Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Cory Hopper <[email protected]>

Cory Hopper <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello

I appreciate your intent of renting my apartment.
I am a travel Nurse and have just been transferred to start my new rotation at Spartanburg Medical Center, Spartanburg SC for 9 months from Now until mid next year, I just arrived here in Spartanburg a week before I start work and also have my accommodation situation sorted out ASAP as I had a very short notice to move.

I have since been doing rotation as a travel nurse mostly on short term basis as I look to improve myself professionally and financially on a yearly basis, this is the first time I am having to leave the area for up to 9 months so it's a new adventure for me. I initially had no plans of renting out my apartment, but since I have a long term lease with the building, and my contract with the landlord permits me subleasing my apartment, instead of leaving the apartment empty, when there are a whole lot of people in need of a place to stay, I decided to make my apartment affordable, look for someone who would occupy and take good care of the unit while I am away, and at the same time, getting some money for myself.

The rent covers utilities (electric, water, gas, cable, telephone, internet and garbage disposal and 1 car parking space). There are no restrictions to having pets in the unit, but I would prefer you not to have more than 2 pets. My apartment is perfectly furnished and designed, but I could move all my furniture into storage if you want to move in with your personal properties. The apartment is exactly like in the pictures, not shared, fully furnished and renovated, from the living room w/pull-over sofa, television set, cable, table, center carpet. The kitchen has a micro wave, electric kettle, oven, gas cooker frying pans and cooking pots, dishes and various sets of cutlery. there is a big wardrobe in the bedroom which has drawers, duvet, and bed sheets etc.

Before we go any further, I will like to know a little about you, how many persons you intend to live in the apartment? and for how long?
and also a promise that you will take very good care of the place and the facilities. Should you need more information, I am at your disposal.

Thanks,
Cory.

From: Cory Hopper <[email protected]>

Hi,

Thank you for your email, as it is great getting a feedback from you.
Please bear with me for not getting back to you sooner as I have been having busy times. The availability of my apartment seems to fit perfectly with the time frame you are looking at, and I will be happy if we can work something out mutually. If you will be taking my apartment, I think it is ideal you know a little more about me.

I am a native of Spartanburg SC. I returned to Spartanburg for my assignment after a 3 months contract at St David's Austin south in the Trauma / ER. I worked as a titan medical contractor in Baptist Health Lexington for a few months prior my contract at St David. Since the previous subtenant has not been able to find someone to takeover, and I still have about 7.5 months away. I will be returning after my assignment here and will appreciate if my apartment is in the same shape as it was left by my previous subtenant, as I had inventory check taken on the move out date.

The monthly rent is $1,100 inclusive of all the utilities, and the refundable security deposit is $1,100, making a total of $2,200 for the move-in deposit. My apartment is 25% more expensive than the price I am giving it out. This is because I will most likely rent my unit out with the viewing made via pictures since I have already left the area, which has reduced the standard price of renting dealing with a realtor. Please let me know the if viewing pictures are fine or not so I can send the most recently taken.

I plan to make the keys and parking allocation available(as you have one parking space available to you)to collect through the building, upon your arrival, so you can just pick up the keys at the building prior to moving-in. I will however need you to complete all the documentations/agreement and take payment for the apartment so I can send copies of everything to the building before you can go there to collect the keys. It is important that all the paperwork be sent to the building so they can enter your name into the building system as a subtenant so you can have access to all of the building facilities such as gym, spa, pool e.t.c.

Let me know if we can proceed so I can give you more information on the rental process.

Best regards,
Cory

.

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.