Harsan Levins Taiwanese Rental Scammer

If you are looking for a place to rent in Taipei be careful. My Taiwanese friend suggested a place on 591.tw and this is the emails that followed:

Harsan Levins:
This is my house address No.82, Sec.1, Roosevelt Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City

Did you heard about FedEx ? They have a subdivision agency named "FedEx Realty Century" , specialized in rental contracts only. But the problem is that they don't have any offices in Taiwan .
So, FedEx Realty will send an agent to Taipei to deliver the keys and the documents personal . Also he will help you to inspect my apartment.
Last week i went into a FedEx Realty Century office and an agent explained me the whole steps , how they assist us .
To avoid any misunderstanding i will be glad to explain to you step by step how the viewing procedure works through this agency . Just let me know if you are interested.

Because it is my fault that I can not personally come to show you the apartment, I will pay the agency services fees.

Thank you

My reply:

Thank you for your reply.

We are very interested in the apartment and would like to arrange a viewing at the earliest convenience. Please let me know the step by step process of the viewing.

Best wishes,

Harsan Levins:

Hello ,
I will try to explain you the process very careful so you can understand it . So forgive me for the long email

This are the viewing steps :

1 - To start the process i will need your info(full name, delivery address and a cell phone number where you can be reached).
2 - I will go to the FedEx Realty office to deposit the keys and the ownership documents .
3 - FedEx Realty will check the ownership documents and the apartment registration address .
4 - If the documents are legal , FedEx Realty will send you the invoice agreement(via e-mail) where you will have all the details about this agreement + payment information .
5 - When you will receive the invoice, you’ll have to transfer the payment (one month of rent + the security deposit) to FedEx Realty, according to the instructions from the invoice. The deposit will be just a formality, and it will not commit you to rent my apartment.
6 - The payment will remain in the custody of FedEx Realty until you will check the apartment and move in .After you will pay the deposit,FedEx Realty will send an agent to your registered address (in the next 24-48 hours) to make the delivery . The FedEx Realty agent will help you to inspect my house and sign the legal documents .
7 – If you will like my apartment, you will sign the contract and you will be able to move when you desire . If ,for any reason, you will not be satisfied with my property, the FedEx Realty agent will return your payment . The refund will be made in cash, immediately.

The entire viewing process will take 2-4 days. I will attach you here some pictures of me and my family ( my wife Nicole and my son Jason who graduated in Taipei ).

Thank you

Thank you for reporting this scam. What email address are they using to send the emails?

FedEx Realty is ridiculous ... did they give you any phone numbers or information for the fake FedEx?

Hi
Thanks for sharing this!!
I just contacted this guy and found your warning.

Thank you for reporting this scam. What email address are they using to send the emails?

FedEx Realty is ridiculous ... did they give you any phone numbers or information for the fake FedEx?

[email protected] is the one that they used to send e-mails to me

The guy that sent e-mails to me calls himself Ethan Berett.

Same scam. after he sent the instruction, I replied

"Hi Ethan,

How much is the deposit? You said previously that you will be responsible for the payment. It should you who make the deposit and not me.

Also It would be a lot easier if I contact the agent directly. Where is the realty office?

Thanks"

Then he replied:

"I will pay the agency services costs. You must pay the temporary guarantee .

I'm sorry to inform you but FedEx Realty will not start the delivery of the keys and documents until you will confirm the payment to them. They have clear rules . I will also tell you why the agency request this kind of advance payment ...As i told you before, FedEx Realty will send an agent from UK to deliver the keys and to help you inspect my apartment. What if you will not appear to the viewing? In this way the agency will be sure that the potential tenant will follow the inspection .
The agency must have in custody the following : 1. The owner apartment documents, the contract and the keys . 2. The payment guarantee from the potential tenant .

Thank you for your time !
Regards"

I asked for where to deposit the money just to see what information he would provide, he only said

"You will receive the payment details from the agency , as soon as i will begin the process through FedEx Realty Century."

and never replied again.

