403-262-6944

WOW...I am shocked!...I have been emailing this guy for 2 days now and it did sounded too good to be true... so i googled him and this is what i found!.. it's so unforturante that people are doing this, it is so hard to find a decent place to live that is affordable and i just wish everyone would be trusted!.. please don't let this creap get any of your money!... hope you all had luck finding a place after this ordeal!!

just got call from this number on my work cell, no voicemail, google searched it to check if its a business, ie a client of mine.  what a jerk

Yea I thought that it sounded a little strange. I'm glad I caught this now it pisses me off that this guy is doing this. All I ever wanted was a deal on an apt and I got the run around. I guess it was in 'gods hands'. He tried sending me this same email  on Craigslist:

Hello,

Thanks for your interest in my room.  I am Johan Svanholm.  I am very neat, very sociable, polite, and very serious about serious matter such as work, property etc. Also, i'm a very positive person,  a christain and believes in God, I always smile, i'm a fun loving person and I do not drink nor do drugs. The apt is currently available for rent.

The Apartment is located at the below address:

Address: East Village    
520 E. 11th Street (Apt # 26)
Manhattan     Manhattan     NY
East 10's    
Located between: Avenue A and Avenue B

5-Story Walkup
• Pets OK
• Video Security
• Newly Renovated Building
• Hardwood Floor
• Laundry in the Building
• Heat+Hot Water Included
• Premium Quality Kitchen Cabinets
• New Appliances
• Granite Kitchen
• Granite Bath
• Less than 2 blocks to Tompkins Square Park
• 4 blocks to the L Train at the First Avenue Station
• Associated Supermarket only 4 blocks away
• Rite Aid & Pharmacy only 3 blocks away

Actually I lived in the Apartment before i was transfered to Hyattsville, MD in our new office as the new manager of our sales department and i will be staying for 1 year before coming back so that is why am looking for a responsible person i can trust who would be able to look after the apt while am in Hyattsville, MD. Like i said the apt is available for rent immediately. The apt is well furnished Utilities are included and Pets are allowed. Kitchen completely equipped, Kettle - Toaster - Dishwasher - Freezer - Microwave - Oven - Dryer - Heat - Water - Washing Machine.  Please I want you to know that I am a kind and honest man and also I spent a lot on my property that I want to give you for rent, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of the Apartment and I would want you to treat it as your own, I would like you to keep it tidy all the time I also want you to let me have trust in you as I always stand on my word. The rental fee is $700 per month including utilities for the Apartment and the Security deposit is $400.00. Also i will like to know when you want to take possession of the apartment . Please note that due to my present transfer to Hyattsville, MD, you will not be able to actually see the inside of the apt or will i be able to send my apt key's to any doorman or neigbhour due to my past experience which i lost some of property to buglers. So i will be shipping the key's directly to you using DHL courier express. So i would only require security deposit upfront before i ship my key's to you and the rent after you have received the key's because the key's are presently here with me in Hyattsville, MD and i will have to ship down the key's to you when we conclude on the rent, so if you have the time you can walk down the location of the area and view the exterior of the apartment to know where the apt is situated.

I await your urgent reply and if positive and decides to proceed, i will then email you the rental application form and also discuss on how to get the document and the keys of the Apartment to you,please i am giving you all this base on trust ,you know that we do not see yet and only putting everything into God hand. So please do not let me down in this my property.  Let me know if you are interested in the apartment and if i should proceed to email you the application form.

Regards

Johan

I did the same... just curious did you give him your social?

He's at work on he NYC craigslist as well.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/729351334.html

Let's stop him!

Hello,

I am currently in contact with the guy named    Jonny Svanny (my_lord_thanks02@yahoo.com,and it's basically the same story.  I was concerned about the speed of his responses and wanting money so quickly.  Below was his response.

Thanks for your mail. I quite understand your plight.I want you to know that we are a christian family "BORN AGAIN" to be precise and to ripped someone off his/her money is a sin for me and i cannot do such a thing.I know it is very hard to believe or trust someone over the internet because of the scams around now and had it been i am in your shoes i will do anything within my reach to protect myself not to fall a victim and i know how hard for someone to earn a $ nowadays because the money doesn't come easily like that and that is why i make it fair in putting the house rent for $500 for someone to be able to afford every month and attach is my picture with my divorced wife just for you to see who you are dealing with and to prove to you that i'm not hiding my identity for you, i haven't gotten my cell telephone fixed here in Adelphi,Maryland i should have given you my cell phone # to call me.

