Rental Scam - [email protected]

From: mary moore < [email protected] >
Subject: Room details

Thanks for your interest in my flat.

Flat address: Regency Square, Brighton , UK
Post Code: BN1 2FF
Rent: £550 per month,all bills included for a room
Security deposit:£500 refundable after four weeks in the flat.
Minimum stay: 1 month
Maximum stay: 1 year with option of extending the contract

Gorgeous double room to rent in a stunning, cosy, quirky flat in a Grade II* listed building in one of Brighton’s premier Regency-period squares.

Located just seconds from the sea, West Pier, iconic i360 and all of the shops, restaurants, bars and amenities of Western Road, you couldn’t be closer to everything and yet the flat has a wonderfully quiet, secluded feel. With front and rear outdoor space and a huge green in front of it, it really is the perfect antidote to a busy day at work.

We are live-out landlords who come to Brighton at the weekends. We’re looking for a professional, respectful who wants to make the most out of their time by the sea, and someone who’d take care of the place when we’re not there.

It’s a 2-bed flat and you’d be sharing with a professional, family man who works in financial services in Brighton during the week and goes home at weekends. He loves the place as much as we do and we’re sure you would too.

Rent is £550 per month ALL bills included (and we’re not stingy on heating etc). There’s fibre-optic broadband, cable TV, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer etc. Or you could pay £570 per month and you’d get to use the whole flat to yourself one weekend every two months, so feel free to have your partner / family down for a lovely weekend by the sea!


Could you tell me a bit about yourself and where you are presently located now?

Will you be able to take good care of my flat like your own?

Are you capable of funding the rent and refundable deposit before moving in?

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind 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 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.