www.realthor.co.uk

www.realthor.co.uk

Fake rental/escrow site

CALL US: +44 203-289-8663
FAX US: +44 705-340-1379

The website is in the process of being reported for fraud.

Hello:

What about www.realthor-ltd.com ?
My son is in contact with somebody who rents an appartament at a too good price and uses this escrow site.
I don't like it, do you have any new about it?
Thanks

The domain was registered 2 weeks ago, for the minimum period of 1 year, and the registrant has hidden their information.

That pretty much says it all. Do you have any emails from this website? It would help our site killers to get it taken down.

Domain Name: REALTHOR-LTD.COM

Created on..............: 2013-09-10 11:52:37 GMT
Expires on..............: 2014-09-10 11:52:37 GMT
Last modified on........: 2013-09-10 11:52:38 GMT

Registrant Info: (FAST-18446881)

Domain Privacy Service
1958 South 950 East
Provo, Utah 84606
United States
Phone: +1.8017659400
Fax..:
Email: [email protected]
Last modified: 2012-10-18 18:12:21 GMT

For the search engines, the below details were taken from this fake site:

CALL US: +44 208-099-7650
FAX US: +44 203-004-2377

there's also a fake help chat from "Hilarie Clough"

The website is in the process of being reported for fraud.

Edit to add email address used in this scam MW

[email protected]

Hello guys,

I need your help. A few days ago, i saw on the internet a apartment rental advertisement here in Luxembourg. I contact the agency, no answer were given, so i decide to contact the owner, the email was also given.

"Hello,

I inherited the apartment from my grandfather when he past away, i am from
United Kingdom so i decided to rent it. Before we go further, I would like to know about you, such as how many persons you intend to stay in the apartment and for how long , also if you can send me picture it will be nice . I will be glad to rent it to anyone who likes to keep it clean and tidy. I can rent out the flat for unlimited time ( 1 to 5 years maybe more ) . I can also rent it for short periods , the rent for 1 month is EUR 500 including all utilities . You can use my furniture, or you can use your own , it's the same thing for me . I have the option of sending all my furniture to storage, if you want to bring your own (no extra cost). You can move in to the apartment immediately . The only problem is that I am the only person who has the keys and i'm in UK , but i have a solution for that if you are still interested . Thanks "

I sent a reply, in a good faith that the announce was real. But i received a second one, and the recipient did not answered any of my questions, so i stayed with some doubts.

Hi again,

As I told you, the price you will have to pay the first month rent of 500 + 500 EUR deposit ( 1000 EUR) . I need from you one month rent plus one for security deposit. I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account if that's ok with you . The apartment is ready , you just need to receive the keys and the contract to check it, and see if you can accept it. Of course we will need some way to go through this agreement, to allow us ensure that we get what we are expecting. We can make this deal securely and quickly, and in this way, you will receive the keys in 2-3 days . An escrow third party service called Realthor , offers this solution and will handle both payment and delivery of the keys .In this way, you can see it before i will receive the money . To start this transaction, i need your full name and address ( street number ,city , post code , country ). I will pay for the agency fees . I will look forward to hear from you if you are interested . After i will have your info i will forward them to the agency and they will contact you with all the details .

Thank you

I replied again, but without giving any information as they requested in this 2 email. I instantly went searching for that Realthor company, i was surprised when it appeared to me a german blog:

http://wohnungsbetrug.blogspot.com/2013/09/an-escrow-rental-company-called.html

stating that this company was a fraud... and i noticed that the emails there was identical with the ones that i received...

So i replied to them stating that i won't give any of my personal information unless they provide enough evidences of a clean and safe arrangement.

Afterwords i decided to make a pishing report to my email provider. And i won't reply to any further contact.

Now, what should i do?

Hello DS87 and welcome to Scamwarners,

I am happy to see that you discovered the scam before you lost any money. If the scammers are using a new web site post the link here and we will have it reported to the host.
Since you did not give out any personal information you are safe and no further action is needed on your part.

