Craig’s List real estate scams may not be new, but they’re new to me.

The past few days, I have been hunting for a rental house in Cedar Rapids via Craig’s List.  So far, I have received three varations of the following email:

Thanks for your Keen and obvious interest in our beautiful home,Before now its been an issue putting out our home for rent due to the bond we have developed with the house,Listening to advises from friends and since there are no family member around to take care of the house we decided to do this.

Firstly i will like to share with you about my little family, I am a pastor and my wife has a private practice as an attorney, i am a native of Marion IA . I and my wife acquired our house few years ago and have lived happily’

As we are approaching retirement,we have decided as JEHOVAH WITNESSES to spend the rest of our lives in voluntary services.To spread with gospel of Jehovah and reach out to the less privilege.This has given us so much joy and fulfillment.Presently we have been assigned to West Africa (Nigeria) to help build the Church of God and assist in spreading the living word.

As it has been a tough decision for us,we require a very nice,experienced and genuine family to help keep the bond that we have with our home.Our house is intact with all amenities intact and working in perfect conditions,I would like to emphasize that you will find your new home enjoyable and you will definitely feel at home.Also the neighborhood is quite at peace and welcoming.

We have a cordial relationship with the neighborhood as it is a neighborhood where,everyone keep to themselves go about their business without interference from anybody and we expect that as you move in.Please keep to yourselves as this Our (home) that will become yours will provide all the warmth and joy that you require

Endeavor as much as you can to keep the home tidy,the amenities in perfect working conditions and treat this home just like you would treat your own house.

we will appreciate if you could take your time to fill out the Rent/Lease application form below as we would like to keep proper documentation.

The email concluded by asking for my personal details (Name, address, social security number, banking information, and even a family photo).  Other email that I received said that the homeowner was a member of the military, a missionary, or someone who’s home was about to enter foreclosure.

Although I love Craig’s List, it’s increasingly becoming a less reliable way of getting business done.

About two weeks ago, we learned that cell phones are 18 times dirtier than toilet handles.  Have you stopped using your cell phone since then?  Of course not!  Since then, I think I have wiped my phone down with Lysol wipes at least five or six times.  The story freaked me out.  So what’s the best way to clean your cell phone?

According to DIYLife, here’s what you need to do to keep your phone clean!

1.)  Wipe it down and kill the bacteria- Dampen a cloth with a mixture of water and alcohol on keyboards, buttons and solid parts of the device. Do not use this solution or household cleaners on touchscreens. Instead, use a damp water cloth. Use a Q-tip to reach tiny crevices and hard-to-reach areas.

MORE! Two more cleaning tips are waiting for you after the jump.

Apparently Al Qaeda’s human resources department is lacking.  A former member of Al Qaeda is telling journalists that he left the terror organization after they failed to pay for his pregnant wife’s medical bills.

L’Houssaine Kherchtou testified at a terrorism trial that he joined the terrorist group in 1991 and later became Osama bin Laden’s pilot after taking flying lessons and working his way up from training camp instructor.  Around 1995, when Al Qaeda moved operations to Sudan, money became scarce.

Apparently a number of businesses started by Bin Laden failed to bring in revenue and money became hard to come by.  Because Al Qaeda refused to pay for medical treatments, Kherchtou’s wife had to beg for money on the streets to pay for her c-section, which cost $500 at a Sudanese hospital.

READ MORE:  Dig deeper into this unusual story by clicking here.