newspaper article about rental scams Singapore

In the English written newspaper My paper from Singapore, is an article about apartment rental scams. It gives some insight in how these scams work, and what to do to avoid being scammed. Here's the article:

Beware this fake-landlord scam

By Joy Fang

BE CAREFUL if you are looking to rent a home here, or you could fall prey to a rental scam.

This is how it works: A conman, using a fake name, poses as a landlord with rooms for rent at low prices.

He gives fake addresses of apartments in areas like Orchard and Chinatown.

He refuses to arrange for a viewing of the apartments, claiming that he is in Britain on internship and will be back here only by the end of next month.

He asks potential tenants to e-mail him a scan of their passport, and sign a contract e-mailed to them.

He asks them to wire a month's rent and a security deposit to a Western Union account, and says he will post the keys to them. To reassure them, he sends images of the apartments and a scan of what he claims to be his passport.

A check with a thread on rental scams in Singapore on online forum scamwarners.com showed that at least 14 people have received such messages.

The scammer uses different pseudonyms, like Richard Willem Tibor, Jane Louise Millar and Tan Nee, and asks for sums of between $1,100 and $2,500.

Figures from the police show that, on average, one person falls victim to such rental scams every day. Last year, police received 324 reports of rental scams, down from 355 reports in 2008.

Mr Manuel Nacionales, 44, a Filipino systems analyst who has been working here for four years, almost became a victim.

He posted a request to rent a room on share-accommodation. sg, a website that links potential house- or flat-mates, in February this year.

Within a day, he got an offer of an apartment at 14 Scotts Road ? the address of shopping mall Far East Plaza.

In an e-mail sent from [email protected], the sender said he was a Singaporean named Tan Nee and could be called on +44-701-115-1047.

He asked Mr Nacionales to send a month's rent of $700 and a security deposit of $400 to a Western Union account.

Mr Nacionales did receive a scan of the passport of a man called Tan Tong Nee, but did not wire any money after his colleagues advised him against it.

When my paper called the number posing as a potential tenant, the man identified himself as Tan Nee Long in a pseudo- British accent.

Pressed for the address of the rental apartment, he said that it was 202 Far East Apartment.

But a check with Far East Plaza's residence showed that all its unit numbers are in four digits.

He could not arrange for a viewing of the apartment as he is doing a master's programme in computer programming in London and has no friends in Singapore, he said.

He would send the keys only after the lease contract was signed and payment made.

"You have nothing to worry about, I'll be sending you the contract and scanned passport of myself," he said repeatedly.

When my paper asked him about forum postings about him being a scammer, he said: "No, I don't do such things... People keep saying rubbish on the Internet.

It's because I'm not gonna lease the room to them, that's why they say I'm a scammer."

He said that he was renting out the apartment on behalf of his mother, who owns it.

When told that he was speaking to my paper, he said "no problem", but then hung up.

Scamwarners.com's adviser, Mr David Jenson, 40, said one should never pay or send personal details to a stranger online.

Insist on seeing the title deeds, said Consumers Association of Singapore executive director Seah Seng Choon.

Check out the rightful owners of a property on the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore's website, and look for properties via reputable websites like http://www.iproperty.com and http://www.propertyguru.com, said Mr Nelson Tan, a council member of the Institute of Estate Agents.

A police spokesman said tenants should request all parties to be present when signing tenancy documents, and should not pay large sums in cash.

source: http://www.asiaone.com/Business/My%2BMoney/Property/Story/A1Story20100512-215716.html

This is the email I received from the scammer. Couple o weeks ago.

Hi Flatmate,
I noticed in your profile in Share Accommodation you were in search of a room lucky enough i have a Well furnished apartment suitable and decent for a Perfect roommate, the apartment is ready for immediate move in and it is located at 14 Scotts Rd 228213 Singapore but before i start telling you about it, it is only right that I let you know more about me being your potential flatmate so that you can know somethings about me.
My Name is Tan Nee an easygoing jovial and friendly male. My Hobbies are swimming, reading and traveling. In fact, I have being to France,also recently UK,I also like hanging out with friends and associating with people but I have not had the opportunity to hang out with my friends as I have being busy with my studies and also as I am looking to have my masters very soon. My Dad used to live here in this apartment with my Family but we later moved to UK where he passed away and I am the only one in this apartment although my mother is still in UK overseeing my late father's business and am not around for now and would not be back for sometime. I am in UK now on an internship project attached to a firm of my Dad's Company and I have being sent to supervise and would be back by the end of June 2010. As soon as i have confirmed you as my flatmate for reservation, I will send you the Keys to the apartment by mail

About my apartment, It is a three bedroom apartment and as I live in one room of the apartment, I have two rooms ready for move in, the rooms are furnished with a sofa-bed, two armchairs, dining table with expendable leaves with 4 matching chairs, television with digital receiver, telephone, parquet floors, and there is a window facing north. The apartment is wireless Internet enabled
You will have free and unlimited access to all part of the apartment, the Kitchen, the living room and of course except my room, and you can also have your own visitors.The rent for the room is $700 Per Month and this includes the utility bills(all included) and you will be required to pay a security deposit of $400. This security deposit will be refunded to you at the end of your stay in my apartment.
I hope it suits you well and if you have any more questions you can surely ask me, I also attach the pictures of the apartment and i am willing to send you the tenement contract agreement so that we can conclude and you can eventually move in.
Regards and waiting to read from you soon
Tan


Removed most of a very long post that contained personal details and members email address throughout - Ralph

Hi IFkedTanTongNee, welcome to Scamwarners.

