Canada Rentals Blog

Montreal Listings and Duplicate submissions

david — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:45:30 +0000

We’ve had a new thing happening, especially on our Montreal rentals page. Several property management companies in Montreal have obviously hired people overseas to try to promote their sites and businesses. I see these overseas folks trying to list multiple “properties” on our site every day, but they, I am sure, aren’t “real” listings in many cases – just duplicate ‘generic’ apartment listings with an e-mail address (and an attempt to post a link) – surely for the sole purpose of boosting their websites that they were hired to help. These listings often come in waves of duplicates (having been listed many times before – or attempted to).
I’ve stopped posting many of these ads -(our site is human edited, so each ad has to go through an approval first, before it appears on our site). The reason is – I believe that many of the search engines out there are sensitive to duplicate content, and I think our rankings declined somewhat because of it – since I have stopped doing this, it seems as if they are climbing back a bit. We’ll see what happens. I also think it is a bad user experience to have the same ad appear over and over, when it is obviously a “dummy” ad placed just for the link.
Montreal is the page where this is happening the most – we’ll see if it starts happening elsewhere, but in the meantime, we’re trying to limit how much of this happens on our site.

A Scam – The Dialogue from Start to Finish

david — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:57:36 +0000

I am posting this lengthy dialogue between someone who has been kind enough to share it with me, and a scammer – This was from Craigslist, but I am posting it here anyways – I have removed the property listers e-mail and identifying information, but have left the scammer’s stuff in there, so hopefully it will help anyone to avoid this scammer down the road.

**********************************************************************

Hi David
Another chapter to add, today the owner of the suite received a bank draft
for $4000 drawn on the BOM. To be honest not sure what the next step should
be, I haven’t checked with the RCMP but as far as I can see no Canadian has
yet been broken so I’d be surprised if the get involved. I can fax you a
copy of the cheque if you like. Help! G

—–Original Message—–
From: Canada Rentals [mailto:d...@canadarentals.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:06 AM
To: G
Subject: Re: Fraud details

I am going to post this whole thing on a new blog post this week, if you
don’t mind – called “A scam from start to finish”
I’ll remove your e-mail address but I think this will be really
helpful. Is that ok?
David

*************************

Hi David

My pleasure and thanks for the response.

This rental posting was posted by myself on behalf of a friend who is
not computer literate).

The following letters are posted chronologically beginning with the
Craig’s list ad that we posted, all communications from the scammers
are in red. The last letter is a beauty. I was quite lucky to get a
hit on the net as Google doesn’t give you anything unless you put
Andre Whiff in quotations.

Regards,

- G
**************************************************
Summary : -

Jamie Lee (jamie.lee00e@gmail.com )
Skype : – good.lord2
Andre Whiff : – (shipitfastnowuk@gmail.com)

*(1) $550 one bedroom suite, ideal for student/couple (Lougheed mall
area) (map)*
*Date: 2010-01-17, 7:36PM PST*
*Reply to: …….@hotmail.com [Errors when replying to ads?]*

*• Immediate occupancy from Jan 21st, 2010*
*• Partially furnished basement suite in townhouse*
*• Private bathroom, shared kitchen plus some common area*
*• Laundry and utilities included with rent*
*• Please contact …….. at 604 ……… (preferred) or 604 ……….*
*Ga…… Dr. at B…….. Cres. (google map) (yahoo map)*
* Location: Lougheed mall area*

(2) $550 one bedroom suite, ideal for student/couple (Lougheed mall
area) (map)?

From: Jamie Lee (jamie.lee00e@gmail.com)

Sent: January 17, 2010 8:53:17 PM

To: ….@hotmail.com

Hello,

Kindly let me know if you still have the place for rent,

Thanks

*(3) Yes it is however you need to contact the owner by phone as his
computer is not working. (I’m helping him out with the advertising)
Suggest you call his cell in the morning 604 …….*
* *
*(4) Re: $550 one bedroom suite, ideal for student/couple (Lougheed
mall area) (map)**?*

*From: Jamie Lee (jamie.lee00e@gmail.com)*

*Sent: January 18, 2010 2:25:44 PM*

*To: ……. Hill (….@hotmail.com)*

Hello,

I was born in and raised in Europe 28 yrs ago and pretty much moved
around Europe half of my life until my parents decided to settle in
England where I live now. I’m a matured, Vivacious, career driven
individual. I don’t smoke and drink on very sparse occasions (probably
won’t even consume up to 5 liters in year) which might be buoyed
something very special like a job promotion or maybe a best
friend’s wedding (lol).

