Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: James Martin <[email protected]>
Date: 2010/11/29
To: Michelle Banks


Thanks for getting back to me. I wouldn't want you to get me wrong, 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, and i would have ask you to send your bank statement but some had misused the opportunity in the past by sending fake document.

All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to your cousin through money gram or western union money transfer agent, 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 your cousin to pick up the money and schedule a convenient time for the viewing and i promise refund the cost of the transfer without any deduction.

Kindly let me know your opinion as soon as possible and if your not comfortable with my lawyer's lay down procedure, i suggest you look for another flat in other not to waste time.

I hope to reading from you soon.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Martins

From: James Martin <[email protected]>
Date: 2010/11/29
To: Michelle Banks


Thanks again for the response, Some 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 Oxford so some do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in office by their employers.

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, at least 1 Month rent and security deposit which is £ 400 which is refundable after your stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer through money gram money transfer agent. You will make the transfer with your name as a sender and your cousin as a receiver to an address in Oxford.

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 it's stated on the transfer receipt and will send it to my lawyer to verify if it's truly genuine and available in your custody, after verification, then we can Schedule convenient day for the viewing on and you can as well tell your cousin to pick up the money.

Note that my lawyer will like to see the money available in your cousin's custody before he/she pick up the money and i promise to refund the cost of transfer when we meet.

I look forward to reading from you.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Martins
+447024074636

The thief will tell you that you can rent his accommodation only if you can prove that you have genuine interest. He will ask you send money by wire transfer (normally Western Union) to yourself or a member of the family to show that you have sufficient finances and that you are not a "time waster".

Another variation of this scam is that you need to send (by Western Union) money in order that the keys and other documents can be couriered to you

He will ask you to send him the transfer details.

Make no mistake ! Western Union Transfers can be picked up virtually anywhere in the world and with the minimum of identification. They are almost impossible to trace once the money has been collected. You will never get to see the accommodation or your money 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 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.