I'm embarrassed, humiliated, and ashamed to say that I didn't see this coming. I didn't search for "Kate Lynes" email address before, and didn't even think to Google Image Search pictures of the supposed apartment until it was too late, and a "deposit" was sent, 3 months ago now, with no reply. I'm posting the scammer's replies here (besides the introductory replies for a sublease mentioned word-for-word above) to hopefully get it on google, so any keywords other potential victims might search may redirect them here. I hope to be of use to someone, as this thread was terribly hard to find for me in the middle of it all...
"> > Thanks for showing interest in my sublet apartment.
> >
> > My name is Kate Lynes and I am a travel nurse who's looking to rent out her apartment for 3 to 9 months during these period I will be working in a major medical centre in Seattle and am on the verge of moving ahead of my New rotation. I am also open to a long/short term. I intend to arrive in Seattle a week before i start work so as to have my accommodation situation in Seattle sorted ASAP as well as get myself familiar with the area.
> >
> > My apartment is fully furnished with everything, from living room appliances and furniture w/pull-over sofa, to TV/cable DVD player, Wifi, center carpet. Bedroom consists wardrobes and drawers and new sheets as well. Also complete kitchen tools and equipment's too, such as a new refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, cooking pots and pans, dishes and glasses, electric kettle, etc. You can consider moving in with your personal belongings only. Utilities covered are electric, water, gas, cable, telephone, Internet and garbage disposal.
> >
> > There are no strict policies to having pets in the apartment, but I would prefer to have not more than 2 dogs/cats.
> >
> > There are no background checks or management processes required to secure the apartment, just the usual data form and a sublease agreement to sign and finalize. And since I have a long-term existing lease in the building. Finally, I'd like if you can share some information about yourself and have also attached my picture:)
> >
> > I look forward to your email and any more questions you may have.
> >
> > Best Regards,
> > Kate"
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"It's good to hear from you back. I've been tied up with a lot to take care of at the hospital and my relocation to Seattle. I moved to the Trauma ER section and it's been all but busy week for me.
My apartment is located in Foggy Bottom apartment building on 2400 Pennsylvania Ave NW. It is completely furnished with the living room furniture (just as in the pictures) and a sofa with pull-over. And has all the basic appliances and equipments. The kitchen is equipped with the necessary kitchen ware, cooking wares etc. There is a refrigerator and a washer and dryer in the apartment also. I actually had to arrange for the washer/dryer by myself since the building offers it's own laundry, but I prefer to do in the apartment (and got the permission to do so). The bedroom has extra sets of bedspreads and duvets. The wardrobes and drawers have been emptied already. The bathroom is well tidy and comfy too. I arranged 2 fresh sets of towels in the bath just in case too.
The rent covers the most important utilities i.e. electricity, water, gas, telephone, Internet, Tv/cable and garbage disposal. There is also a free single car parking space included, within the building's designated parking area. The building also has some amenities of his own such as a swimming pool, gym & fitness center, business center, central air-conditioning, laundry and a bar/relaxation center too.
My apartment is actually simple and open, in the sense that it is not packed, rather it is quite free to move around and also easy to tidy/clean. The Public transportation is both convenient and plentiful. The lighting on the street is sufficient enough and makes the area safe and secure to commute even at night. The apartment is available for the entire period that you wish to stay and you won't be sharing with anyone except if you have any friend, if you will be moving in my place it would have to be decided upon through the pictures and then we can proceed with the necessary forms and paper works.
I would prefer to sign notable agreement with you for the place, highlighting the basics. I will need at least the first month rent ($1300) with the refundable deposit (of $1200, making a total of $2500) to secure the place after signing the paperwork. I can email the paperwork to you to sign after you might have filled the necessary forms.
To proceed I am attaching the rental forms needed to be filled just to have written information of your intent to lease my apartment. I suppose part of the information will also need to be transferred to the contract.
