by Con Warner
Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:49 am
Hello there,
My name is Diego Borsani and I received your email of interest for the rental of my apartment located in Gilbert St, Westminster, London.
I'm looking for someone to live in the apartment, as soon as possible, because my company has won an auction for a big construction project in Italy. I'm a project manager in civil engineering, so my accommodation period here will be very large (more than 4 years).
I would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons do you intend to live in my apartment, for what period, etc. I must tell you from the beginning that I don't have a problem if you are a student and I don't have a problem with pets.
Now I am going to tell you something about the apartment and myself so we can get to know each other.
The apartment is furnished, but I have the option of sending all my furniture into my private storage if you want to bring your own (no extra costs). The rent for 1 month is 900 GBP (for the whole apartment) including all utilities (water, TV, electricity, council tax, wi-fi, parking).
About myself, I am 36 years old and as I told you I am a project manager and my job even though it pays very well takes all of my time. I bought this apartment while I was working on a 6 year contract in London.
You can move in the apartment in one week. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys but I think we'll find a solution.
Thank you for your interest and looking forward to a future collaboration and friendship.
Please contact me directly: [email protected]
Best regards,
Diego
Hi again Mr Warner,
Thanks very much for your reply, I can see your willingness to rent the flat. Your application form is being approved, so you can rent the apartment if you are still interested, of course. I shall be renting you my home, please take care of the flat like it were your own.
I am giving you the flat in trust so please don't disappoint me. I promise you that you will love the apartment.
I agree with your rental period and terms. I request one month deposit : 900GBP.
Let me know if you are interested please, as soon as you read this message because I really need to take care of this matter.
Best regards,
Diego Borsani
PS: I request a photo of you ,if you have some, and copies of you Id's (license,passport) in order to know each other better. I will send copies of my ID card and passport if you want, too.
From: diego B <[email protected]>
Date: 2010/9/2
Subject: RE: Reply to your ad: Recently renovated 1Bedroom flat near Oxford Street!
To: Con Warner
Hi again Con Warner,
I have attached a copy of my Id to this email. Look ,as I have told you I am a project manager in civil engineering and is very hard for me to come in UK. I can't take the risk to leave my new job for days and when I arrive in UK to see that I come for nothing. I want to be 100% sure that when I will meet you, we do the rent papers then i can come back in Italy.
So I can be sure of that, look how we can do :
You make a payment from your name and address to one of your friend's name and address or reverse (from your friend name or a member from your family onto your name) in UK using Western Union for 1 months rent that means £900 and send me the scanned receipt. As soon as I see the scanned receipt that you have made the payment, I will come in UK and you will see the flat and rent it. After that, we will go together at the Western Union office and you will take the money back and pay me. So all you have to do is to find a Western Union office and wire £900 from your name to your friend name or reverse and send the scanned receipt. I am asking you this to be sure that I do not come in UK for nothing. I hope you understand.
P.S : As I told you,I have a lot of customers interested to rent the apartment. I will reserve the apartment to the first one that provides me the scanned paper from Western Union. As soon as I have the confirmation from Western Union that the money are available on his name I stop the transactions with all the other customers!
In case that you don`t know how to use Western Union, all you have to do is to go at the nearest Western Union office in your city and you talk with an agent to send some money to a friend. When you will make the transfer you will have to pay a small fee at Western Union which is around 40-50 £ that I will deduct it from the total rent. The money will stay in the Western Union system till we will sign the rent papers and both we will go to a Western Union office and you will pick up the money and pay me.
If you accept my conditions I wait your e-mail. I don't want you to feel offended if I'll not answer you in case of a negative answer, because I don't see the reason why we should continue to write each other,since I will not accept any other way to close the deal.
Respectfully!
Diego
This person asks 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 payment to a friend or family member.
Sounds safe. It's not!
At other times, this person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union and they will send the keys through a courier company.
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.
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, Craigslist 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.
