Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: House



Hi

Thanks for your reply. I am pleased to offer you a superb and spacious studio flat located in Bellew Street, Tooting, London SW17 0AD. It features double bedroom, bathroom with shower and w.c.

Rent per month: £680 includes all utility bills and there are no hidden fees!
Deposit: £650 refundable at the end of the tenancy.

However, the flat is available and all the facilities present in the property are all new, so i am looking for a responsible and clean tenant. I am reliable private Landlord and i will make sure any problem is quickly rectified if anything went wrong in the flat.

I have been disappointed lately with unserious people messing me about with viewing as i have scheduled viewing with some people, it was highly frustrating and annoying because many of them do not turn up. Nevertheless, i will appreciate your sincere reply as i would like to know a bit more about yourself. Can you keep the flat with high standard of cleanliness? How long do you intend to stay? Do you have character or rental reference?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Sam

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.

"samantha boakes" <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Michelle

I have received the contract from my solicitor, find the enclosed files with this email. Read through the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement and let me know if you are okay with the obligations? However, my solicitor had just informed me about 2 other interested candidates that have provided their details to draft the tenancy agreement and also willing to pay an advance deposit to secure the flat but i have declined because they have many pets and they don't meet with the criteria. Yet some people do not have the money to pay the deposit and they disturb the landlord to arrange the viewing but many do not turn up so i wouldn't like such to happen again.

I am giving you 100% guarantee as the flat is still available. I would need to take a day off to come down to Wellingborough in order to take you round my flat. Nevertheless, i will appreciate if you would be able to get the deposit transferred via online banking or locate the bank. Upon verification of payment, we can proceed with the viewing at 6pm on Thursday. The holding deposit will be credited to the security deposit.

Please let me know if you are willing to proceed with the payment so that i can provide to you the bank account details. You will pay the rent on your move in date and note that making a deposit doesn't mean you must rent my flat after the viewing, if you decide not to proceed with the rent, then i will refund the deposit immediately without any deduction.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Sam