That's exactly the same way that my friend deal with in Taipei!
Fraud's name is Joseph Wardis.
E-MAIL: [email protected]
---------the following email is by him------------------------
Hello,

My name is Joseph Wardis and i'm the owner of this house . I'm from London, United Kingdom ( Live here) .
I'm 45 years old and I am working as a Detective in Cleveland London Police . I bought this apartment for my son , during his studies in Taipei, but now he's back home permanently (graduation), so I'm renting the house. I also have a new born 10 months old baby girl.

Unfortunately, my job doesn’t allow me to do any travel for the next few months, so I will not be able to come and meet you personally for a while.
I can make the viewing arrangements from London (on my expense of course) so you can be able to inspect my apartment ( through a rental agency).

About the price : The rent price is 16500 $twd per month including water,internet/TV Cable,management fees and 1 parking space. Also, a security deposit (bond) of 16500 $twd is required and it will be refunded at the end of the contract (a 30 day notice is required).

If you have other questions about my house , price or location, just ask me.

Thank you
-----------------------------------------------
Hello ,

Thank you for the nice words.

Because I don’t had time to find a trustworthy person, don’t have any friends in the area to send the keys, I found an alternate solution . In order to close the viewing process safe for both of us, I found a rental agency who will handle everything (Viewing and payment).

To avoid any misunderstanding i will be glad to explain to you step by step how the viewing procedure works through this agency .

In the meantime, can you please confirm the following:

· How many people would be living in the property?
· When would you like to move in?
· What term/length lease would you like?
· Do you have any pets?
· When are your most suitable times/days to view the property?

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

Thanks,
------------------------------------
Hello ,
You seem to be a reliable person . Also ,after I spoke with my wife we decided that you are suitable to rent our apartment ( after the viewing) .I don't have a problem with your moving date but we need to start the viewing process this week so i can have a decision from your side ( positive or negative) as soon as possible.
My son studied at Shih Chien University = College of Business and Information ( Department of International Business Management ) .

I will try to explain you the process very careful so you can understand it . So forgive me for the long email :)

Did you heard about FedEx ? They have a subdivision agency named "FedEx Realty Century" , specialized in rental contracts only. But the problem is that they don't have any offices in Taiwan .
So, FedEx Realty will send an agent to Taipei to deliver the keys and the documents personal . Also they will help you to inspect my apartment.
Last week i went into a FedEx Realty Century office and an agent explained me the whole steps , how they assist us .

This are the viewing steps :

1 - To start the process i will need your info(full name, delivery address and a cell phone number where you can be reached).
2 - I will go to the FedEx Realty office to deposit the keys and the ownership documents .
3 - FedEx Realty will check the ownership documents and the apartment registration address .
4 - If the documents are legal , FedEx Realty will send you the invoice agreement(via e-mail) where you will have all the details about this agreement + payment information .
5 - When you will receive the invoice, you’ll have to transfer the payment (one month of rent + the security deposit) to FedEx Realty, according to the instructions from the invoice. The deposit will be just a formality, and it will not commit you to rent my apartment.
6 - The payment will remain in the custody of FedEx Realty until you will check the apartment and move in .After you will pay the deposit,FedEx Realty will send an agent to your registered address (in the next 24-48 hours) to make the delivery . The FedEx Realty agent will help you to inspect my house and sign the legal documents .
7 – If you will like my apartment, you will sign the contract and you will be able to move when you desire . If ,for any reason, you will not be satisfied with my property, the FedEx Realty agent will return your payment . The refund will be made in cash, immediately.

The entire viewing process will take 2-4 days. If you want , i can send you some pictures of my family, my passport,Police ID in order to prove my identity .

Thank you
================================
Hi Joseph,

Great to see you have done some efforts to make this work! Thank you for that.
But it would be good to have a quick look of your ID and perhaps some more pictures of your property since we are about to get money involved.


Thank you again.

By My friend
==================================================
Then He e-mailed some pictures of family and several licenses that obviously is faking by computer......