Matthew and Charlene Bennett, Matthew Bennett, Charlene Bennett Rental Housing Scammers Internet

I've been looking for rental housing in my area. This couple posted a realistic scenario on Craigslist. This is a community where people do come and go due to the nature of the businesses in the area so it was reasonable to see a couple looking for someone to rent their apartment after the husband had been transferred to Texas. The phone number they later provided via email has a Texas area code: (512)571-3680.

The first response I received to my inquiry was from the "husband" telling me to contact his "wife" directly at her personal email address - charbenn101@gmail.com - because he was out of town. I figured that meant he had already moved due to his job transfer and that she was still in the area looking for renters, so I emailed his wife as requested and asked for addional information and to see if I could schedule a visit.

She replied with a number of photos (which I have since found at a realtor's website). Her grammar and punctuation weren't clear, but what she did make clear was that they were looking for someone who would take good care of their apartment in their absence. In her emails, she also made it clear that neither of them were in the area and that they would have to send me their paperwork on the place as well as the key after I'd paid the deposit and sent them my personal information. (see below)

At this point, I responded that I am not comfortable renting without seeing the entire apartment first. That's when I received a very short email asking me to call them. I have not called them and will not call them. Thank you, RipOffReport for having this service. Within minutes after entering their names in a seach engine, I learned of their scam.

Here is a copy of one email they sent me: