Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: "Justin Ludin" <[email protected]>
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: Re: 39 Camden Wharf, Cork City Centre, Co. Cork
Hello,

I just read your e-mail regarding my apartment located in : 39 Camden Wharf, Cork. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 bathroom and 1 kitchen. I bought this apartment for my daughter during her studies in Ireland, but now she's back home permanently, so I'm renting the place for unlimited time.
Before we go any further I would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons you intend to live in the apartment, and for how long. The flat is exactly like in the pictures, fully furnished and renovated. Also, very important, the utilities (cold/hot water, electricity, wireless broadband Internet, digital TV, 1 parking spots, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) are INCLUDED in the price of 600EURO/month. As for me, you can rest assured that I will never ask you to leave the apartment. My daughter is building her life here, and i am too old to move to Ireland, so we won't disturb you.
You can use my furniture, or you can also use your own if you prefer. If you decide to use yours, you will have access to a very large and well ventilated cellar, where you can store my furniture.
Now, a little bit about myself so we can get to know each other better. My name is Justin Ludin and I'm a 58 years old structural engineer and I work for MWH Global Engineering. I worked hard to have a good career and I really respect hard earned money. The company I work for they have projects all around the world so most of my time I'm traveling.
I have a lovely wife, Sarah and a 25 year old daughter, Maria. I am very proud to say that soon I'm going to be a grandfather . Another member of our family is a 8 year old Labrador which we all love, so, I have no problem if you will keep pets.
I'm in Rome/Italy now and I work for a new project here and the only inconvenience is that my job doesn't allow me to leave Rome even for one single day. We just hired some new staff and I'm in charge of their training.
But this won't affect you at all. I can make arrangements to rent the apartment from Rome (on my expense of course).

Looking forward to hear from you soon.


All the best from Italy!



Justin Ludin
Via dei Gracchi 296
Rome, 00192
Italy

From: "Justin Ludin" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: 39 Camden Wharf, Cork City Centre, Co. Cork
Hi,

Thank you for your reply but the matter is that I'm in Rome already. Like I have inform you before, the price you shall pay for one month of rent will be 600EURO, with no extra taxes to pay. The security deposit is 1000EURO. The money, I want to revive it monthly to my bank account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money to my bank account. The apartment is ready for you, you will need only to receive the keys and the contract to check it, and see if you like it.
Obviously we need a way to complete this deal, that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after. In order of that I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 3 days, if you move fast as well. The solution is a worldwide third party company called Airbnb (www.airbnb.com), they will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the rental package.
We use this company to see that you are an trusting and serious person. They will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the rental package. With this procedure you will be able to check the apartment before I receive the payment. Please be aware that is NOT necessary for you to register with Airbnb given that I'm a registered user for 4 years and I've made over 5 transactions with them so far. They are really professional and they have great services.
Let me know if you are interested so I can provide with all the steps of this transaction. You need to know everything about this process before we get this started. I think is right for both of us.

Thank you and hope to hear from you soon!

From: "Justin Ludin" <[email protected]>
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: Re: 39 Camden Wharf, Cork City Centre, Co. Cork
Hi,

This transaction is not made face to face, this is the whole reason for using Airbnb, for both of us to be 100% protected. Regarding the process, you will only have to deposit to Airbnb the first month of rent from contract and security deposit 600EURO + 1000EURO = 1600EURO so they can proceed with the shipping, and you can receive the rental package (keys and documents). I will pay for a 3 days delivery so you will receive the keys and the contract signed by me right away. I will explain you step by step how this process will work:
1 - To start the process all I need is your full info(full name and address).
2 - I will go at Airbnb to deposit the keys and the contract on your name as the intended receiver.
3 - Airbnb will check the package to see if everything is in order and also the legal papers that will come along with the keys and proof of ownership with their Real Estate Professional Department.
4 - Airbnb will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the keys and the papers in their custody. They will also send you all the payment instructions to complete the rental transaction.
5 - At this point you will have to go to your Bank Location and make a money transfer to the bank account of Airbnb Representative for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit is 1600EURO.
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the payment details to Airbnb.
7 - Airbnb will verify the transfer and if everything is in order they will start the shipping procedures using UPS or TNT Next Day Shipping Service.
8 - After you receive the package, you will go and check the apartment and in 3 days (inspection time) you must contact Airbnb to inform them if you keep the apt or not and if everything is in order you will instruct Airbnb to send me the information about the money deposit and I will be able to receive the funds. If you don`t like the apartment they will be sending the money back to you and you will send back the keys and contract. Airbnb can't release the funds without your approval.
Now i must know for sure if you agree because here are a lot of peoples interested to have this apartment rented and i want to know for sure what i must tell them. If you agree what i suggested i will tell them that my apartment is already rented and i will keep it for you. If you agree then i must have all the shipping details so i will be able to make all the arrangements for the Airbnb delivery.

Thank you for your interest and wait news from you.

This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union, MoneyGram, pre-paid credit card or bank transfer with a promise that you can have the keys to a property that does not belong to him.

Sounds safe. It's not!

At other times, he will ask for proof that you are able to pay the deposit and rent due to a string of time wasters.
This proof is in the form of a Western Union or MoneyGram payment to a lawyer,a friend or family member.

In either case, if payment is made and you give this person the details, they will collect the money.
You will not hear from them again.

All the details such as names, addresses, pictures etc. that the scammer uses in order to back up his story, are stolen from elsewhere.

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 Craigslist, Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment 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.

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for the info. I was also tracking this same scammer and went even a step further: pretending to be very interested in the house he finally sent me a fake email from "Airbnb" including the bank account IBAN and details where he wants me to transfer the money to (no real name other than "Justin Ludin" though); and an email address ([email protected]) to send the receipt to once the payment has been done.

I was wondering if there are any actual legal actions we can take with this information to locate the bank account real owner and let the justice decide how should he pay for all the people he has already cheated into this before he notices he has been discovered and closes the bank account.

Any ideas are appreciated.

I can forward you the full fake Airbnb email (or post it here) if you want.

You can post the emails here with your personal information removed. Include the emails with the bank account.

You can also forward to me or Michelle.

Hi Bryon William,

I've just forwarded the fake Airbnb email with bank details to the two of you to the addresses on your signatures.

There's not much sensible information since I didn't give him my real address, but my full name and real gmail address is in there, that's why I haven't posted it here.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

De: "Airbnb" <[email protected]>
Fecha: 14/01/2016 10:18
Asunto: Airbnb Confirmation Code: ABIC0626
Para: <
Cc:




Hello Xxxxxxxxxx,
You are going to rent the apartment located in 39 Camden Wharf, Cork, Ireland.

Scheduled Delivery: 14-January-2016

Description of Goods: Apartment Keys and Rental Contract verified signed by the Sender. Owner of the apartment in: 39 Camden Wharf, Cork, Ireland. All the papers are double checked.


Shipment Information

Ship From:

First Name: Justin
Last Name: Ludin
Address: Via dei Gracchi 296
City: Roma
Zip Code: 00192
Country: Italy


Ship To:

First Name: xxxxxxxxxx
Last Name: xxxxxxx
Address: xxxxxxxx
City: xxxxxx
Zip Code: -
Country: xxxxx


Number of Packages: 1
Service: STANDARD
Weight: 0,5 KGS
Content: KEYS; CONTRACT




*NOTE: The transfer must be made within 48 hours after you will receive this payment invoice!


*** Once the bank transfer clears and our Airbnb Representative confirms payment, we will start the shipping process. We will hold the funds until you send us your confirmation that you are satisfied with the Apartment.

*NOTE: The Buyer has the right of a fully refund of the deposit in case of any plausible reason, or if the apartment is not as in the description. The money will be refunded by our agents in the same day.

About Landlord:








Justin Ludin


Member Since September 2012

Verified ID
• Email Address
Verified
• Phone Number
▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ 75
• Reviewed
149 Reviews
• Offline ID
Personal Info
• Offline ID
Driver License


Superhost

Member Verified
Guaranteed Delivery
Inspection: Guaranteed by Airbnb International
Landlord Address : Via dei Gracchi 296, Roma, 00192, Italy




Payment Policy
As soon as we receive your confirmation we will release payment to the Owner.
Payment Details
Payment to Airbnb by bank transfer:


Account name : Airbnb
IBAN: IT41M0760105138254729954731
SWIFT/BIC: BPPI IT RR XXX
Bank Name : BANCO POSTA S.P.A
Address: Viale Europa 190, Roma, 00144, Italy
Mod Noted (BW)

Payment instructions: We require the payment to be made through Bank Wire Transfer, money transfer service online or at your bank office. For a quick transfer, you must submit payment by Urgent Transfer (SEPA) to the following Airbnb Representative bank account. You will pay some additional fees but in this way we will be able to receive the funds in 24 Hours and we will start the shipping immediately.


Once the transfer is made, please forward us the following information:
- Send us the receipt from your payment by email: ([email protected])








RENT PER MONTH € 600
SECURITY DEPOSIT € 1000
AIRBNB CONCIERGE PREMIUM GUEST SERVICES € 0

TOTAL PAYOUT
€ 1600

THANKS FOR RENTING WITH AIRBNB









This communication contains proprietary information and may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, the reading, copying, disclosure or other use of the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited and you are instructed to please delete this e-mail immediately.


Thanks for using Airbnb

© Airbnb, Inc.

Hi all,

Is there any new update on this?
I feel like the longer we wait the harder it'll be to catch the scammer and the easier for him to get rid of evidence (delete accounts etc).

Can't believe there's nothing we can do with the bank account number other than post it here so other people is aware of it.

No one here from Italy who can go to the local authority and inform them of this?
I'm sure the police has an IT department in charge if tracking these kind of things.
They surely can also see if there are any strange movements on the bank account and prosecute the real owner.

As a reflexion, it's unveliaveable how unprotected we are on the internet with scammers impersonating other people and even companies (Airbnb) to "steal" large sums of money continuously and not being caught because there's no official global organization to report this to.
Who should we report this to?
Google, because using gmail?
Airbnb for impersonation?
The bank itself? But with which reasons?
But is there something they can really do other than blocking the accounts?
Police, but in which country and how?

Anyway, at least I didn't lose any money, I feel sorry for all the people who ever fell into this or any similar variation, the guy surely is laughing out loud in his house...

[AlanJones]

Who should we report this to?
Google, because using gmail?
Airbnb for impersonation?
The bank itself? But with which reasons?

Please do not report it to Google - they will shut his account and it will take him seconds to open a new one and then the warning here is worthless and more victims will lose money.

The bank account has already been reported by the site's moderators - they have contacts that will make sure that the report goes to the right people.