I would have shipped out the keys prior to payment but due to what happened to me last month in which i sent the keys to a burglar and loose properties worth of $6450 in putting the apt back to its place that is why i don't deal with a third party and even intend sending the keys to anyone.I prefer you deal with me personally and i can also send you the LEASE AGREEMENT FORM for you to sign to know that i would definitely going to be renting the apt to you that is why i split the payment in two places that you should send half of the first month rent and the security deposit which is $375 and when you have received the keys then you can pay the other half.I hope you understand my situation.

Please let me know your fianl decision ASAP.

Johan

He also sent me a family pic of his 'divorced wife and daughter.'  The speed of his responses is what alerted me.  I would email at 7 am and he would respond less than a hour later.  

Thanks to everyone for posting and giving me a warning.  Your comments helped save me some much neede case.  :)

Red Flags:

 -  He is trying the scam in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 -  The pictures he sends look like a copy and paste job from the internet.  When you try to enlarge the images, they are blurry and have very few pixles
 -  He is wway too urgent and is very peresistent,
 -  He has a ton of excusses for everything, so you know he has done it for quite a while
 -  The location of his property is in the 'hot spots' of a city and are really cheep
 -  He claims to be really religious (and gives Christianity a BAD name)
 -  He doesn't even take the time to call your referencres

I am actually in contact with this guy about an apartment in Boston

His emal:

"Thanks for your mail. The apartment is very much available for rent and the rental fees is $600.00 per month including utilities for the whole of the apartment and the security deposit is $300.00, i want you to know that i appreciate your expression.So, i want you to stick to your words. below is the rental application form to qualify you to rent of my apartment.

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you,please we are giving you all this base on TRUST and again I will like to tell you that there is no way you can view the interior because the keys and the document is here with me in Adelphi,MD and you driveby and view the exterior of the apartment for you to know where the apartment is located  and i can send you the interior pics for you to have an idea how the inside looks like.."

What a scumbag...

I got reply back from this Johan Svanholm. It seemed fishy to me to so I googled his name and found all these other poeple that had the same experience. This time he was advertising a place to rent in San Diego. Glad I googled...it seemed really weird but I was thinking of calling since I couldn't find the rental ad in craigslist any longer.

Here's his email to me: (the one that typed this one is not very good with the English language!)

Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I am johan.k.v.svanholm  the owner of the house you are making enquiry of.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife and my only daugther before and presently we had relocated  due to my transfer from my working place and now situated in  1004 Elson Street, Addelphia,            
Maryland
Zipcode:20783
US
And presently my house is still available for rent for $1300per month including the utilities Moreso  i will like you to get in touch withme for more discussion as i am  with the keys and the document to the house.Pls i want you to note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on my property that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute mentenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i came for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.

RENT APPLICATION FORM
 
 
1)Your Full Name:
2)Your Full Address ?
3)How old are you?:
4)Are you married?:
5)How many people will be living in the house?:
6)Do you have a pet?:
7)Do you have a car?:
8)Occupation?:
9)How many months contract?:
10)Phone Number:?
11) your religious:?

you can call me at   916-210-9766

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can
have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting
you.Await for your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the
document and the key to you, please we are giving you all this base on
trust and again i will want you to stick to your words, you know that,
we do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand, so
please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this.Remain Bless in Jesus  name

THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER SCAMMER, I almost fell for it for i had just moved to NY.  The worst part is that I sent him all of my information .   A COUPLE of months later I replied to both of Johanson's post, the  room in manhattan and a two bedroom apt in brooklyn.  He has same posting in all boroughs....

On the apt below, I drove by gramercy park a few days trying to find the address before I sent the guy the money and could not find the address!!! it did not exist!

READ ON!

