Floyd and Caroleen Ferrell of Realty Executives/Ferrell Associates have avoided a property rental scam, and they want others to know about it.
“We did a little detective work, and it just didn’t sound quite right,” Caroleen said Friday in her office at 414 S. Bishop Ave.
“We’d just hate to see this happen to a little old lady or a young couple, anyone,” she said.
Caroleen Ferrell said she contacted the FBI, but they said they could do very little and offered the often-heard advice of “buyer beware.”
“We talked to the local FBI officer, Pat Cunningham, but, apparently, there’s not much they can do. I did file an on-line complaint with the FBI,” she said.
The scam began this way.
The Ferrells received an Internet reply to a rental advertisement for a duplex.
The man replying identified himself as Dr. Gibert Kenny, a professor who soon will be moving to Rolla.
Kenny first contacted the Ferrells via e-mail, saying he had seen the ad and wanted to rent the duplex and was willing to pay a year in advance for the lease.
In the initial email, Kenny said he was coming from the United Kingdom and wanted specific details about security deposit, monthly rental, electricity and utilities, and he even inquired as to whether there were broker fees.
“He signed off the e-mail, with thank you and God bless,” Floyd Ferrell said.
The Ferrells responded and was told a check would be forthcoming.
Ten days passed, and Floyd Ferrell fired off an e-mail to Dr. Kenny and on Dec. 29, first received a phone call and then an e-mail.
“It was believeable, at first,” Floyd Ferrell said. “As this progressed, it became more suspicious. Things just didn’t add up.”
Still, up to this point, the Ferrells were not out anything, so they continued to correspond.
The evening of Dec. 29, the Ferrells received an e-mail from Kenny, outlining his plans for arrival and reception of his furniture, which he had purchased.
In the e-mail, the man said his trustee would mail a check to the Ferrells for a full-year lease. Furthermore, the man identified himself as Prof. Clifford Kenny — not as Dr. Gibert Kenny — and his wife as Mrs. Janet Kenney.
He also said he did not want to be burdened with transporting furniture across the Atlantic, so he is buying new furniture. Furthermore, upon receipt of the $9,200 check the Ferrells received, he asked them to wire $2,850 for the balance of the furniture as it was soon to arrive.
The presumed Dr. Kenny writes in his e-mail:
“As you will be handling the delivery of those (sic) furniture for us, we ask our trustee to include the costs of our furniture with the rent payment and sent to you so you can help us make that payment when it is delivered,” the e-mail states.
“We really appreciate if you can do this for us and promise to compensate you adepquately for your time and efforts,” the e-mail reads.
Kenny writes he will arrive Jan. 6.
At this point, Jan. 6 arrives and the Ferrells still have not received a check.
“The check came on Saturday, Jan. 10,” Floyd Ferrell said. “Of course, that’s a day when you cannot check (on its validity).”
Like clockwork, on Monday, Jan. 12, the Ferrells receive an e-mail from Kenny, confirming receipt of a $9,200 payment to the Ferrells. It requests the Ferrells to wire money, via Western Union, to Debbie Ellis of 800 Madison Ave. in Harriman, Tenn., 37748.
The e-transmission requests FURNITURE FEE IS NEEDED TODAY . . .
This e-mail, and the others, do not sign off with a signature or name.
At this point, the Ferrells are contacting their bank, and the account on which the check is written is “on hold,” their banker tells them.
“It’s not a closed account. It’s on hold,” Caroleen Ferrell said.
The check came via FedEx from Peoria, Ariz., from Global Collect BV of 311 S. Water Drive in Chicago. The bank is La Salle Bank NA of 135 S. LaSalle, Chicago. (Even on the check there are variations of the spelling of La Salle — with and without the space.)
“There are all kinds of signs, if you look for them,” Floyd Ferrell said.
“The check came from Arizona. And it’s signed by Richard,” he said. “Who just signs a check as Richard?”
“If this were a legitimate customer, why wouldn’t they seek a local furniture store around here. We’ve got furniture stores here.
“It was pretty apparent it was a scam. They knew just how long a check would float,” Floyd Ferrell said.
The Ferrells who deal with hundreds of realty customers a year, fear someone who doesn’t have their experience might fall victim to this kind of dupe.
“We thought we’d bring it out in the open to let others know,” Caroleen Ferrell said. “We played along to expose this. We just don’t want this to happen to anyone.”
Persons who receive this sort of offer should contact the Rolla Police Department.