I plan to make the keys available to collect through the building, upon your arrival, so you can just pick up the keys at the building prior to moving-in or better still I can have it posted to you via DHL or UPS. I have attached additional pictures of the apartment also, and very much look forward to sealing this with you.
I might be shifting at the hospital very frequently. One of the nurses in my section had an emergency and may not be showing up this week while the nurse coming in her place is new, so I will be required to work longer times. Regarding maintenance, there's a department at the apartment building that take care of that and there's a washer and a dryer within the apartment.
There's a parking space for you to park your car, so if you are coming with your car you won't be paying extra charges because it's included in the sublease and the apartment is well furnished.
Hope to read from you soon.
Best regards,
Kate
PS : i'll need the copy your driver's license ID to forward to the landlord. Cos a valid iD will be needed before I can get the contract document ready."
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"Thanks for your time, cooperation and patience in wrapping up the sublease agreement.
Please find enclosed the signed contract as required to secure the agreement for my apartment. I will appreciate if you can read through and send back a signed copy to my email.
You will be proceeding to secure the place with initial deposits on receipt of your signed agreement copy. I will supply you with my banking instructions for you to make the payment directly to the Landlord. So, I need you to send the contract document and send it back to me. I look forward to your email and to finalize everything.
I'll be looking forward to hearing back from you.
Best regards,
Kate"
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"How are you doing today. Hope everything is fine ? The landlord was in contact with me saying he's not available to co-ordinate sealing up of the arrangement via Bank transfer. So he asked a check mailed to him.
Kindly get back to me so I can send you the landlord address where the check will be mail.
Let me know as soon as you receive this email.
Regards,
Kate"
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On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 6:48 PM, Kate Lynes <
[email protected]> wrote:
"Hi [redacted],
Thanks for email and have the copy of the signed contract document with me now. I'm happy to have sealed the agreement with you for the place. You may proceed to secure the place with initial deposits for the rental fees and deposit via wire Transfer.
So, You are to confirm the payment to the landlord account below.
(bank account noted - Tim)Bank of America
Account Name: Erik K Wallace
Account #: 291015980186
Routing #: 081904808
Address : 2400 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
Bank Address : 1090 Vermont Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20005
you would get back to me with the payment confirmation which are:
- The Confirmation receipt
- The Amount sent.
As soon as you get these details and have confirmed, I will appreciate if you can get back to me with the transfer/deposit slip so I can have everything setup on how you will be moving in.
Best regards,
Kate"
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"How are you doing today. Hope everything is fine ? The landlord was in contact with me saying he's not available to co-ordinate sealing up of the arrangement via Bank transfer. So he asked a check mailed to him.
Kindly get back to me so I can send you the landlord address where the check will be mail.
Let me know as soon as you receive this email.
Regards,
Kate"
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"Find below the address where you mail the Cashier's check.
Erik Wallace
1913 Chippewa Road
Waukegan Illinois 60087
Let me know as soon as you get it done.
Regards,
Kate"
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"Did you receive my email ?
Regards,
Kate"
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"Thanks for your email and payment confirmation. I have the payment receipt with me now and have forward it to my landlord. will get back to you as soon as he receive the payment.
Meanwhile, everything is fine and I'll write you back soon
Regards,
Kate
PS : It will be safe if I should mail the keys to you and provide you with tracking number to know when it will get to your at your doorstep."
---
"I have the details with me and will keep you posted.
Have a great weekend!
Regards,
Kate"
---
"Thanks for your email.
I'll update you today and get back to you.
Regards,
Kate"
---
"How have you been? I'm sorry I've been really busy with recent long shifts at work. I had some news I needed to share with you quickly, after I received a note from the leasing office. Apparently there was an issue with the lease and I needed to inform you on time, before I got caught up with work at the hospital.
