by Michelle
Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:55 am
From: James Brown <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: The flat is ideal for sharers as it is very spacious
To: Michelle Banks
Hello ,
Thanks for your reply back and interest in my flat,Sure i'll would love to invite you to come for the viewing but due to some recent inconveniences caused by those wanna be flatmate's, my lawyer and the landlord and landladies association has stated to me that, i should know my wanna be flatmate's capability first before even inviting for a viewing,so i'll implore you to try and show me that you are capable by ,paying the deposit and the rent due,with your name as sender and your same name as receiver or if you wanna use your relatives name as receiver or you be the sender and your friend be the receiver and or you be the receiver and go with your friend to western union to pay and your friend send to your name in London after viewing we both go and pick it up and anyway that suit your self,all i wanted from you is the payment details or the scanned transfer copy receipt given to your after the transfer ,so that i can show it to the association or my lawyer instead,that you have paid the deposit and a month rent through western union or money gram which ever one is more nearer to you... and i'll ring you up immediately for the viewing,and tell you to meet me up at the tube station which is about 6 minute walk from the flat,then after viewing you can go pick up your money and give it to me in cash by hand but before then i would be responsible for the transfer charges western union/money gram will be charging you for the transfer,so you can always be honest to state to me in your mail when sending me the transfer payment details the exact amount you used for the transfer so i'll give you that immediately you come into the flat for the viewing .then after viewing you can go pick up the transferred money for me in cash,i really wanted you to be on the most safer side ,so that no one can have the access to your money ,that was why i don't want you to use my information to make the transfer ,because you will still be the one to pick up your money after viewing,well i'll love to tell you this and understand this ,the association also tell me to be responsible for the transfer charges ,which is gonna be required for the transferring of deposit and a month rent by wanna be tenant,and which i have accepted, and i'll always give that to you immediately i invited you for the viewing,so after viewing you can go pick up the transferred money,but before that,i'll give you what ever amount you used for the transfer,i mean the western union/money gram transfer charges, hope to hear from you soon, well i know you will love the flat as well 'cuz it's exactly as it is in the pictures.i dont have more pictures of the room and am so sorry for the lengthy mail, just trying to express myself and to explain better to you.
Thanks
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.