Thank you for posting the emails as this information will help others avoid this scam.

Hi. the same person cheated me. I've sent monay to his account 2 weeks ago and now there is no answear. Can You tell me is any possibilities to find that rogue?

This person tried to scam me. Sent me to the website ALSrealtor. com
Here is an email I received from the webpage, where they gave me the information of who they wanted the money sent to:




We are pleased to inform you that the package is in our custody and pending payment verification. This email confirms that you were successfully registered as a tenant.
Your transaction manager is Placido Lefevre.



Go to http://www.alsrealtor.com/ to view the status of your keys or check the status periodically.
Billing information for the shipment:

Transaction number: 6K2YH{removed}
Transaction date: Monday October 07, 2013

Country of destination: Canada
Country of origin: Italy
Shipping Status: Waiting for delivery
Payment Status: PENDING
Rental price: CAD 650.00
Total: CAD 650.00

Delivery to the following address:

{removed}


The keys will arrive at your address within 48 hours after the payment is confirmed and verified. The courier will be instructed to deliver the package at your address after 5:00 PM.
How to complete the payment?

Send the total amount of CAD 650.00 to our ALS Realtor Agent.

Step 1: Locate the nearest Western Union Office: (Available Here)
Step 2: Make the payment with cash using the ALS Realtor agent details:

Name : Placido Lefevre
Address : Via Portuense, 1555
City/State : Rome, RM
Zip/Country : 00148, Italy
Agent Info:

Placido Lefevre takes responsibility for financial and accounting activities. Since joining ALS Realtor in 2008, Placido Lefevre has held a number of senior roles. He has led several financial projects and established sound commercial and financial control policies. In 2011, Placido Lefevre was promoted to his current position.



The person who originally emailed me had nearly the exact same email as a previous poster. Be extremely careful of things that are too good to be true! The original contact I corresponded with via email did not answer my questions properly, tried to be very vague with the property details and finally sent me this when I agreed that if it was a legitimate real estate service that I would look into it. Here is the original email:

On 2013-10-03, at 6:56 AM, "Brad Ferguson" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Thanks for responding!
>
>
> Check your attached file, I attached a few pictures of the place, just
> so you can have a good idea of what it looks like.
>
>
> I want to try and give you some insight into who I am and about the
> property you are renting. My name is Brad Ferguson, I'm not looking to
> make a business or a profit with it, I just want to find the proper
> tenant, someone who will treat and care my home like it was his own.
>
>
> I'm the owner, I love this place, it means alot to me.. It has been
> professionally finished and decorated with a modern color scheme that
> coordinates throughout, it looks exactly like in the pictures, totally
> finished, fully furnished and I have the option of sending all my
> furniture into storage if you want to bring your own, NO extra costs!
> It has all the facilities and the utilities: washing machine,
> dishwasher, dryer, refrigerator, stove, oven, juice machine, iron,
> toaster, coffee maker, microwave, vacuum cleaner. Never used stainless
> steel! Bright windows with a fresh kitchen and bathroom.
>
>
> The rent for 1 month is $650.The all utilities are included in this
> price (rent/month). No extra fees!
> It means:
> - Water,electricity, gas, cable and Internet.
>
>
> Short or long term lease?! The lease is flexible, can be month to
> month, min stay 1 month - max 5/6 years. The price will not increase
> monthly, it will remain the same for the whole period that the
> contract will be signed for.
>
>
> About pets.. there are no problems if you have pets, as long as you
> clean up after them!
>
>
> So, I want this rental to be as smooth as possible, I really need
> to take care of this matter by the end of the next week.. I am looking
> forward to hear from you, so that I can forward you an application
> form to fill out and discuss on how to get it for rent.
>
>
> Don't miss out on this opportunity! I think is a good deal!
>
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Brad Ferguson


A few emails later, he said he had inherited the place from his grandfather:


I would like to tell you a little bit about me and my family, I want to give you some insight into who I am.


