Rental Scammer - [email protected]

Antonio Giattino <[email protected]>:
Hello,

First, Thank you for your e-mail.
Second, sorry for my late reply.
I am the owner of the apartment. My name is Antonio Giattino graphic designer from Rome / Italy.
The apartment has 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom. Is available for long-term, it's in excellent condition, very clean and fully furnished with all the necessary equipment and appliances. The apartment has public transport near and not far away of shopping center, sports club and coffee shops.
The rent will be 1200 Euro per month including utilities (water, electricity, internet, cable TV). A security bond of 1200 Euro is required at the start of the lease and it will be refunded at the end of the contract (a 30 day notice is required). Pets are allowed in the property as long as they don’t cause any serious damage. The apartment can also be rented unfurnished in which case i will arrange for furniture to be collected and placed in storage. If you have any question please let me know.

If further interested, please give me some information about yourself (age, job, lifestyle or whatever you think makes you a good tenant).

Apartment address: 31 Swift Hall, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Apartment pictures: http://goo.gl/7Br8xB

Sorry, rent allowance is not accepted.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Antonio Giattino <[email protected]>:
Hello,

Thank you for your quick reply.
The thing, is that I'm currently in Italy and for the moment I cannot come in person to show you the apartment. I come to Ireland every 6 months for 3 or 4 days and if you rent the apartment i will stay to a hotel. However, I hope this will not change your intentions to rent my apartment because we can do the transaction through Airbnb ( www.airbnb.com ). I think you already know how the transaction through them goes, but to avoid any misunderstanding I will gladly explain you step by step how the viewing procedure works.
Airbnb is giving you the possibility to see the apartment before you decide if you want to rent it or not.

Please provide me with the following details for your referencing application so that I can register the transaction with Airbnb and move forward.

Full Name ?
Phone number ?
How many people are going to live in my apartment ?
When would you like to move in ?
What term/length lease would you like ?
When are your most suitable times/days to view the apartment ?
Do you have any pets ?

Passport or National ID photo:

The Airbnb agent will require you to show the Passport or National ID in original when you move in.
The copy is needed in order to to prepare the rental agreement.

Once I have these details, I will proceed with the transaction and make all arrangements with Airbnb for an inspection. They will send you an invoice and further information regarding the rental, along with payment instructions to secure the booking. After you secure the booking, an inspection time will be settled and the Airbnb agent will come to show you the apartment and help you with all the formalities so you can move in.

I'm quite confident you will like the apartment, but if by any reason you would like to cancel the transaction or you don't like the apartment, Airbnb will refund all your money. Also, in case you're tied up in another contract and cannot move in immediately, we can arrange the viewing now, and reserve the apartment for you. If you are ready to reach an agreement, please let me know your details.

Best Regards,

Antonio Giattino <[email protected]>:
Hello,

I just done the booking.
Did you received my Reservation request ?

Airbnb will send you an invoice and further information regarding the rental, along with payment instructions to secure the booking. The deposit consists of first rental month and the security deposit and is just to reserve the apartment and not a commitment. You have full payment control until you will check the apartment.
After you secure the booking, an inspection time will be settled and the Airbnb agent will come to show you the apartment and help you with all the formalities so you can move in.

The first month of rent plus security deposit that you have to pay in advance is 100 % refundable if you not agree with the apartment. The payment is a simple formality and by paying you are not obliged to rent the apartment ,you are just respecting the policy of a abroad Airbnb company. It kind of makes sense since they handle abroad rentals and they send the agents all over Europe.

The payment deposit must be confirmed in 2 working days because other way I have to open another case with Airbnb and I must pay for every case.
After you see the apartment please let me know what do you think about it.(I personally think it will fit all your needs)

Best Regards,

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, MoneyGram or Bank Transfer 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.