It appears the leasing office is putting on hold on the sublease. They explained there is a policy in place that requests an upfront rent payment for at least 2 months before they can approve the sublease. This is in addition to security deposit, as I have previously send them proof of your payment of $2500 being the sum of the rent and security deposit. They are now requesting I send them another proof of $1300 to cover for the 1 month rent in advance and which means total rent you have confirm is for 2 months since you have already confirm 1 month + security deposit, before approving the sublease.
I will appreciate if you can email me at once as soon as you find this email, hopefully you are able to commit the remaining 1 month so we can have the agreement stand and you can move-in without any problem. So my Landlord instructed me you should have the payment sent to him via Money Gram.
Below is the landlord's Information that you will be making the payment via Money Gram.
Name : Erik Wallace
City/State : Waukegan Illinois 60087
You should have the payment sent to him by Money Gram, All you have to do is locate any Money Gram office/location or check there website on
http://locations.moneygram.com/ to check any nearest office and send the payment to the Landlord.
You would get back to me with the payment confirmation which are:
- The money transfer "Reference Number"
- The sender's first and last name and also the location where it was sent from.
- The Amount sent.
- Scanned receipt.
I'll await to hear back from you once you get the payment done and send me the receipt given to you. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation at all times.
Best regards,
Kate
PS : The keys will send to you Today once you get everything finalize and then provide you with the tracking number for you to know when it will get to you at your doorstep (Destination)"
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"Thanks for your email and I can see you did not understand the contract that was sent to you. But I'll take my time to explained better here as am already at work and won't be able to receive call until am done. Regarding your question, I want you to know that since you planning to stay in the unit for 3 month which will start May, 2016 and ending in August, 2016.
Then the payment you confirm to the landlord is just for 1 month rental fees + security deposit. So I need you to understand that the security deposit will be given back to you when you are leaving the unit. While, the rent you were ask to confirm now will be from where first rent fees you paid ended which is June 2016 - July 2016. Then the last rental fee which is for August will be confirm when by the July during your stay in the apartment.
So, The contract I sent you today it an evidence and proof for the fees for extra 1 month rent in advance which was signed by the landlord and myself and you need to abide with respect the rules and regulation on the contract.
Then for the keys, I'll have it deliver via One-Day Express mail just as I promised and once you get everything done Today. Hope everything is understood and I'll await to hearing back from you if you have any further question.
Do have a nice day
Regards,
Kate"
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"Thanks for your email.
I understand your better and I'll explain to the landlord about your request (i.e. received keys, inspected apartment, etc.) which am very sure his going to agree with you just for security purpose. Meanwhile, for you to know that everything is fine that's why I sent you the copy of my ID along with the contract.
So, Just be rest assure that everything is fine and you going to move in this weekend as well.
Regards,
Kate
PS : The apartment name is Foggy Bottom apartment building and I can be reach on 202 741 9760. But, will give you a call once am done with work."
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"How are you doing Today and Hope everything is fine. I just got a call from the Landlord now and he let me understand that due to that you did not confirm the payment for the 1month extra rent in advance. The contract would be terminated today and your refund will be send back to you account. So, Kindly provide me with your bank details where you want me to send the refund back to you.
Am sorry cos I know this is too close for you but have try my best to secure the unit but the landlord insist you confirm the rent.
Kindly get back to me as soon as you receive this email.
Regards,
Kate"
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"Am really sorry about that [redacted]! Send me the address where you want me to mail you a check.
Regards,
Kate"
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"Thanks for your understanding and once I have the check mail out to your address. I'll forward you the tracking number along with the receipt but that will be first thing on Mon - Tues as am very busy this weekend.
Regards,
Kate"
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And that's about it. I went to the police and filed a report just in case they use my information to scam other people (as I hope this Kate Lynes person doesn't get all the blame, and knows someone's using her passport and facebook pictures), but they said they couldn't charge them with anything out of state lines (I'm in New York, this Erik K Wallace guy's in Illinois), so if anyone knows what to do from here - I'm listening.