by Michelle
Sat Jul 24, 2010 1:01 pm
From: Oliver Grant <[email protected]>
To: Michelle
Sent: Sat, 24 July, 2010
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: 2 bedroom flat, large, clean and comfortable
Hello,
I'm sorry for my late reply. My name is Oliver Grant and the flat is still available for rent. I have left form UK a few years ago and settled in Italy but I have kept the flat. The flat was redecorated last year and the flat is looking very nice and clean. The property has a fully furnished kitchen, clean and well tidy sitting rooms, laundry room, and fully furnished with home utilities like: electric shower, Lounge, Vacuum Cleaner, Toaster, Oven and microwave, dryer, iron, washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher, power-shower, heater, cable ready, TV set and dvd player, Internet connection, equipped kitchen and everything a house needs. I'm interested in finding someone clean who can take care of this house more than getting money from renting it if you know what I mean.
The monthly rent is 500 pounds and the advance it's the price for the first 2 months (1 advance and 1 guarantee). If you have the money I could come in the next few days to show you the apartment and maybe sign the rental agreement if you like it but first I have to be sure you are honest.
Please let me know when you intend to move in? how long you want the contract for? and any other things you feel I should know, because two weeks ago a person told me he is really interested and he asked me to go to Southampton to meet him and sign the rental agreement and when I arrived there no person showed up to rent my place and I lost time and money for nothing.
I will wait for your e-mail,
Oliver
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.
