leaving town this weekend to secure my goods in transit and will love to make preparations for her transition over there. Please deduct $1,800.00 and help send the renaming half to our flight agent , she manages all our travel and tours through out the states. Please send the balance via moneygram money transfer (www.moneygram.com) to the name and address below. She needs the money to get my flight booked and pay for other travel expenses that will be incurred.

  Name———-vera zahradnick
  Address——-24 south 43rd street
  City———-milwaukee,
  State———wisconsin
  Zip code——53219

  A transfer fee wil be deducted from the remaining funds you are sending to our flight agent to get my Daughter’s flight booked , just fill out the information above in the form you will be given at a money gram location and as soon as you make the transfer pls email me with the Actual amount sent and the reference number . I will email you her flight itinerary as soon as the funds is picked up by Vera. Do let me know if you know how to use a money gram money transfer and email or me if there is any thing you do not understand or anything you need help with .
  I will also love to know if you will be able to pick her up at the Airport if it’s convenient for you after i must have emailed you her flight itinerary. I will be leaving for 3weeks later today and i have email her to get a bank account opened upon her arrival that way i can transfer to her the remaining rent fee and she can pay you all at once or on the first of each month pending on how you want it .

  Thanks a whole lot once again fo offering her a place to stay i really do appreciate it .

  Your Sincerely

  Steve Banes

• 20 Glenna Wood // Sep 8, 2008 at 12:06 pm

  My experience is almost word for word as the case from jh – #13.
  The girl’s name in this case is Rebecca Banes from WI. She also would not respond to repeated requests for her phone number, the course she was taking at Brock University, when she would be arriving, etc.

  The university website where I posted my room for rent had placed a ‘fraud warning’ and that was great.

  Eric’s e-mail address name originally (prior to the receipt of a bogus money order MoneyGram from The Republic of Benin) was “Lovely Daddy” – gave me shivers and he would sign his name as “Dad”

  I told these people (Rebecca and Eric) finally that I am not renting a room to them and they have repeatedly tried to contact me via e-mail. The girl “Rebecca” even e-mailed me supposed pictures of herself so that I would know what she looked like when she arrived.

  today, just for curiosity, I googled Eric Bergin – and got your web site. Thanks for your web site and information and what documentation foreign students require. Hopefully more people will be alerted to the efforts of these people.
  These people are not very original, but persistent.

  Was speaking with a woman from Ghana who informed me that Nigeria is the Fraud Capital of the world. People from Nigeria are prevented from opening a bank account in the UK. Now these people are going to different countries in Africa and trying their efforts under a different country name.
  The MoneyGram I received was sent from the Republic of Benin – a neighbouring country of Nigeria – from a supposed client of Mr. Bergin – who of course, according to Mr. Benin sent the wrong amount and I was requested to send 2/3rd of the total amount to England to Mr. Benin (away of business) to cover “Becky’s” air fair and expenses.

  I am grateful to the university for posting the Fraud Warning and to your web site to help alert myself and others to this scam.

• 21 Natsha Gurney // Sep 13, 2008 at 4:34 pm

  Well the same thing happened to me, his name was eric this time and her name was Victoria bell? We also got an email story from a Lucy evans and a lucy wilson, but with the lucy’s they asked me for my credit info so they could put the money into my visa account……………Thankfully i am not stupid and red flag and stopped talking to them at all. With Eric and Victoria it went on a little longer the latest is that Victoria got into a car accident and is in icu and in a coma, and i just got another email asking me to cash the check and return the money oh my hell! This person is evil and I feel so sorry for anyone who has been his victim!

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