Room for Rent and other rental scams
by Michelle Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:44 pm
From: siara pavel < [email protected] >
>> To: Michelle
>> Sent: Tue, Jul 20, 2010
>> Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: A sumptuous and impressive 1 bedroom for
>> rent
>> in Bristol
>>
>>
>> Hello Michelle,
>>
>> Thanks for the interest in my flat, my flat is fully finished and
>> furnished
>> to a high standard.Below are the things you should know about my flat.
>> Rent
>> The rent is 80 pounds per week bills are inclusive in the rent,such as
>> Electricity, water,TV license broadband wireless internet and gas.
>>
>> Security deposit 400pounds
>>
>> At this point that you want to rent my flat, i have a few questions for
>> you:
>>
>> 1. Can you take good care of my flat?
>> 2. How long do you intend to rent my flat for?
>> 3. Can you provide a reference in Brighton?
>> 4. Where are you coming from to rent my flat?.
>>
>> I require answers to my questions before we can proceed with the
>> reservation
>> processes.
>>
>> However owing to my past unpleasant experience of inviting intending
>> tenant
>> to view my flat without confirming if they are actually able to pay their
>> rent at the right time has caused me a great discomfort and as such do not
>> want to experience it anymore, because i have to travel all the way from
>> Scotland to take interested candidate round my flat. I do hope you
>> understand my point of view. In view of the previous occurrences, I do not
>> want to collect any money from you as i have not taken you round my flat
>> and signed your contract with my lawyer, but my lawyer have strongly
>> advised me to confirm that an intending tenant can pay for his or her rent
>> as at when due, so before we can proceed for the viewing, I will like to
>> confirm if you can afford my rent. All you need to do now is to make a
>> transfer of 2 weeks rent plus security deposit of £400 to your friend
>> or
>> partner within the UK through western union transfer. The reason for using
>> western union is that it is faster and my lawyer can easily confirm the
>> transfer almost immediately she receives the scanned copy of the transfer
>> receipt or the details of the transfer.
>>
>>
>> Once you are done with the transfer, get back to me with the scanned copy
>> of
>> the transfer receipt and if you do not have access to a scanner you can
>> as-well write out the details on the transfer receipt as i forward it to
>> my
>> lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid and available for pick-up by
>> your
>> friend or partner.Once my lawyer confirms the transaction valid, i will
>> then
>> ask you to tell your friend to go and pick up the money for you, then we
>> can
>> immediately schedule a convenient time for the viewing. I shall refund the
>> cost of transfer to you when we meet for the viewing. After the viewing,
>> if
>> you like my flat, you can proceed to signing the contract and then pay
>> your
>> rent and security deposit to me directly.
>>
>> I look forward to reading from you soon.
>>
>> Do not hesitate to ask anymore question.
>>
>> Best Regards.
>>
>> Mrs Pave
>>


From: siara pavel < [email protected] >
> To: Michelle
> Sent: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 5:53 pm
> Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: A sumptuous and impressive 1 bedroom for rent
> in Bristol
>
>
> Dear Michelle,
>
> Thanks for your reply, You can stay in my flat for as long as you can
> pay your rent as at when due. I wouldn't want you to get me wrong as i
> didn't ask you to send the deposit to me directly, the idea of making
> a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my
> lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate the
> procedure.
>
> However, i didn't want to collect any money from you as long as you
> have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat. All i
> request of you is to transfer the deposit to your friend or relative
> within the UK through western union , once you've done that, you get
> back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can
> forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid and is
> ready for pick up. After the confirmation might have been made by my
> lawyer, i will then ask you to tell your friend to pick up the money
> for you, and schedule a convenient day and time for the viewing. I
> promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.
>
>
> Kindly let me know your opinion as soon as possible and if you are not
> comfortable with my lawyer procedure, i suggest that you look for
> another flat in other to avoid time wasting.
>
> Kind regards
>
> Mrs Pavel


The thief will tell you that you can rent his accommodation only if you can prove that you have genuine interest. He will ask you send money by wire transfer (normally Western Union) to yourself or a member of the family to show that you have sufficient finances and that you are not a "time waster".

Another variation of this scam is that you need to send (by Western Union) money in order that the keys and other documents can be couriered to you

He will ask you to send him the transfer details.

Make no mistake ! Western Union Transfers can be picked up virtually anywhere in the world and with the minimum of identification. They are almost impossible to trace once the money has been collected. You will never get to see the accommodation or your money again.

If you are reading this because you are looking for property to rent, and you are in contact with this thief you are probably searching Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment by Western Union before viewing, then it will also be a scam. Please forward the mail to me at the address in my signature line and I will investigate and list them if necessary.
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