A Kindly Hotelier in the USA forwarded this correspondence. Note the scammer's shaky grammar, changing email addresses, and the apparent inability to spell his own name the same way twice.

first sally:

Ben Barrett <benbarrett_1@btinternet.com>
Please respond to benbaret2007@live.com

To undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject ROOM BOOKING

Hello,

I am Mr. Ben Barrett from Scotland and I wish to make reservations in your accommodation/hospitality. I hereby check for availability in your accommodation from the 12th-20th day of February 2011.I inquire for 6 double rooms in regards to 12 adult delegates. Please get back to me with the confirmation of availability and prices. I await your reply soon.
Have a nice day.

Regards,
Mr. Barrett

businesslike response:

From: Kindly Hotel Manager
To: benbarrett_1@btinternet.com
CC: benbaret2007@live.com

Dear Mr. Barrett,
Thank you for your inquiry. We would be delighted to have your group with us for arrival Feb 12 and departure Feb 20th (eight nights). We can offer rooms with two beds per room at the rate of $429 per room per night, plus taxes. Rates are subject to 10% local lodging taxes additional.

If you would like to confirm reservations, please send us your room list with the names of each guest and the credit card number with expiry date to confirm. Alternatively, you can book direct into our system using our website www.hoteldupont.com.

scammer red herring tactic (prod for figures to seem serious):

Bentland Barret <benbaret2007@live.com>
Please respond to <benbaret2007@gmail.com>

Thanks for your mail and confirmation of 6 rooms availability for the 12 adults delegates. I am grateful to that but I will love to have the total cost of 6 rooms for 10 days stay summed up and sent to me,
I will be waiting
Mr. Barrett

hotelier puzzled but polite:

To <benbaret2007@gmail.com>
cc benbaret2007@live.com, benbarrett_1@btinternet.com
Subject Reservation inquiry

Dear Mr. Barret,

Your email address keeps changing, so I hope I am getting the information to you at the right place.

February 12 to February 20 is eight days (8), not ten (10).

Here is a calculation for six (6) rooms for eight (8) nights, Feb 12 to Feb 20, 2011.

Room rate: $429 per room per night x 6 rooms = 2574
plus 10% taxes (42.90 x 6 = 257.40) =2,831.40 per night
x eight (8) nights = $22,651.20

Please note no reservations have been made, and no space is held. If you wish to hold the rooms please let me know.

If you need to change your dates to a ten (10) night stay, please let me know so I can check rates and availability for you again.

Nothing further yet - the scammer may have given up.

Here is a scammer trying to instigate a conversation about an unrealistic rental for him and his "newlywed" wife and pets. I didn't take it any further as I get at least one of these every time I post an ad on craigslist but I thought you might find it useful to post for others to watch out for. I've learned to spot them and as a result ignore them. Hope this helps others!

From: mods@hiq-forum.nl
Subject: RE: BOOKING INQUIRY
Date: April 29, 2010
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Reply-To: halfordandy90@yahoo.com.hk

Hello,

I want to make a reservation in your facility for four (4) newly ordained priests from Greece, they will be visiting your country for a seven (7) day religious program in the month of July 2010.

Please check availability and get back to me with the costs for the duration of their stay in 4 rooms for single occupancy or 2 Double/Twin rooms with 2 single beds in each for double occupancy, for the seven nights starting from 10th July - 17th July, then I can make deposit to book the rooms.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Kind Regards,
Andy

2009

From: info@gmail.com
Subject: Reservation Needed
Date: September 27, 2009
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Reply-To: dr.larrydan@gmail.com

Hello,
I want to make a reservation for breakfast and lunch in your restaurant for 3 days for a party of 10 persons.

The Guests will make a choice of their preferred food combination upon arrival, however I will be making an upfront payment of USD$2,000 @ USD$200 per person considering the limited time left before the arrival of the guests. I hope that is will be enough to secure the reservation?

Date Of Arrival :16th November, 2009
Date Of Departure:18th November, 2009
Length Of Stay :3 days
Number Of Guest :10
Mode of Payment :credit card

Regards,
Dr Larry Dan.
+44-703-599-4497

From: ee-clif0027@msn.com
Subject: Booking
Date: August 29, 2009
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Reply-To: clifmaneric84@yahoo.com.hk

Hello,

I want to make a reservation in your facility for four (4) newly ordained priests from Greece, they will be visiting your location for a seven (7) day religious program in the month of November 2009. Please check availability for the requested dates with the below information: Arrival date 14th November 2009
Departure date 21th November 2009
Number of people 4 persons
send me the prices for the duration of their stay in 4 rooms for single occupancy (individual prices) or 2 Double / Twin en-suite rooms for Double occupancy (4 share the rooms).
We wish to book the rooms immediately and will make a deposit as well.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Kind Regards,
Eric

From: Henry Maxwell
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009
Subject: BOOKING REQUEST..........GET BACK TO ME

Greetings,

I am Barrister.Henry Maxwell with Ramtech Programme Services,2 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3HN seeking for accommodation in your place.The accommodation required is 3 rooms to sleep 3 young couples for 10 nights.

THE ARRIVAL DATE IS........NOVEMBER 10TH
THE DEPARTURE DATE IS......20TH NOVEMBER 2009 (10 NIGHTS).

If the desired dates are available, please reply me, stating your group discounted reservation,including all taxes and rates,also get me the subtotal for the 10 nights. Calculate the grand total cost of the 3 rooms for 10 Nights.We will make Advance payment through a secured CREDIT CARD PAYMENT OR CHEQUE PAYMENT,Indicate if you accept CREDIT CARD PAYMENT OR CHEQUE PAYMENT.

Thanks,
Programme Director.
Barrister.Henry Maxwell
Telephone: +44 70111 74321
Telephone: +44 70359 73140
+44 70359 90304

2008

Sometimes they don't bother with paragraphs

2007

2006

ACTUAL HOTEL CORRESPONDENCE