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Floyd and Caroleen Ferrell of Realty Executives/Ferrell Associates have avoided a property rental scam, and they want others to know about it.
“We did a little detective work, and it just didn’t sound quite right,” Caroleen said Friday in her office at 414 S. Bishop Ave.
“We’d just hate to see this happen to a little old lady or a young couple, anyone,” she said.
Caroleen Ferrell said she contacted the FBI, but they said they could do very little and offered the often-heard advice of “buyer beware.”
“We talked to the local FBI officer, Pat Cunningham, but, apparently, there’s not much they can do. I did file an on-line complaint with the FBI,” she said.
The scam began this way.
The Ferrells received an Internet reply to a rental advertisement for a duplex.
The man replying identified himself as Dr. Gibert Kenny, a professor who soon will be moving to Rolla.
Kenny first contacted the Ferrells via e-mail, saying he had seen the ad and wanted to rent the duplex and was willing to pay a year in advance for the lease.
In the initial email, Kenny said he was coming from the United Kingdom and wanted specific details about security deposit, monthly rental, electricity and utilities, and he even inquired as to whether there were broker fees.
“He signed off the e-mail, with thank you and God bless,” Floyd Ferrell said.
The Ferrells responded and was told a check would be forthcoming.
Ten days passed, and Floyd Ferrell fired off an e-mail to Dr. Kenny and on Dec. 29, first received a phone call and then an e-mail.
“It was believeable, at first,” Floyd Ferrell said. “As this progressed, it became more suspicious. Things just didn’t add up.”
Still, up to this point, the Ferrells were not out anything, so they continued to correspond.
The evening of Dec. 29, the Ferrells received an e-mail from Kenny, outlining his plans for arrival and reception of his furniture, which he had purchased.
In the e-mail, the man said his trustee would mail a check to the Ferrells for a full-year lease. Furthermore, the man identified himself as Prof. Clifford Kenny — not as Dr. Gibert Kenny — and his wife as Mrs. Janet Kenney.
He also said he did not want to be burdened with transporting furniture across the Atlantic, so he is buying new furniture. Furthermore, upon receipt of the $9,200 check the Ferrells received, he asked them to wire $2,850 for the balance of the furniture as it was soon to arrive.
The presumed Dr. Kenny writes in his e-mail:
“As you will be handling the delivery of those (sic) furniture for us, we ask our trustee to include the costs of our furniture with the rent payment and sent to you so you can help us make that payment when it is delivered,” the e-mail states.
“We really appreciate if you can do this for us and promise to compensate you adepquately for your time and efforts,” the e-mail reads.
Kenny writes he will arrive Jan. 6.
At this point, Jan. 6 arrives and the Ferrells still have not received a check.
“The check came on Saturday, Jan. 10,” Floyd Ferrell said. “Of course, that’s a day when you cannot check (on its validity).”
Like clockwork, on Monday, Jan. 12, the Ferrells receive an e-mail from Kenny, confirming receipt of a $9,200 payment to the Ferrells. It requests the Ferrells to wire money, via Western Union, to Debbie Ellis of 800 Madison Ave. in Harriman, Tenn., 37748.
The e-transmission requests FURNITURE FEE IS NEEDED TODAY . . .
This e-mail, and the others, do not sign off with a signature or name.
At this point, the Ferrells are contacting their bank, and the account on which the check is written is “on hold,” their banker tells them.
“It’s not a closed account. It’s on hold,” Caroleen Ferrell said.
The check came via FedEx from Peoria, Ariz., from Global Collect BV of 311 S. Water Drive in Chicago. The bank is La Salle Bank NA of 135 S. LaSalle, Chicago. (Even on the check there are variations of the spelling of La Salle — with and without the space.)
“There are all kinds of signs, if you look for them,” Floyd Ferrell said.
“The check came from Arizona. And it’s signed by Richard,” he said. “Who just signs a check as Richard?”
“If this were a legitimate customer, why wouldn’t they seek a local furniture store around here. We’ve got furniture stores here.
“It was pretty apparent it was a scam. They knew just how long a check would float,” Floyd Ferrell said.
The Ferrells who deal with hundreds of realty customers a year, fear someone who doesn’t have their experience might fall victim to this kind of dupe.
“We thought we’d bring it out in the open to let others know,” Caroleen Ferrell said. “We played along to expose this. We just don’t want this to happen to anyone.”
Persons who receive this sort of offer should contact the Rolla Police Department.