From: Jerry Scott [mailto:jerry.scott828@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 6:06 PM
To: a
Subject: Re: $500 / 1br - One bedroom apartment in a private house. (Gramercy)


Thanks for the email. I John  own the 1 bedroom apartment and also want you to know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my wife to leave the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a responsible person that can take
very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want it to be clean at the time and the person that will rent it to take it as if it were its own. So for now, We are here in west Africa, our new house and also with the keys of the house, we try to look for an agent that we can give this documents before we left but could not see and we are as well as don't want our house to be used any how in our present that is why we took it along with us. I and my wife came over to West Africa for a missionary work, so i hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house. So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps experience you have in renting home. Hope you are okay with the price of US$500(3 months first payment) with hydro,heat laundry facilities, air condition and so on. I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP so that i can forward you an application to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent,this is the address of the Apartment ( 205 3rd Avenue, New York NY 10003 ) ? Await your reply.
Thanks,

I THEN REPLIED:

Hello Mr. Scott,  If the apartment still available I am interested.  What number is the apt and also can you forward to me application? and also, How to get the money to you>?  What is the timeline to receive the keys if all goes well?

Please advise and thank you.


AND HE REPLIED:
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 07:25:06 -0800
From: jerry.scott828@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: FW: $500 / 1br - One bedroom apartment in a private house. (Gramercy)
To: iraidamorillo07@hotmail.com

Hello , we would like to send the following document to you via FEDEX to the address you sent to us and the tracking number will be sent to you so that you can possibly occupy our house, Please once again, we are giving you this on trust and do not dissapoint us and i promise you that, you will love the house. So we are with the below document here with us. you will need to make Payment for shippment of the Keys and document to the address you will have to provide to us.
Here are the contents of the document.

(1) Entrance and the rooms Keys
(2) Paper/Permanent house form
(3) The house documetary file.

So please do get back to me today so that I will let know the next step to take concerning the payment. I await your reply ASAP. Regard and God bless you!!! You can call us on how to make payment for the shippment of the Keys and Documnet to the apartment .We will send the following document to you via FEDEX to the address you sent to us when filling out the Rent Application Form and the tracking number for the Fedex shippment will be sent to you so that you can possibly go see the Apartment, Please once again, we are giving you this Apartment base on trust.

RENT APPLICATION FORM
1)Your Full Name :  
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number :
3)How old are you?
4)Are you married?
5)How many people will be living in the house?
6)Do you have a pet?
7)Do you have a car?
8)Occupation?  

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file incase of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you, we do not see yet and only putting everything into Gods hand,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this.Please i want you to check the apartment at the address and let me know if you would like it, the apartment is locked and i have the keys.

Thanks and you are welcome
our cell phone #:  0112347033715734
Mr. Jerry Scott


I CALLED HIS NUMBER AND HE ANSWERED!

I got the same message as gene!!! Such a deceiver!!

I was looking for an apartment in Boston...and it was just too good to be true...even the location was perfect!
He used the name "Jonny Svanny"
His email id was <svanny_boston10023@yahoo.com>
The following is the email that he sent:

Hello,
   Thanks for getting back to me,I am very glad you are interested in
renting my apt.I am single,very hard working man,religious and
business man.I am now located in Adelphi,Maryland on a business trip
and won't be returning to the apt until a year.

     I am looking for responsible roomate that is going to be taking
good care of my apt while i am away and i will be trusting you that
you are going to be taking good care of my apt as i left it,the
apartment is for long term and short term lease is also
acceptable.Here is the address of the apt 104 Queensberry St Boston, MA 02215
..The rent is $600 per month,Security Deposit
$300 which include the utilities such as
Water/Sewer,heat,hydro,gas,internet access e.t.c

 The Apartment is furnished.I will like you to tell me your experience
with renting.I was wondering maybe i can send you the application
form for you to fill out.Also i will like to know when you want to take
possession of the apartment so that we can discuss how to get
the keys and neccessary documents to you.

I await your prompt response ASAP.

Johan

And the following is the application form:

APPLICATION TO RENT  
(Please list above all proposed rental properties you're interested in applying for)    Occupancy Date Desired:
** PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED! WE REQUIRE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR EACH ADULT **
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Last Name: First Name: Middle Initial:
    
Date of Birth:
Social Insurance#(optional)
    
Driver's License or BCID #:

    
Telephone Number:
    
Alt. Telephone Number:
The total number of proposed occupants including yourself (
please circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6+
RENTAL HISTORY:
CURRENT
Address:     
City:
    
Province:
Move-In Date:
    
Move-Out Date:
    
Owner/Manager Name:
    
Owner/Manager Contact #:
Reason for moving:
PAST
Address:     
City:
    
Province:
Move-In Date:
    
Move-Out Date:
    
Owner/Manager Name:
    
Owner/Manager Contact #:
Reason for moving:
PAST
Address;     
City:
    