I dont have time to correct your post for you at the moment and it is riddled with your personal details so I have removed the bulk of it for now, if you would like to post again but this time remove your name, email address and any other personal details first.

Thanks for your post

I have removed a lot of information from the original post that may have compromised the identity of the author, below is the emails from the scammer as posted in the original post here;

Note the below comments are as posted by the original poster

Stupid Scammer increased the deposit and also he sounds more professional..
Later I figured out bout his cheap old tricks. Also he changed his Signature from Tan To Nee :p

From: Tan tong Ne [email protected]
Sent:
To: Removed
Subject: RE: Potential Flatmate

Removed,
Thanks for your mail,the rooms are still available either for short or long term basis depending on your choice and Like i said,my apartment has 3 rooms and a living room,so i use one room while two is for rent.The rent for the apartment is $700 per month while you would also make a security deposit of $800.This deposit would be refunded to you at the end of your stay in the apartment if nothing is destroyed during your stay.

Before we proceed though,there are some conditions and rules and I will like us to decide on and it just requires your conscent and afterwards we can proceed with the contract and for me to reserve the room you so you can move in as soon as you want to,i will need you to get back to me with the following:
1.You shall sign a document confirming that the room has been reserved for you
2.You shall make your first month payment to me
3.You shall have to read the agreement contract which i shall send to you firstly as an attached mail before you make your payment. For the document to be prepared successfully,I would be needing the following details:
(1) Your move in and out date;
(2) Your current address and also the address where you would like the keys to the apartment,the Original copy of the contract and also the receipt of payment sent to after confirmation of payment from me which you shall sign and bring along with you when moving in finally as my room mate
(3) Your scanned ID passport for identification
(4) Your Full Name
(5) The Total Months you will like to stay in my apartment
(6) Mobile #

The house is located at 14 Scotts Rd 228213 Singapore . It overviews the courtyard with a large window. This apartment is ideal for 3 guests.The living room is well furnished and perfect,i am not around for now and would not be back for sometime. I am in UK now and would be back by the end of August.As soon as i have confirmed you as my flatmate for reservation, I would send you the Keys to the apartment by mail and also send the contract documents and receipt aswell.
I hope you quite understand me and everything?

There is also a washer and dryer in the apartment for the laundry needs and also to the apartment has a car park.Infact,it has being allotted two car spaces.
I wait to read from you soonest to continue the contract and further details about the documents towards having you as my room mate. You can call me on +447011151047
Warmest regards,
NEE

So in short he’s saying pay some stranger $800 for something You know that don't exist.

From: Tan tong Ne [email protected]
Sent:
To: removed
Subject: RE: Potential Flatmate

Removed,
You can go to view the Flat surroundings but you cant gain access into the apartment because you need to be confirmed as my potential flatmate and i am presently in the Uk undergoing an internship and will be back to Singapore by August so i will prefer to send you a Signed contract agreement which you will sign and email me a copy and as soon as a Payment upfront is made then i will mail the keys of the apartment to your current address through DHL next day air if you get back to me with your current address and your move in date then you can move in immediately as soon as you get the Keys of the apartment,let me know if i can proceed mailing you the signed contract agreement while i await you get back to me with your current address and i will then begin the sending of the Contract Documents and also the receipt of payment to the address you provided with DHL Next Day air Service Delivery. Do i proceed sending you Contract documents this way i can have the room reserved for you till when you want to move in. You can call me on +447011151047 anytime

I await to hear from you soon
NEE

I hereby attach the pictures just like you requested and i will like you to get back to me with the required details so i can send you the signed lease contract agreement which you will sign to have the room reserved for you and as soon as you make the payment,i will mail the Keys to your address which will only take less than a day to be delivered to you

NEE

From: Tan tong Ne [email protected]
Sent:
To: Removed
Subject: SIGNED LEASE CONTRACT & COPY OF PASSPORT ID

Hi Removed,
I just got the Contract Documents from my family lawyer and I have thus attached it for you,read it thoroughly and sign on it, when you have read the Contract and are sure you can abide by the rules and the regulations on the contract,you should send the stated sum in the contract to my information which appears on the contract.Here's the information once again :

Name: TAN NEE
Address: 30 Laxley Close, London SE5 0YP United Kingdom

You can fill the form on this site and find agent closest to your location. http://www.westernunion.com/locator/

When you have made your payment by western union,you will get back to me with the payment confirmation which are:

- The Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN)
- The Sender's First and Last Name and also the Location where it was sent from
- The Amount sent.
As soon as I get these details and have confirmed it,I would then begin the sending of the Contract Documents,Keys of Apartment and also the receipt of payment to the address you provided.

I await your payment confirmation and I am happy for we would be the best flatmates ever.Thanks for choosing me and my room and Pls find attached the contract documents together with my scanned Passport for Identification and make your payment for you to reserve the room for your eventual move in.

Regards
NEE

I have also removed the sections where you send the scammer some information to help him be a better scammer, please under no circumstances should you do that, unfortunately, by sending him an email with instructions on where he went wrong and how he can improve his scam, he will more than likely improve his scam and become a better scammer.

By your own admission, you nearly got caught out by this scammer, imagine if he took that advice and tried again.

One you know that you are communicating with a scammer, the best response will always be to not reply any further