Rental email scam targets Green Valley

Special to the Green Valley News

Homeowners eager to rent out their homes for the summer have been hearing from potential international clients by email. They should hit the delete button.

Dave Van Thull, a Quail Creek resident who owns Quail Creek LLC and two rental web sites, said several of his clients have received email inquiries claiming to be from Africa that are full of warning signs.

“Any time you receive emails with misspellings or inappropriate use of lower case, this is a sure sign they are uneducated or speak English poorly,” he said.

The e-mail reads in part: “I am mr hassan yao and i would like to rent your property for a Stay in your country… I intend to come to your country on 7th april and i would like to rent your property For the period from 7th april 2009 to 7th October 2009.”

The writer asks about rental fees, lease information and bank information.

“They say they will send the money, and the check will bounce,” Van Thull said. “In the interim, before the check bounces, they will ask for a refund.”

Since the scam originated outside the U.S. there is no clearinghouse for reporting the fraud, Van Thull said. His two web sites (QuailCreekRental.com and GreenValleyAz-rentals.com ) mention that in this area residents must be 55 or older with a minority of residents over 40. Scammers, aware that seniors are vulnerable targets, could be focusing their bogus promises of long-term rentals locally, he said.

Van Thull said this is the first time he has received emails like this and said several homeowners listed with him have received it.

“If the inquiry is from a foreign address, best to just delete it,” Van Thull said. “If from Europe, you might consider it but only with an ironclad method of payment. If from Africa, absolutely forget it.”

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.