347-635-1365

Hi Matt, I would also like to know. I suspect its a number attached to a scam vacation home rental listing on craigslist?
Is this why you ask?

Yes, I'm looking at a vacation home in NYC and got this number to contact...SCAM???

i'm looking at same in midtown, did you call and if so what was result

Did you call this number ? Because I have made a booking for this appartment and I think it's maybe a scam?

I also tried calling this telephone number and no one picks up. A voice mail recording of recorded telephone number is what I get.  I'm trying to rent same place and have already paid this vacation owner!  Is this is SCAM? What do I do now?

I'm in same situation ! I've already paid for it ! :( when do you go there? i'll send a mail to NYC tourism office in order to inform them of it. But if it is a SCAM I think we can do nothing and money will be lost...

Hi,
I'm also in the process to rent an appartment at this number, but have some doubts about it, and as I'm located in Brussels....
What is the feedback you got from the NYC tourism office?
Vince

I have managed to have him on phone and it seems that he has had a lot of personal problem...but it is still ok for the appartment. Better thing to do is to try again to have him on phone...

I booked an apartment in Soho Lafayette street, NYC via craiglist...
The name of the owner is Tony Burton and he gave me this telephone number... I paied the deposit and half of fee for rent a few weeks ago via paypal.
He attached me the receipt with the amount of my reservation and his telephone number 347-635-1365... but now I try to call on the phone but he doens't get... I mailed him last monday but no answer...
Can some of you tell me the if is the same name (Tony Burton) and the same apartment (325 Lafayette Street)??
Thank you and sorry for my english... i'm italian...

He contacted me and he says everything is allright... waiting for...

Hi, I am going to book this vacation home but the address is 410 8th Ave, New York City, NY 10001. The owner's name is Mr.and Mrs Hagman. But the phone number is the same (347-635-1365). He asked me to make deposit of $650 ($500 for security fee + 50%*$100*3 nites) via bank wire transfer. Is this owner reliable or a scammer? I doubt it.

I am also in contact with Tony Burton about renting a place on West Houston and 6 avenue. I asked if I could go see the place and he said there is a tenant there not to be disturbed. I haven't paid anything yet but I really like the apartment photos so I am seriously hoping this is not a scam. Have any of you ever been in his apartments? Ilaria, any new developments?

They tried to scam me too. Unbelievable as it is, I was trying the vacation rental section of Craigslist New York and I got around 30 replies - ALL WERE SCAMS.
Please DO NOT rent vacation apartments through Crailgslist and DO NOT wire money through Moneygram, PayPal or Western Union - YOU WILL LOSE THEM. Yes, even PayPal will not refund them.
I cannot stress this enough - do not send any money for craigslist vacation rentals.
I live in New York and I wanted to see the apartments before I gave the money. All of the "posters" either outright refused or came up with lame unbelievable excuses.
After I did some research, it turned out that short term vacation rental in New York is not legitimate in most cases. It is NOT like Europe where I have rented apartments in Spain, Italy and France. Your best choice for accommodation would be a hotel (now with the state of the economy you could get deals, especially in Queens around Queens Plaza), a bed-and-breakfast or a hostel. I would strongly warn against vacation rentals through Craigslist.
Do not fall for their scams! They would even promise to pick you up from the airport at no cost and would even give you references of people who supposedly stayed at their apartments. I emailed one such reference and I got a "raving" reply that was very vague - the person didn't mention at which apartment she had stayed and for how many days.
Here is a list of SCAMMERS I came in contact with:

David Harrington (davidbridal@hotmail.com) $100 / 2br - Quiet, charming and in the heart of fabulous SOHO - sleeps up to 6 (SoHo)
He gave me the owner's name Bette Lamb in Kileen, TX which obviously is a sham person.

Vassileva kirsch (treatgoodpt@hotmail.com) $150 / 2br - AMAZING DELUXE SUITE COND Extraordinarily Gorgeous Charming MAX1-8 (Chelsea. Gave the owner’s name Tim Kirsch which is a sham person. This one even gave me a reference: The vague Elena Robert from France

Tony Burton (myhome.vacation@yahoo.com) $100 / 2br - $100/2br, Lovely suitable condo (TriBeCa)

John Morgan (itsjmorgan@hotmail.com) $110 / 2br - Enjoy a Comfortable, Stylish & Lovely two bedroom home!!! (Lower East Side)

Krine laffila (krine224@gmail.com) $150 / 2br - Exclusive Luxury 2 Bedroom Apt in Financial District (Financial District) (map)

Paul Bill (bill.paul12@yahoo.com) $120 / 2br - Lovely Apartment in Soho for you Vacation.. very Charming (SoHo)

slammy james (slammyjames37@gmail.com) $80 / 2br - Precious Apartment,well ensuited (Midtown)

James Bonnell (virgor0001@gmail.com) $150 / 2br - Quiet,charming&in the heart of fabulous SOHO-sleeps6(PAL PAL ACCEPTED) (SoHo) (map)

Fred Bray $100 / 3 br – Luxury three bedroom penthouse close to everything

hi all -

I was just looking for an apartment rental in Seville, Spain... and came across this same James Bonnell (one of the scammers NY Lad lists above).  He pretends to be an apartment manager (for legitimate places, often with nice websites).. and of course requires a deposit through Western Union.  We actually called the number he gave (323 319 3477) to speak to the "owner", because his emails seemed so fake, and the guy on the other end of that line didn't help convince us.  In case it's helpful, i've copied the text from his scam email response below.

