by Con Warner
Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:11 pm
From: [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Subject: RE: Reply to your ad: 2 bed flat Chelsea Harbour, Chelsea, SW10
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:35:10 +0100
Good day,
The rent is £800 per month. 1st payment will be for one month + deposit ( £800 + £800 ).
I want to rent the flat because I've just moved to Glasgow, Scotland to work with an Energy Firm and the flat will be empty during this time ( 2 years ).
About the flat: Internet connection, phone, washing machine with dryer, cable TV and most important parking place.
I left the keys and the contract already signed by me at Tenancy Rental Program ( UK Government ) and they will handle the payment and delivery for us. If you want to know more about how this deal can work please get back to me ASAP so I can explain you step by step.
Cheers
From: [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Subject: RE: Reply to your ad: 2 bed flat Chelsea Harbour, Chelsea, SW10
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:55:21 +0100
Good to read from you again and thanks for expressing your genuine interest in renting my flat,
If you want to proceed with this transaction, I will have to contact Tenancy Rental Program and provide them all the necessary information's, so they can start the process right away. I will need your full name and address for that. You will receive a notification from Tenancy Rental Program shortly after that, together with all the instructions to follow and the invoice as well.
Regarding the payment, you will be instructed to deposit the money ( £1600 ) to a Tenancy Rental Program Agent from United Kingdom. They will hold and insure your money until you check the apartment and decide if you want take it or not. That is how their rental protection policy works.
As soon as the funds have been deposited into their account, they will immediately start the shipping process.
The keys and rental contract will be delivered at your address in no more than 6hrs. You will be given a 3 days inspection period from the day you receive the keys and contract at home. If you decide to hold the apartment, then you will have to authorize Tenancy Rental Program to release the funds to me, and the transaction will be completed. If you will not be satisfied with the apartment, you will be able to send the keys and contract back through the same service and ask Tenancy Rental Program to return the funds to you.
If you wish to proceed with renting the apartment, please provide me your full name and address so I can initiate the deal through Tenancy Rental Program.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/tenancydeposit/index.htm
That is a genuine government website and it states that
TDP schemes do not cover holding deposits.
In other words, there is no such service that this supposed landlord offers.
This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union or MoneyGram 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 or MoneyGram 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 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.