I should be arriving late January but I don’t mind taking the place
right away. I plan on staying in Canada for at least 3 years minimum
So I should be able to sign a year contract there is need for it.
I would be working as a Network Administrator. Where is the nearest
intersection and could you send me some pics?

My employer will be sending you payment for the first and last month
rent and also my shipper will be shipping my Honda 2009 model and
other personal effects before I move into your place.I wont be
bringing much over as I intend to buy most afresh there. But my PC
will be coming with me surely & other personal belongings.If this is
ok with you,kindly mail me back your name to make out the payment in &
your address to have it sent to.

I will be off to see my sick mum in the hospital who is due for
surgery soon. In case you want to get to me my skype is good.lord2
I look forward to your response.
Jamie
*(5) Dear Jamie*

*I must say I was very surprised to get a reply from outside the local
area, somewhere in the province perhaps but a reply from the UK was a
bit of a jolt. I have no problem to rent the suite to you under the
terms you mention with the one addition of a refundable damage deposit
equal to half a month’s rent ($275). That would make the total amount
$550 (Feb), $550 (last month’s rent) plus the above mentioned damage
deposit of $275 for a total of $1375. I will waive the January portion
of the rent. I have no need for a year lease or otherwise as the suite
can be rented very quickly given the location near Simon Fraser
University, a simple month’s notice will be fine. In so far as the
damage deposit is concerned BC rental regulations stipulate that if
the premises are left as they were found the renter is entitled to a
full refund plus interest. I will have you sign the standard BC rental
contract which basically lays down the terms and conditions of our
agreement. Unfortunately I do not have a specified parking stall for
your car however there are numerous visitor spots available within the
complex all reasonably close to the suite. I will send some stills and
even a short video of the area and Google maps can easily locate the
complex if you enter ……… Drive, Burnaby, BC in satellite
view. I might be able to communicate via Skype however I’m using my
friend’s computer as mine is down and will have to clear Skype use
through him. Contact information as follows…*

*Owner : – G…….y*

*Address : – 3……..Drive*

*City : – Burnaby, BC*

*Postal Code : – V3J …..*

(6) Re: $550 one bedroom suite, ideal for student/couple (Lougheed
mall area) (map)?
From: Jamie Lee (jamie.lee00e@gmail.com)

Sent: January 20, 2010 4:36:14 AM

To: G…. (……@hotmail.com)

Hello,

My employer has sent payment to your location and I’ll be sending you

the details later. This will enable you know when it will arrive. I

will appreciate if you notify me as soon as it does.
This is the first time I will be traveling to North America and I
believe articulating myself with the cultural change will not be
difficult as people like you will make me settle in easily. In the UK
majority of us are conservatives and I believe Canada is an
environment with more liberal and free thinking individuals.
Facing new challenges and enhancing my skills will be first priority
and I promise you that you will not regret ever renting the place out
to me as I am a very matured and understanding person.
Most importantly my shipper will be getting in touch with you
regarding shipping of my Honda Accord (2009) to your place and I have
given him your contact.His name is Andre Whiff and he’ll contact you
by email.
Yours sincerely
Jamie
(7) Hello ,
I am Andre Whiff and I am Mr Jamie Lee’s shipper.He instructed
me to get in touch with you pertaining his personal effects that he
will be shipping from the UK to Canada but I have been instructed not
to commence shipping until you confirm receipt of your rent.
There are certain details that I will be requiring from you so as to
make sure everything goes as planned.But most especially I will be
needing the address that Mr Lee’s effects will be arriving in
Canada.
I await your response and full co-operation.
Thank You
Andre
*(7) RE: Jamie Lee’s shipper**?*
*From: ……. Hill (…….@hotmail.com)*
*Sent: January 23, 2010 10:21:19 AM*
*To: shipitfastnowuk@gmail.com*
* *
*Go…….y*
*3……., Burnaby, BC, V3J ……. *

(8) From: Jamie Lee (jamie.lee00e@gmail.com)
Sent: January 24, 2010 4:14:28 PM
To: ……. Hill (…….@hotmail.com)
Hi …….,

I called Mr ……. ,he refered me to you and gave me your number to
call you. I tried calling and left you a voice message.
Jamie
PS:Did you get and email from my shipper Andre?

(9) Hi,
My mum’s surgery is scheduled to take place in 8hrs time, wish me luck!
Here’s a poem I composed(100% Plagiarised,lol).
Jamie

Canada, oh Canada
what hast thou done with me
whenever I do close my eyes
my heart is there with thee
Your mountains and great forests
of an infinity
Sequoias stand majestically
ancient serenity
What everlasting pleasure
lies in your scenery
the crumbling walls of what once was
beneath a Maple tree
Golden fields of waving grain

whisper a lullaby
the sunset slowly fades away

beyond your endless sky

Canada, oh Canada
what hast thou done with me
I feel thou whispers in my soul
I wish to be with thee
I spot a single red deer
scent danger in the breeze
the slightest noise will make her flee
among your mighty trees
I see your children playing
out on a frozen pond
at snowball fights and slapping pucks
a magic way beyond

Mem’ries of the days gone by
engraved into my soul
return to you I will some day
it’s always been my goal
Canada, oh Canada
what hast thou done with me
thou temptress of my craving heart
I long to be with thee.

