Potential Renter, possible scam?

[ocowner]

I've received the following post regarding a unit I have listed on the rental board. Does it sound legit? I have deleted the names of the email sender.

Hello,
I am (xxxxx).I am interested in purchasing your (FOR RENT) advertised on the net.I checked and confirmed it's gonna serve me a great deal.I will like to view the jpg pic's.I will want you to send me a detailed information of your terms of payment Or If a Bank Certified Cheque will go through for the Payment of The item as stated above which will be verify within 2 working days or same day you deposited it.You can forward your mailing details as given below: Your Full Name for the cheque to be issued,Your Full Residential Address where the cheque will be sent to and Your Contact Phone Number.The cheque will be issued and sent to you as soon as possible with the Information you will provide.The last price you are willing to rent the item.Awaiting your response.Pls Get back to me Via email and get back to me with your full contact details on where the cheque will be sent to....

full name...
address....
city....
state....
zipcode...
phone number....needed so much......
country....

COS i want to complete these transaction within a short period of time.

 

[king1]

If it quacks like a duck......
I can hear this one quacking from here!!

 

[ocowner]

I thought it looked suspicious. But, there is only an inquiry for address info. That's what led me to believe it may be for real. What's the motive behind these emails?

 

[Dave M]

Ultimately, they will send you what appears to be a certified check for more than your asking price, requesting that you send the difference to them or a third party. You'll deposit the check and it will (apparently) clear. Then you will send the excess amount as instructed. Because their check will likely be drawn on a foreign bank it will be weeks later when their fraudulent check gets charged back to you and you'll be another of their fraud victims.

This fraud has been discussed frequently on this forum and is mentioned in one of the sticky threads at the top of the list of topics for this Buying, Selling, Renting forum.

You should ignore the message. However, if you choose to respond, simply say you have more than one week listed and ask which week they are referring to. That will likely end the correspondence.