Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Subject: RE: domain.com.au Bondi Rd Bondi NSW 2026
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:11:04 +0100

Hello,

Thank you for your interest. My name is Alison Palmer and from the internet add you could see, the apartment is located in: Bondi Rd, Bondi, NSW, 2026, Australia. Fully Furnished 2 Bedroom BONDI BEACH!!!

I am looking for someone to live in it because my company has won the auction for a project, in constructions, for a building that will rise up in London, United Kingdom. I am a civil engineer, so my accommodation period in United Kingdom will be about 5 years.

I`m the owner of the apt and it's like in the pics. The minimum lease term is 3 months up to 5 years.

The apartment is furnished, but I have the option of sending all my furniture into storage if you want to bring your own (no extra costs). The rent for 1 month is AU $1600 (for the whole apartment) including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator). You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys and i'm in United Kingdom, but I hope that we will find a solution. The requested deposit is for 1 and 1/2 months of rent (AU $1600 + AU $800)

Thank you for your interest and I will look forward to hearing from you soon.

Alison Palmer

This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union with a promise that he will send the keys through a courier company.

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 payment to 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.

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 by Western Union 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.

From: [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Subject: RE: domain.com.au Bondi Rd Bondi NSW 2026
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:18:11 +0100

Hi again,

Just so you understand, this is the procedure:

- You give me your name and address, I will contact moneybookers and make all the arrangements for the transaction to be set up;

- Moneybookers will contact you and gives you all details about our transaction;

- You will pay to moneybookers agent assigned with our transaction the amount of AU $2400 (first month rent AU $1600 + the bond AU $800 will be returned to you if everything is in order with the apartment after your leaving);

- Monkeybookers agent will deliver the keys and contract to your address and he will help you with everything;

- You have 14 days to inspect apartment since the arrival date;

- If you want to keep the apartment moneybookers will transfer me the money and we go on from there;

- If you do not keep the apartment, you give the keys/contract back to moneybookers agent and you get your money back imediatly;

This will be in writing in the moneybookers contract i will sign.

The MoneyBookers fees will be paid by me when i will initiate the procedure, you will have to pay for the money transfer fees when you will make the payment to moneybookers agent.

I will wait for your reply and if you agree, i need your full name, shipping address and your daytime phone number so i will set up the moneybookers transaction.

Thanks again for your time and look forward to hear from you soon.

Alison

From: [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Subject: RE: domain.com.au Bondi Rd Bondi NSW 2026
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2010 06:08:32 +0100

Hi again,

Did you made the payment? I'm still waiting for you also the moneybookers transaction will be pending untill the payment is confirmed. The agent will come at your address with the keys and the contract in max 2 days after the payment will be confirmed.

I hope you can make the payment and move in the apartment as soon as possible.

Western Union is a bit expensive so i will support the transfer fees but please tell them that you want to send the money to a friend because they will charge you less money for fees. The total amount is AU $2400 minus western union fees.

I will wait for you and after that payment is done email me and to moneybookers all details.

Thank you
Alison

He then sends a very convincing fake email from [email protected] with the details below.

MoneyBookers Agent Details
First name: Greg
Last name: Eden
Address: 75 Fulham Road
City/State: London
PostalCode: SW6 5HY
Country: United Kingdom
_____________________
Sender Information
First name: Alison
Last name: Palmer
Address: 5 Lonsdale Square
City: London
Zip Code: N1 1EN
Country: United Kingdom

The "agent" is part of the scam. Although MoneyBookers offer an escrow service, they do not hold goods such as the scammer's supposed keys. They do not use free email addresses such as [email protected]