I'm currently 43 years old and married. I'm very career focused and will be spending a lot of my time at the office. I work hard for my family. I'm a mature individual, very sincere, respectable and love friending new people. I'm a caring person who believes in taking good care of things!
My wife is speech language pathology, her name is Francesca and we have one daughter, Adelina, that is 3 years old.
I inherited the apartment from my grandfather when he past away, I am from Rome, Italy, so I decided to rent it.


This is the second time I tried to rent the apartment, I had a deal with somebody before who said he will rent it if I come there.. So I got a plane ticket, and guess what!? When I arrived there, he didn't show up and after 2 days he gave me a call and said that he is sorry but he can't rent it anymore, because he has no money.
It was unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view my apartment without any form of confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled, has brought about great loss to me.
So don't get me wrong and don't take it personally, but now I don't want to buy another plane ticket to come and fall for it once more... maybe you won't show up. I'm sick of tire-kickers, people who are just looking around and not serious about renting, so please don't waste my time... No offence!


I am the only person who has the keys, but I have a good solution if you are still interested.. You can have the keys in hands in less than 48 hours. I found a way to complete this rental safe and fast for the two of us.


Respectfully,

Brad



BE VERY CAREFUL!! I don't want anyone else to get taken in by these losers. I hope I have helped someone with this info.

Hello KR1990 and welcome to Scamwarners,

I am happy to see that you realized that it was a scam and the information that you posted will help others avoid this scam.

The website is in the process of being reported for fraud.

www.alsrealtor.com


CALL US: +39 331 222 2045
FAX US: +39 069 294 2613

Edit to add email address used in this scam MW

[email protected]

Hello guys,

I need your help. A few days ago, i saw on the internet a apartment rental advertisement here in Luxembourg. I contact the agency, no answer were given, so i decide to contact the owner, the email was also given.

"Hello,

I inherited the apartment from my grandfather when he past away, i am from
United Kingdom so i decided to rent it. Before we go further, I would like to know about you, such as how many persons you intend to stay in the apartment and for how long , also if you can send me picture it will be nice . I will be glad to rent it to anyone who likes to keep it clean and tidy. I can rent out the flat for unlimited time ( 1 to 5 years maybe more ) . I can also rent it for short periods , the rent for 1 month is EUR 500 including all utilities . You can use my furniture, or you can use your own , it's the same thing for me . I have the option of sending all my furniture to storage, if you want to bring your own (no extra cost). You can move in to the apartment immediately . The only problem is that I am the only person who has the keys and i'm in UK , but i have a solution for that if you are still interested . Thanks "
(...)

Dear all,
fell on the same proposition, answered, and got the same mails (except with amount of 600+600eurs).
I have not sent any money at all, but my physical address and name + cell phone.... feeling so stupid at the moment.
I have received 2 e-mails from a uk based company, www.century-lettings.co.uk ?, saying they wait for my payment to send the keys blahblah : at first sight, it looks like a rental agency, but it seems all fake now.

Of course I won't pay anything, but would like to know what to do now ? try to contact this "company" to cancel this "transaction started" ? Or just let it die ?


I feel so angry at myself to have left personals info this way






[edit] updated with the correct website address

Hello drk57 and welcome to Scamwarners,

Please post the email header from the email that asked for the payment. This may be a case of email spoofing where the scammer claimed to be from this rental company but the email was actually sent from an unrelated account.

For the bots.
[email protected]

Hello drk57 and welcome to Scamwarners,

Please post the email header from the email that asked for the payment. This may be a case of email spoofing where the scammer claimed to be from this rental company but the email was actually sent from an unrelated account.

Hello Mike and thank you for your answer, I have answered to your private message.

For the record, its also [email protected], and the actual fake site is with a dash, century-lettings (fake one), not centurylettings (real one).

Hello, What Mike needs is the header of the email requesting payment. It will help us shut down the fake Website. The header is needed as proof to the Registar.