We got real listings!!!

david — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:43:47 +0000

My friend Dave at Rentvine has done it yet again by putting together some good tips for scammers in this really funny spoof!

Removing a page from search cache

david — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:53:30 +0000

I had someone (very nice) e-mail me to have me help them remove their info that has been stuck in google’s index for many months. She had posted an ad with us, and several months ago asked us to delete her ad – a very normal thing, which we always honor within one day.
Well, if you do a search for her on google, and weird URL for our site comes up that isn’t even the right structure of URL’s we use, and some of her ad info is being pulled in – however, the ad page with her info has been removed for many months – it is not on the remote server – so nowhere on our site is her information still active on our site.
The weird URL structure is…weird – her ad “address’ appears after /index.cfm/ (the homepage file for our site – which is completely strange.
Anyways, she went into google’s webmaster tools, and asked them to remove the information by submitting a support request. We’ll see if it happens, which I hope it does. This is uncharted water for me – almost always if you remove a page, within a reasonable amount of time it is removed from search results.
I am reluctant to do a “404″ for the page, as I don’t want the index page of our site 404′ed as well – I’ll have to look into that more after I do a little more research. It just makes me a little nervous…

Happy Thanksgiving Canada 2009

david — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:33:26 +0000

It came around again so fast! It seems like each year, the holidays come around even faster than the last! It’s been a good year for me, and for Canada Rentals. Our traffic has grown, which was really the only main goal and accomplishment for the year. I have a friend that asks me every year about this time what my goals are for the coming year, and I’d have to say that for next year, in terms of Canada Rentals, I’d like to try to roll out some new features, and make the site more automated and user friendly. Whether I will find time for that, who knows.
I am thankful to be able to do this kind of work, and to make a living off of it. Nothing beats getting up and working with a good cup of coffee, some good music playing, and being able to go for a run, or even take a nap during the day whenever I want to. It is my hope that I can keep this up indefinitely.
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving – and please, don’t work…or work too hard!
~ David

A break for a little humor

david — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:39:37 +0000

Ok, this post isn’t really anything about rentals, but sometimes you just have to take a little time out for humor. A friend of mine posted this on Facebook (so I ‘facelifted’ it from him) and I am sharing it with the rental world…
So, without further ado…the Wood Spider..(Trust me, it’s pretty funny..with a little bit of ‘language’ if you are easily offended)

More Free Property Managment Tools From Pickrent!

david — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:02:54 +0000

Well, my friend Dave has done it again – He’s come up with another round of great property management tools and widgets for property managers and landlords. The one I really like is the Pickmap Widget. The PickRent Mapping Widget shows rental listings from you, the property manager in an interactive way.

Dave also offers a really great complete web site template that is very snazzy and interactive – it pulls in your listings from PickRent automatically so you never have to enter your properties twice.

I recommend to anyone interested in experiencing a rental listing website that has great architecture and design to look through all of Pickrent. Expect more great tools and widgets to come from Dave down the road!

Well, I am just delighted!

david — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:25 +0000

I have received so many great comments lately from people who tipped off from the plight of scammers after reading our blog post about scam e-mails and from our Fraudsters and scammers list here.

If I had accomplished nothing else from this site but saving just one person from being taken by one of these scams, I would be happy. So naturally, I am thrilled!

I will continue to post information about scammers, and hope that someday, the rental world will be a scammer-free world!

Thank you everyone for your great comments, and happy renting!

David

Well Duh, It’s Victoria Day

david — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:29:51 +0000

I always do this every year – have minor “panics” on certain days when traffic goes down. Now, I am not one who usually gets to excited about holidays…in fact, I usally forget that holidays have occurred until after the fact.

Today, I noticed that traffic was down a bit. Being in the internet business, that’s never a good sign, and I started to worry about it…only briefly, when I remembered that it is Victoria Day, so many people are taking the weekend off.

That’s good – since the weather is nice in many places, and people do need to unplug a bit.

I’ll stop worrying about traffic, and get outside and enjoy myself. Happy Victoria Day everyone!!

- Be Safe!

David

Will it blend

david — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:03:19 +0000

My friend Dave has done it again with another funny video for our Scammer friends…