Rent scam Cambridge UK

Here comes one from Cambridge, UK

I posted ad for single room and got this one. too good to be true according to pictures.

.......
Thanks you for the response,the property is a three bedroom flat, The property comprises of a spacious living room, 3 large bedrooms with en-suite shower room, both rooms boast large double glazed windows and vertical blinds. The property features a stylish open plan kitchen/reception fitted with Siemens integral appliances (including dishwasher, fridge/freezer, washer/drier,power sky shower,washing machine,internet service, oven and hob) including a central heating and close to local amenities. Its available on a furnished basis. Each room has an in built bathroom and toilet each. You will only be sharing the kitchen and the living room,two professionals already occupy two of the rooms and they are friendly and easy going people whom you will enjoy living with.
Location is: ST MATTHEWS STREET, CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, CB1 2LT,Cambridge City Centre (5 minutes walk from Grafton Centre)

The Price is: £300 per month Deposit is £250

Then...another correspondence followed....

I understand the fact that you can only move in by january, i saw that in your advert!! There would be no problem taking your friend for the viewing, i will be available for a viewing by next week.. So you can talk to your friend and ask her of a precise time and date that he/she would be available for the viewing...But before the viewing i will need a proof to show your capability of the rent bills, this is due to my previous in the past..
So what you need to provide as the proof is very simple,I am only in need of a confirmation proof,And these is due to previous predicament that i have gone through in the past trying to rent the property to some students,i have got to realize so many people are not really in need of an apartment all they do is secure a place in advance. My last experience in trying to rent the property to a particular lady had got me to predicate on these,she made me believe she was willing and ready to get the apartment she even went to the extend of showing me her statement of account,which made me took her for the viewing but after taking her for the viewing,she saw the apartment and got to love it and never wanted to loose it,so she kept pleading i retain it for her because she is not financially composed at the moment,which i did but end up disastrously.
So for me to know you are capable of the rent bills,you will have to send a month rent and the deposit to your friend, here in Cambridge through any western union outlet around you,and as soon as you get it sent just get back to me with the receipt so i can confirm it,Once I confirm the details,i will get back to you to get your partner/friend to go and get your money for you and would contact my lawyer then we will proceed with the viewing. And after viewing if satisfied with what she sees. Then the apartment will be reserved for you till you arrive in January, when you arrive, you can now pay me in cash or check or make a standing payment and in exchange for the keys to the property and at that point i will refund the charges incurred in the process of the transfer back to you.

Regards
Paul.

Gem

Gem

Welcome here Gem.

Yes, it's a scam. The scammer asks you for 'proof' that you are able to pay the rent. When you would sent money to your friend via western union, the scammer asks you to sent him the payment details, such as the sender's name and address, and most important, the MTCN number. With that info he can collect the money everywhere he wants, and your money will be lost. Don't fall for this scam!
And thanks for posting this.

Hey

I too got few mails and unforturnately am reading all these threads only today!!!

I am a victim of this, writing from Manchester, UK lost £450 yesterday. I gave a secret question and answer through Western Union which was never an issue for the fraudster.

There were three similar emails from different people and I supposed it was some kind of credit check which everyone follows.

Please find the detail of the mails i received:
Hello,

Thanks for the reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat. I am willing to rent out my flat to you but it is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view or reserve 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 M. Gould (Scunthorpe) Ltd.

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 Manchester, also 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. I would not ask you to send your bank statement. At least 1 month rent and security deposit which is £ 400 which is refundable after your 1 month stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer through Western union money transfer. You can make the transfer with your name as a sender name and your partner or friend in UK as the receiver.

Once you have done this, scan the receipt to me so that i can forward 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 my lawyer must confirm the transfer valid before the receiver picks up the money. Nevertheless, i will refund to you the cost of transfer when we meet.

I look forward to reading from you soon.

Regards

Matilda.

I am sorry to read that you lost out to this low life.
Would you like to post the email address used by the scammer as it may help others who search the internet checking up on their potential new landlord.

Two years later it still goes on:

On 10/3/2012 3:42 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> Thanks for the reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat,I
> spoke with my husband some couple of minute ago concerning the
> interest you have in my flat and we both agreed to have your mother in
> my flat.
>
> However it is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting
> people to come and view or reserve 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 Companies Registration Office.
>
> Some tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet they
> disturb the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or
> relative who are in the city 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 before coming for viewing,at least 1 Month rent
> 300pounds and security deposit which is 500pounds which is refundable
> after your stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer to
> your(Mother or any member of your family) in UK premises through
> Western Union Money outlet. You will make the transfer with your name
> as a SENDER and your mother or someone close to you as a RECEIVER in
> UK premises.
>
> 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 Receiver to pick up the money.
>
> Note that my lawyer will like to see the money available in the
> receiver's custody before the receiver 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 James