Identity Theft or "don't rent houses from men in Africa""

It's as close to identity theft as I've ever been. Our home has been "for rent" for a whopping $700 a month this past week on Craig's list. And all you need to do to rent this fabulous house (pictures included) is fill out some supposedly official looking paperwork and mail your $700 to a man who happens to live in Africa (that is why he can't show you the house himself). And would you believe people have fallen for this crap? (Oh yeah I said crap!!!)

It wasn't a big deal in my mind until first a woman showed up in our driveway when we weren't home and was seen walking around our yard checking out our house. I'm sure she was trying to look inside to see what was up with this 'rental' house b/c it appeared that people lived here AND THERE IS A FOR SALE SIGN IN THE YARD!!! (my neighbor was texting me while this was happening - remember my personal spy next door with the cookie tray?) I told her it was okay (thinking it was a prospective buyer) as long as the woman didn't disappear into our house and then leave with a t.v. or computer!

But...then a man shows up at my door yesterday, with his old pick up truck and 'buddy' in the driveway, telling me he's here about the rental! I held back my anger that I was wanting to lash out on the real criminal and tried to be kind to this scam victim. I explained to the man quickly (through a locked storm door) that it was a scam and our house was not for rent rather for sale (SEE THE SIGN THERE IN THE FRONT YARD THAT YOU DROVE BY) and I hoped he hadn't sent the man any money.

And then this naive man started trying to persuade me the validity of the situation, "But I have been talking to him on e-mail, Nate Callender is his name (yes, that is my husband's name whom he stole his identity to set up an e-mail account) and he sent me paperwork to fill out." He was having a hard time accepting this truth of the matter while standing there gazing at my beautiful chocolate brown living room walls through our shiny glass storm door!

I wanted to say....well, if you want to buy it I can hook you up with the REALTOR ADVERTISED RIGHT THERE ON THAT SIGN IN MY YARD GOOF BALL! but I was nice and just kept repeating myself..."It's a scam...don't send any money in!" (Goof ball....)

And then he turned around with a shocked expression, not telling me he was sorry for bothering me or that my husband had been a victim of identity theft or that every crazy person in middle Tn. now had seen my chocolate brown living room and my bed for goodness sakes on Craig's list! He just walked away.

So...hopefully this drama will play out this week and be over. I do hope no one sent money to this "African" rental scam artist. I have had some strong male friends offer to take turns standing outside my house with a fire arm or two until this blows over but I think I can handle it!

Lesson to you all...don't rent any houses that have beautiful chocolate brown walls and are "newly decorated" for $700 a month but you have to mail in money to traveling African men who promise to mail you a key to the house!