MayfairLondon-Lets selfcatering apartments - scam?

sorry i´m new here, so if this thread doesn´t fit well, many apologizes in advance.

I was wondering if you could help me figure out if an estate agency, MayfairLondon-Lets selfcatering apartments, is a scam, because I'am searching for an appartment in London. We´ve corresponded through email about a flat listed on gumtree (http://www.gumtree.com/london/22/63273022.html). The homepage of Mayfairlondon-lets is the following http://www.mayfairlondon-lets.co.uk/#/hill-street-flat/4542626310. I found this accomodation in London and the pictures looks great and its in the middle of London but the price sounds too cheap to be true. I googled both address of the agency and address of the assumed appartment, but couldn´t find neither. Also the agency's mail address of couldn´t be found by google. Then I asked them via email if it´s possible to rent their flat during the time i´m abroad and a couple of other questions, but their reply provided no answers at all.

So this is what they told me:

"Dear Sir /Ma,

Thank for the enquiry.

Please note that our Hill Street Apartment (2 Bedrooms) will be available for the period you requested.
The price for this period (7 nights) is £350.

We accept 35% deposit and £200 security deposit at the time of booking.

35% deposit from the rent rate is £105

Total deposit required is £305.

You can view the apartment pictures and full details on the link below.

http://www.mayfairlondon-lets.co.uk/#/h ... 4542626310

Let us know if you wish to proceed.

If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Richard Wilcox
www.mayfairlondon-lets.co.uk"


After I asked for a telephone call, nothing came in response.

I hope you can help me.

Hi there,

Seeing how the site was created just over a week ago I certainly wouldn't believe this site. You were right about feeling it was a scam, I advise you to break off all contact with them, I will follow up on this site and see that it gets closed down

Can you send me the headers of the emails please? If you are unsure how to retrieve headers just ask and a staff member will assist

Thanks for reporting!

Much of the wording, and even some of the testimonials have been copied word for word from this website.

http://www.centrallondonlettings.com/home/AboutUs.aspx

I love the distorted picture of Tower Bridge that looks more like a still from a horror movie.

From the 'Terms and Conditions'

"COMPANY" REFERS TO http://WWW.MAYFAIRLONDON-LETS.CO.UK, A UK REGISTERED COMPANY

........ not according to UK Companies' House it isn't.

Interesting contact phone number too

Phone Prefix 0844 8124
CITIES: Internet / Discount Services
Carrier: FleXtel Limited

Flextel are well known - for providing redirect telephone numbers. In other words, telphone numbers that appear to be based in the UK but actually redirect to another number anywhere else in the world.

here's the email header:

Received: by 10.204.74.209 with SMTP id v17cs178923bkj;
Tue, 3 Aug 2010 06:36:35 -0700 (PDT)
Received: by 10.216.54.132 with SMTP id i4mr783647wec.50.1280842593945;
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:36:33 -0700 (PDT)
Return-Path: <[email protected]>
Received: from mrelay2-v.mgt.gandi.net (relay2-v.mail.gandi.net [217.70.178.76])
by mx.google.com with ESMTP id d5si10034846web.2.2010.08.03.06.36.33;
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:36:33 -0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: neutral (google.com: 217.70.178.76 is neither permitted nor denied by best guess record for domain of [email protected]) client-ip=217.70.178.76;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=neutral (google.com: 217.70.178.76 is neither permitted nor denied by best guess record for domain of [email protected]) [email protected]
X-Originating-IP: 10.0.10.72
Received: from localhost (front2-v.mgt.gandi.net [10.0.10.72])
by mrelay2-v.mgt.gandi.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 42B7A135E3
for <>; Tue, 3 Aug 2010 15:36:35 +0200 (CEST)
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Mailer: Webmail
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
To: >
Reply-To: Mayfair London Flats <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
X-Origin: 94.196.121.249
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 15:36:33 +0200
Subject: 2 bedrooms Self-catering apartment in Mayfair, London (Zone 1)
From: Mayfair London Flats <[email protected]>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear Sir /Ma,=20

Thank for the enquiry.=20

Please note that our Hill Street Apartment (2 Bedrooms) will be available f=
or the period you requested.=20
The price for this period (7 nights) is =C2=A3350.=20

We accept 35% deposit and =C2=A3200 security deposit at the time of booking=
.=20

35% deposit from the rent rate is =C2=A3105=20

Total deposit required is =C2=A3305.=20

You can view the apartment pictures and full details on the link below.

http://www.mayfairlondon-lets.co.uk/#/h ... 4542626310

Let us know if you wish to proceed.=20

If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards=20

Richard Wilcox
www.mayfairlondon-lets.co.uk

www.london-shortlettings.co.uk looks to be another scam site... they are listed at
21 Tabard Street,
Borough,
London,
SE1 4JU
which happens to be also listed as mailing address for the Secretary of State for the Home Department...

WHOIS:
Domain name:
london-shortlettings.co.uk

Registrant:
MARK SUREP

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
The registrant is a non-trading individual who has opted to have their
address omitted from the WHOIS service.

Registrar:
Gandi t/a Gandi [Tag = GANDI]
URL: http://www.gandi.net

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 15-Oct-2010
Renewal date: 15-Oct-2012
Last updated: 15-Oct-2010

Registration status:
Registration request being processed.

Name servers:
a.dns.gandi.net
b.dns.gandi.net
c.dns.gandi.net

Disclaimer
WHOIS lookup made at 17:33:12 22-Oct-2010

Big Ben looks to have put on weight, but its very usefull to know what the date is right now in London.

I assume this is the same bunch, the Mayfair site seems to have broken.

Yes, the mayfair site appears to have had a little accident

I'm fairly sure this new site will have the same look soon. Thanks for reporting!