Province:
Move-In Date:
    
Move-Out Date:
    
Owner/Manager Name:
    
Owner/Manager Contact #:
Reason for moving:

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
Job Title:        Company Name:
Length of Employment:       Supervisor/Mgr. Name:
Employer Address & Contact Information:
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
GENERAL INFORMATION:
a) Please list
ALL vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. that you currently own:
b) Please check off the following:
Do you have water-filled furniture/aquariums?YES/NO
Do you own a vacuum cleaner?YES/NO
Doany household members smoke? YES/NO
Do you own a lawnmower?YES /NO
Do you have any pets?YES/NO
If you checked off 'yes' for pets - please list size(s), breed(s), and name(s):
REFERENCES:

Name: Phone Number:
Address: Relationship:

Name: Phone Number:
Address: Relationship:

Name: Phone Number:
Address: Relationship:

I hereby represent that all of the above information is true, accurate and complete, and hereby authorize verification of the above items, including but not limited to the obtaining of a credit report/and or recovery of monetary claims, and agree to furnish additional credit references on request.

DATE: ........................ ..            APPLICANT SIGNATURE: .............................. ....

__________________________________________________________________________


THANK YOU ALL FOR POSTING THIS!!! Saved me from a lot of trouble!!!

THIS GUY IS A SCAM..... i WAS THIS CLOSE TO GOING TO MONEY GRAM AND WIRING HIM THE MONEY.. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!!! JOHAN IS A SCAM. HE COULD'NT GIVE ME HIS NUMBER BUT HE ENEDED UP GIVING ME A RANDOM 646 NUMBER THAT WHEN U CALLED IT JUST RANG.... \

Thanks for your mail. The apartment is very much available for rent and the rental fees is $700.00 per month including utilities for the whole of the apartment and the security deposit is $350.00, i want you to know that i appreciate your expression.So, i want you to stick to your words. below is the rental application form to qualify you to rent of my apartment.

Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you.Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the key to you,please we are giving you all this base on TRUST and again I will like to tell you that there is no way you can view the interior because the keys and the document is here with me in Adelphi,MD and you driveby and view the exterior of the apartment for you to know where the apartment is located  and i can send you the interior pics for you to have an idea how the inside looks like.



                                 
                               APPLICATION TO RENT  
(Please list above all proposed rental properties you're interested in applying for)    Occupancy Date Desired:
** PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED! WE REQUIRE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR EACH ADULT **
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Last Name: First Name: Middle Initial:  Date of Birth:  
Social Insurance#(optional) Driver's License or BCID #:
 Telephone Number: Alt. Telephone Number:  

The total number of proposed occupants including yourself (
please circle one) 1 2 3 4 5 6+
RENTAL HISTORY:
CURRENT
Address:  City:  Province:  
Move-In Date:  Move-Out Date:  Owner/Manager Name:  Owner/Manager Contact #:  
Reason for moving:  
PAST
Address:  City:  Province:  
Move-In Date:  Move-Out Date:  Owner/Manager Name:  Owner/Manager Contact #:  
Reason for moving:  
PAST
Address;  City:  Province:  
Move-In Date:  Move-Out Date:  Owner/Manager Name:  Owner/Manager Contact #:  
Reason for moving:  


EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
Job Title:        Company Name:
Length of Employment:       Supervisor/Mgr. Name:
Employer Address & Contact Information:
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION:
GENERAL INFORMATION:
a) Please list
ALL vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. that you currently own:
b) Please check off the following:
Do you have water-filled furniture/aquariums?YES/NO
Do you own a vacuum cleaner?YES/NO
Doany household members smoke? YES/NO
Do you own a lawnmower?YES /NO
Do you have any pets?YES/NO
If you checked off 'yes' for pets - please list size(s), breed(s), and name(s):
REFERENCES:


Name: Phone Number:
Address: Relationship:


Name: Phone Number:
Address: Relationship:


Name: Phone Number:
Address: Relationship:

I hereby represent that all of the above information is true, accurate and complete, and hereby authorize verification of the above items, including but not limited to the obtaining of a credit report/and or recovery of monetary claims, and agree to furnish additional credit references on request.

DATE: ........................ ..            APPLICANT SIGNATURE: .............................. ....


--- On Mon, 6/30/08, zilose banda <bzilose@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: zilose banda <bzilose@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: $700 Room Mate Needed!!!!!! (Manhattan)
To: svanny_j@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 12:03 AM


Hi Johan.

