Rental scam - [email protected]

His original alias posted in the Berlin accommodation group as Matthias Wagger ([email protected]) and then told me his room was no longer available but that his BUDDY from work is moving out and will have a spot:

"It is sad to let you know that our own apartment has been booked not quiet Long but I can still help you out because i know it is very difficult to get an apartment this days. one of our co-worker has been transferred to abroad to work with our company and his apartment should be empty at the movement. it will be advisable if you can contact him to know if his apartment is still available for rent.

Name: Harvey John

Email: [email protected]

email him now to know if his apartment is available for rent and for more information about his apartment but his apartment is very clean and it is located in the city center as well.

Best Regards
Wagge"

Then I went off to email Harvey John despite it seeming like a scam already. I received this:

"Hello,
Thanks so much for your interest but presently am not available in Berlin to show you around as am presently in United Kingdom now to work with my company and am here with my keys.All you need to do is to go straight to the address i sent you to take a look of the apartment from outside. But i want you to Understand that my apartment is presently locked and am here with the keys.That is the reason why i am sending you my apartment pictures just for you to have an idea of how the inside looks like.It is available for short term and long term basis depend on how long you want it because am going to be here for one years and i don't want my apartment to be dusty .That is the reason why i want to rent out this apartment so that you can take good care of the apartment for me in my absence.

Below is the information you need to know about my apartment:

Flat address: Albrechtstraße 23 10117 Berlin Germany
Apartment Floor: It is on the on the first floor of the building
Rent Per month : 400EUR and utilities is included in the rent amount per month
Security Deposit: 500EUR which will be given back to you when moving out without any loss or damage of my property.

Size of accommodation: 49,8m2.
My apartment is Two bedroom apartment flat but am renting out one bedroom because i have my stuffs in the second bedroom.Your own bedroom picture is the one sending to you, you will be living in the apartment alone because am not around at the moment and am still going to be here for over one year.
Attached are some pictures of how my apartment Bedroom, living room, kitchen, toilet and bathroom looks like.That is the information you need to know about my apartment.If you are interested in renting my apartment Kindly get back to me...Here is my uk mobile number +447821961768 or +447031931848
Regards"

I then asked him to video skype me, and in the meantime he sent me pictures. Both looked nothing like the other person, same for his fb page. Same for Matthias! Surprise surprise. He sent me some info about himself though:

"It is my pleasure to hear from you.I believe it is very good to know each other very well before we are going to move into rental process.
Let me start by introducing myself, My name Harvey David John, I am 34 years old, Am happily married with two kids.i am a civil engineer by profession, i work with Bennett construction company in United Kingdom.we deal with Building and rebuild Roads.I am a sincere, honest and trustworthy person, also friendly and hardworking.I don't drink,I don't smoke but i'm cool living with people that do,no pets.I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hand working people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,I am a quiet and easy going person to live with. I'm 5.8' straight. I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis. I like the job because it involves travelling which is one of my hobbies, I love going around to understand more culture and to meet new people.

I was born and brought up in England. My father was born here in England while my mother from Berlin. Inherit this apartment from my late mother. I move with my family to Berlin 3 years back to work with my company and i live in this apartment before i receive a transfer letter from my company to move back to England again.

I move down to England few months ago with my family and my apartment is empty at the moment.I am working here in United Kingdom at the moment That’s why i am searching for reliable tenant who is going to take good care of this apartment for me in my absence because am still going to be here for some years.
Whenever i traveled like that, I make use of house agent or a friend of mine over there but they cheated a lot on my tenants and my tenants complains a lot about that. That is the reason why i took the keys along with me because i don't want my apartment to be used anyhow in my absence.
Also, I would like to put my trust in you.It is now your turn to tell me something about your self.
Due to the nature of my Job am not always available on phone as i always off my phone but am on my ipad to check mail.Just write me a message on my email to ask me what ever question you want to ask.
I also attach some pictures of me for you to be sure of who you are dealing with .
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012660309029
I will be waiting to know much more about you"

There you go! Hope this helps someone else who is put in this situation