This company, Free Credit Reports 24/7 .Org, has sank to a new low by creating a new AKA-Belkin Rentals.com-for the purposes of contacting Craigslist posters seeking housing.
I am running an ad on Craigslist in my hometown with very specific wording and stipulations regarding what I'm looking for in a new room to rent starting in 2010, things like WiFi, local-call phone privileges and location in transit authority service area.
I received this email, minus some redacted sentences (please note sender's "name", Bibby Bopp,what idiots!):
From:
Bibby Bopp ([email protected])
Greetings, I am a property manager with Belkin Incorporated and I think I may have the perfect property for you which is at the moment is still available to be occupied.
I viewed your posting and this property appears to meet everything you are looking for -yadda, yadda, yadda-
We don't perform an inquiry on your rental history or a backgruond check, however we do require a easy credit check. In order to be considered for this or any of our properties you need to have a current credit score of 450 or more. In certain cases I will grant an exception however you have to personally give me a printed copy of your credit report along with any explanation (Im very retrieve a copy of your credit report free of charge with the site below,
Free Credit Reports Online
We don't require a security deposit or pet deposit on this listing.
Unlike a lot of listings you will not be charged an app fee or credit checking fee because you are bringing your own.
Getting this listing off the market is my number one concern so if you do not act fast it could possibly be taken before you.
We should set up a time so that I can walk you through the listing either Tuesday or within the next few days. Appointments are handled in the manner they were received.
It's paramount that you retrieve your credit report BEFORE to your walkthrough and making your appointment day and time.
Thank You,
Here is our company's site http://www.belkinrentals.com/
Belkin INC First, I love how they claim to be a property management company yet do not require a security or pet deposit. If anything constituted "Too good to be true-so it isn't." It would be that if nothing else.
When you go to the "Belkin Rentals.com" site you see that this is a spoofed website with dummy pages designated:
HOME BLOG PHOTOS ABOUT LINKS CONTACT.
The only active button is "LINKS" which leads to
FreeCreditReports247.
I did a Who Is search on the "Belkin Rentals" domain and found that it was registered out of the Bahamas supposely.
N4892 Nassau
Bahamas
Tel: +852.81720004
Registrar: Internet.bs Corp.
Anyway, I hope this helps the right authorities and watchdogs steer
Troy,
Charleston,SC