The only time ive really rented was when i was in college. I've rented for 4yrs with other roomates, but now im currently  living with my parents in Monroe Ny,  but i commute to Nyc  for work eveyday. my basic  schedule is 9-5 and Iam looking for long term. I'm pretty laid back not much of a party animal but i do enjoy having a glass of wine before bed. and i would go out maybe on the weekends for a movie, dinner or  to a lounge with friends.Please send me the application  and pics of the apt. Ive sent out so many email to ppl re- apt that i dont quite remember yours.  The location is perfect being that i work on madsion btw 38 and 39 in the heart of midtown






Please get intouch.Thxs

Zilose




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:20:13 -0700
From: svanny_j@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: $700 Room Mate Needed!!!!!! (Manhattan)
To: BZILOSE@HOTMAIL.COM

Hello,

   Thanks for getting back to me,I am very glad you are interested in
renting my apt.I am single,very hard working man,religious and
business man.I am now located in Adelphi,Maryland on a business trip
and won't be returning to the apt until a year.

     I am looking for responsible roomate that is going to be taking
good care of my apt while i am away and i will be trusting you that
you are going to be taking good care of my apt as i left it,the
apartment is for long term and short term lease is also
acceptable.Here is the address of the apt Midtown West/Theater
District The Metro 301 W. 53rd Street, Manhattan NY 10019.Located
between: Eighth Avenue and Ninth AvenueThe rent is $700 per
month,Security Deposit $350 which include the utilities such as  
water/Sewer,heat,hydro,gas,internet access e.t.c

 The Apartment is furnished.I will like you to tell me your experience
with renting.I was wondering maybe i can send you the application
form for you to fill out.Also i will like to know when you want to take
possession of the apartment so that we can discuss how to getthe
keys and neccessary documents to you.

I await your prompt response ASAP.

Johan





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Here is the Payment Information.

Receiver's Name: JOHAN K. V. SVANHOLM
Address: 1022 Elson Street
City: ADELPHI
State: MD
Zipcode: 20783. U.S.A


He almost got me too.. This is what he sent me

i was looking at the same exact place. i was excited at first because it was a very nice place for very cheap(which made me slightly suspicious right there). we went back and forth with a couple of e-mails, and his english is so bad in the e-mails that i couldnt even understand what he was trying to say. he is very bad at pretending to be russian.

what's wrong with this guy??? he e-mailed me today! with the same lines, he's a relogious man, etc. thanks God I google his name and found these posts.

Hi, I went through the same thing as you did. This man Jonny Svanny is leasing his apartment for $800 a month. And said his apartment is located on Manhantten 53th st between 8th and 9th ave. He said he is away from home because of business trip. How could it be? So what's the situation? Did he ever tell you that he can come back to meet you?

Oh my gosh! I have just recently been in touch with him as well for an apartment at 308 W. 53rd St. I was surprised at how easily he was going to let me have the place- I had only responded to the ad. I mean, for the price he ought to have a lot of competition for the apartment, and I got it without further follow-up? But I thought maybe he was just busy. But when I responded asking about going by to see the place and asked him about the application, he started pressuring me in his email to 'stick to my word' and fill out the app. I googled him since he did't tell me anything about him and I wanted to see who I was dealing with as a potential future roommate. Creepy!!!!

We were involved in a scam through a partner of us through a guy in Australia. (Bill Johnson) Beware Businesses. If you get this call and wants to order from your business please beware its scam. He is order from us and then having us send money to this (Johan K V Svanholm in 1004 Elson St. Addelphia, MD 20783.(he is known as his shipping agent.(we are out some money after we have found out this is scam.

hi! im from india... and i've also been scammed by this guy!!! pleas pleas do not enter into an agreement wit this guy named JOHAN SVANNY!!!

This guy's a SCAM!! I just had the exact same thing happen to me.  He tried the same religious/family man angle to rent a house he doesn't own. Same thing, "acceptance" to my application then "trust" to send a moneygram of the 1st months rent then he would DHL the keys and documents. Luckily I didn't lose any $$.  I filed complaints against Johan K.V. Svanholm with both the Maryland Attorney General and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)which is an FBI sanctioned complaint center.  I suggest we flood them and any other agencies with this guy's name and what he's doing.  He needs to understand that in the U.S.A. he goes to federal prison for that crap.