Rental Scam - Valentina Craparo

Hi, this post is to try and make sure that no one gets caught by this girl. The apartment seemed too cheap to true, and when she asked me to send money by Western Union I was really suspicious. The moible number she provided had incoming call restrictions too. Finally, I realised I was actually going to be in Sydney (the place she said she was 'living') and I suggested we meet in person, to which she told me again to send the money by Western Union. Major scam.

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From: Craparo Valentina <[email protected]>
To: Bishy
Sent: Mon, 12 October, 2010 1:22:26
Subject: Re: realestate.com.au Enquiry: 9112634 - Elizabeth Street MELBOURNE 3000

Like I said, I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the Keys and the contract signed by me right away.I will explain to you step by step how this works .
1) First you will have to send me your full name and address. I will need them for the shipping.
2) I go to the TNT store and leave the Keys and the contract onto your name as the intended receiver.
3) TNT will check the envelope to see if everything is OK with it and also the legal papers that will come along with the Keys.
4) TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody.
5) At this point you will have to go to a Western Union Agent Location and make a money deposit on the TNT payment agent name for the amount we agreed (first month + another month security deposit)
6) After you make the deposit you will have to send the info about the money deposit to TNT (MTCN, sender's name and address)
7) TNT will verify the payment informations and if everything is in order they will deliver the Keys and the contract to you .
8) After you receive the package , You will go and check the apt and in 2 days you must contact them and tell them if you keep the apt or not, if all is in order you will instruct TNT to send me the informations about the money deposit and I will be able to receive the funds . If you don`t like the apt they will send your money back to you and you will send them the keys and the contract to them.
I will pay TNT for the shipping and you will pay Western Union for the Money Transfer fee .
Let me know if we can do this.
Thank you,

On 10/12/2010 12:12 AM, Bishy wrote:

Hi Valentina,

I have just realised - I am in Sydney this Thursday for a conference before I fly to Melbourne on Friday! Would it be possible to meet you in Sydney? I could take the keys and visit the apartment. If for any reason it is not what I am looking for I can drop the keys back to you that afternoon.

Let me know your thoughts about this plan.
Bishy


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From: Craparo Valentina <[email protected]>
To: Bishy
Sent: Mon, 11 October, 2010 21:14:42
Subject: Re: realestate.com.au Enquiry: 9112634 - Elizabeth Street MELBOURNE 3000

Obviously we need a way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after. I have found a way for us to complete the deal safe and fast. In this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days, if you move fast as well. The solution is provided by a company called TNT which is similar to Fedex, DHL or UPS, which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys.
Through this way you will see the apartment and decide if you will stay or not before I receive my payment. Please click on the link bellow to the TNT website to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained:
http://www.tnt.com/express/en_gb/site/home/services.html
Let me know if you are interested please because I really need to take care of this matter by the end of the next week.
Regards,

Welcome here Bishybee and thanks for posting your experience. We are pleased that you are safe.
Could you possibly post the first response that you had from this scammer?
This will help us greatly with our investigations.
Thanks.

Thanks for sharing..... I nearly fall in the same trap..........

Hi Guys,

same thing happened to me.
I also tell you that she is using a fake name of course and she also managed to get the identity documents of the real valentina.

Happy to know that you din not fall in this scam!

cheers

Natali

Hi,

I just found out that this Valentina Craparo is a scammer! I almost fell for it. I felt suspicious from the beginning. So, I have to call TNT to verify the delivery notification. Guess I what I found out from TNT? it's a fake.... I almost wanted to go to Western Union for this...

SOMEONE PLEASE CATCH THAT BASTASRD!! Obviously the fella is still on the loose....

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From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 10:10 AM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent

You really must be kidding me, first of all TNT Italy provides this service. I have spent time and money to make this happen, i sent you my scanned id and passport, i answered all your questions and now you say this. No problem, i have another couple interested. Do not email me back

On 10/15/2010 12:05 PM, Wong wrote:
Hi Valentina,

I have just spoken to TNT and I was told that TNT do not provide such service to hold funds on behalf of sender.

Furthermore, I also notice there is an inconsistency in the delivery notice you sent… It’s not a TNT email address. There is no way to verify that the email sender is actually a third party agent. Please provide some explanation on this. Otherwise, I am not comfortable with this.

Thanks



From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 9:48 AM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent

Confirmation has been resent in both email boxes.
Please complete the payment today so we can avoid further delays
Thanks

On 10/15/2010 11:43 AM, Wong wrote:
Hi Valentina,

I have checked. There is nothing. Can you please send it again please?



From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 9:42 AM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent


It is impossible, check the SPAM email folder for the confirmation, if not let me know an alternative email address of yours

On 10/15/2010 11:37 AM, Wong, Wallace wrote:
Hi Valentina,

I have not heard anything from TNT yet. There is no news

Regards,


From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 9:36 AM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent

Hello,
I have no answer from you. What is happening? We agreed the payment to be completed this week.
Let me know


On 10/14/2010 11:25 AM, Wong wrote:
Hi Valentina,

I thought you are the owner of the apartment?



From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 9:22 AM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent

Yes it is a serviced apartment every 7 days.
Regards

On 10/14/2010 11:20 AM, Wong wrote:
Hi Valentina,

Thank you for the information.

Is this a serviced apartment by Domus Queen’s please?


From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 9:11 AM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent

Hello,
I already told you the full address is in the TNT notification, 123 Queen's Rd. Wes, Domus building

On 10/14/2010 11:07 AM, Wong wrote:
Hi Valentina,

As mentioned in my email. Please let me know the address of the apartment, I would like to find out the location before we proceed.

Thanks

Regards,
Wong


From: Craparo Valentina [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 7:14 PM
To: Wong
Subject: Re: Interest about: Apartment / Condominium - For Rent

Hello, I have delivered the keys to the company you should receive confirmation from them soon. Please complete the steps from their notification so we can conclude the deal. Please check your BULK/JUNK email folder maybe the confirmation arrives there as it arrived to me. Thanks and i look forward for your email
p.s. Try to complete the payment Thursday or latest Friday.