Scam by "Mrs Evelyn Wiston" ([email protected])

Hi everyone,
I am currently looking for a flat and came across something too good to be true. Well, lucky me, it was fishy enough for me to encourage me to do some research and found out that this is a scam. I decided to post this here to prevent as many people as possible about it. Actually this is probably a variation of previous scams, under different names, advertising different properties. Either way, thought it was good to bring it up to light.

The add was posted on GUMTREE yesterday under the following title: MAGNIFICIENT ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT IN CARDIFF (FULLY FURNISHED). After getting in contact with a "Mrs Evelyn Wiston", the add in the website disappeared. Also, when I called, a foreign male voice picked up my call and hung up immediately. I called again and my call was forwarded to a third party, where a female speaker answered. I hung up.

Here are the email messages that I have exchanged so far with this scammer. I will hide my personal details from the emails. At the moment I am keeping the communication alive to see if I can get more information from her/him.

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RE: Reply to your ad: MAGNIFICIENT ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT IN CARDIFF (FULLY FURNISHED)
4 messages
evelyn wiston <[email protected]> 17 November 2010 21:37
To: ********************
Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and you can stay in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit.

Rent £260 pcm : £65pw
Security Deposit: £ 600.00 (Returnable at the end of a week stay in my flat)
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet) Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm.

However, At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you.Can you keep my flat clean and tidy? Do you have references in Cardiff?. Kindly reply for further information and i will like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat. I look forward to reading from you. Have a wonderful week ahead of you.

Regards
Mrs.Wiston

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Carlos ******************* <*******************> 18 November 2010 10:16
To: evelyn wiston <[email protected]>
Dear Mrs Winston,
thank you for the quick reply.

At the moment I am living in *******************. I share a two bedroom house with a PhD student within Cardiff University. I work myself at Cardiff University as a Research Associate. The reason I am leaving my current place is basically to be closer to work and to live in Cardiff itself.

About getting references, I can certainly ask people that know me to write something, including my boss at work. About the rent, I should definitely be able to pay you on the date we agree on, either by cash or making a direct debit to your bank account. This would not be a problem. I enjoy living in a clean place, so keeping the property tidied up will not be a problem.

I have a question. At the moment I am living here on my own, but starting on January my long time partner will move to the UK. Is it possible that she stays with me? I would be willing to increase the amount of rent if that would be convenient for you.

I am looking forward to hear from you. You too have a wonderful rest of the week.

Kind regards,
Carlos

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evelyn wiston <[email protected]> 18 November 2010 11:04
To: *******************
Thanks for the reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat.My flat is fully furnished in and out as you can see in the picture and there is a garage and a off street parking in my flat,I spoke with my lawyer some couple of minute ago concerning the interest you have in my flat and we both agreed to have you in my flat and for the rent we have no plans to increase it either for you alone or both of you as my major concern is the neatness of the flat and not the money for the rent.

However,it is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view my flat without any form of confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled, has brought about great loss to me. I have traveled all the way from Ireland to take some interested candidates round my flat because that's where i work with (P. Elliott & Company).

Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet they disturb the the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or relative who are in Cardiff, also some do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in office by there employees.

Henceforth my lawyer and i have decided to carry out a simple test on financial ability to pay for my rent before coming for viewing or before making a reservation for any interested candidate. I would not ask you to send your bank statement neither your pay slip because it will be inappropriate for me to collect any money from you neither my lawyer. At least 2 weeks rent and security deposit which is £ 600 which is refundable after your first week stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer through Money Gram Post Office. You can make the transfer with your name as a sender name and your partner or friend in UK premises as a receiver.

Once you have done this, scan the receipt to me and if you do not have scanner, you may write out the details on the receipt as i will send it to my lawyer to verify if it's truly genuine and available in your friend's custody, after verification, then we can proceed for the viewing. Note that the transfer must be confirmed valid before the receiver picks up the money and also, i will refund back to you the cost of transfer when we meet.

I look forward to reading from you soon. (+447024093708)

Regards
Mrs.Wiston

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Carlos ******************* <*******************> 18 November 2010 11:57
To: evelyn wiston <[email protected]>
Dear Mrs Wiston,
I was trying to give you a phone call to the number you kindly provided on your last email (+447024093708), but I can't get the call through. Is there any other number where I can reach you?

Kind regards,
Carlos

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evelyn wiston <[email protected]> 18 November 2010 12:34
To: *******************
Hello and i do appreciate your reply and your interest for my flat. However, i will want you to know that i have made a complaint to the communication customer care unit regarding my inability to receive call and it been taken care of. I will apprecviate it you could mail me so i could contact you from you phone number.

However,I would not want you to get me wrong the the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate my lawyer procedure.

However, i didn't want to collect any money from you as long as you have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat. All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to someone close to you through money gram post office using your name as the sender and that of your close ones as the receiver and not that you are transfering your money to me or to me Lawyer, once you've done that, you get back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid.

After the confirmation might have been made by my lawyer, i will ask you to tell you friend to pick up the money and schedule a convenient day for the viewing. If eventually you don't want to proceed with the rent, i promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.Money gram is the fast and easiest way to send money and it is a money transfer in a minute.Here is the money gram transfer procedure"

1.Locate the nearest post office shop around you.

2.Pick up the form of transfer and fill in the details which needs to be filled and return back to the post master.Details needed on the form are {sender name;your name and address.}{receiver name and address}

3. Return back to the post master with the cash you are transferring to your partner or friend and wait for the receipt to be returned back to you.

4. Scan the receipt to me and give me a call so i can check it if its truly genuine and available in your friend's custody.

5. After it has been confirmed on the website,then we can proceed for the viewing and you can as well tell your friend or partner to pick up the money

Kindly let me know your opinion so i could equally get my Lawyer prepare to arrange for the viewing
Regards
Mrs.Wiston

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By the way, I found exactly the same text structure of their replies, but just signed under another name. In that case it was a Ms Duffy. When i googled the provided phone number, it directed me to this particular forum.

I hope this information helps.

Regards,
Carlos

Quotes added for clarity - Michelle