Hope this doesn't get anyone.  In summary, James Bonnell  = SCAM!!  His gmail address is virgor0001@gmail.com.

cheers,
Adrian



*** scam text follows ****

You should %50(800 Euro) of the rent fee  plus the refundable security
fee of 200 Euro  altogether making 1,00 Euro  to her via Western Union.
OK you can complete the transaction on www.westernunion.com with your
credit card or visit the nearest western union outlet near you to
transfer the deposit and after you have that completed, get back to me
with a scanned western union receipt or payment confirmation as prove
so I can finalize reservation, and issue you reservation confirmation
along with your receipt of payment. It is very important for you to
have the receipt printed out and hold it along when you are coming.

The apartment belongs to Mr and Mrs Shaieb . It is very important to
notify the owner of the apartment you and booking their apartment. You
can reach Mr. Shaieb on tel#  +1 323 319 3477

Here is the info to transfer the payment to pay.

Name : Becky Shaieb
City:  Stillwater
State: Oklahoma
Zip Code:  74075
USA

Thank you for posting this. I've been emailing James Bonnell about a house in Bethany Beach. He referred to it as an apartment, which set off alarm bells, so I googled his email address and got to this page. I would never have wired him money (never do that, people), but it's nice to know right off that he was a scammer and to tell him off....

Thank you all so much for making me aware of this SCAM!! This would have been the first time I tried to rent anything through Craigslist...and it will be the last. 30 minutes ago I inquired about a rental for New Orleans Jazz Fest and this is way late since the Festival starts the 3rd week of April. Red flag 1: I received a response within 5 minutes of my inquiry...no way that could happen. I've gone to Jazz Fest for 8 years now and tons of people always try to get rentals so no owner ever responds that quickly because they know they can rent anytime.  Red flag 2: Rate of $120/night. Even in the worst of times, this is dirt cheap.  And he wanted a deposit of half the rental cost ($300) plus a security deposit ($200).

The person renting the place is named James Bonnell (virgor0001@gmail.com) so I did a google on him and found this site.  I'm so glad I did. I knew it was too good to be true...and it is...

I just had the exact same experience.  Thank you all!!

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/vac/1672928511.html

My first clue was when I google imaged the apt and it's a brownstone but the ad said
"Windows w/ views of the inter-coastal waterway from both bedrooms · With Queen size sofa sleeper, sleeps 6! · Keyless entry—you’ll have your own code. No keys or cards to keep up with! · 3th floor location for great view & an escape from the street level noise *The resort features: * 2 lagoon style pools * 2 indoor & 2 outdoor hot tubs * 4500sq ft fitness center * movie theater * game room "
The entire building is under 3000 sq ft!
http://maps.google.com/?q=loc%3A+217+Spencer+++Brooklyn+NY+US

Always google and do research before booking and always use your credit card that will protect you!  Paypal will not protect you on these purchases!

Me too. Thank God for the Internet--first, it was too good to be true. Second, his English was odd in the response, and then he got the math wrong in the deposit and what was owed, etc.

I feel llike writing back and saying, if you're going to run a scam, learn proper English and math.

I have heard back from Carl Bill or whatever his name is:

Julie
  Thank you fo your patronage,the payment is to be sent via Western Union Money Transfer to the owner of the property  Mrs Karen Steinbrecher, we will also need your flight details so we could arrange to pick you from the Airport and take you to the Apartment and thatc just a way of welcoming our Customer's but its optional,you can give me a call on 315 608 8993  if you have  questions or leave message ,the payment information is below..

I have attached the agreement and booking form to you. I want  you to complete and return it back soonest. Also, to have the apartment reserved for you. you need to have the %50 deposit plus the refundable security fee which is $300 the total amount you are going to send is ($540) you will transferred it to the owner of the apartment via western union money transfer in USA, on you arrival you will pay the remaining %50 payment while i will then hand over the keys to you. Here is the  owner's Name and Address to send the deposit to him. Here is my number to contact me :
if you cant call then you can leave a message.

Name: Karen Steinbrecher .
            347 Chesterfield Drive ,
             Dunedin, FL  34698 USA

Get back to me  immediately with the western union control # and the information given to
you while deposit is transferred so i can prepare and forward your receipt to you. Please remember to print and come along with the apartment receipt that i will attach and forward to you after confirmation of deposit.

Bill