Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Glen Ruder <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: Reply to your "1 Bedroom Fully Furnished and Quiet" Ad on Gumtree
To: Con Warner


Hello,

My name is Glen Ruder and I received your email of interest for the rental of my apartment located in 1 Courthouse Ln, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
I'm looking for someone to live in the apartment, as soon as possible, because my company has won an auction for a big construction project in London, United Kingdom. I'm a project manager in civil engineering, so my accommodation period here will be very large (more than 9 years).
I would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons do you intend to live in my apartment, for what period, etc. I must tell you from the beginning that I don't have a problem if you are a student and I don't have a problem with pets.
Now I am going to tell you something about the apartment and myself so we can get to know each other.
The apartment is furnished, but I have the option of sending all my furniture into my private storage if you want to bring your own (no extra costs). The rent is 225 NZD pw including all utilities (water, electricity, internet, cable, parking).
About myself, I am 43 years old and as I told you I am a project manager and my job even though it pays very well takes all of my time. I bought this apartment while I was working on a 6 year contract in Auckland.
You can move in the apartment in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys but I already found a solution.
Thank you for your interest and looking forward to a future collaboration and friendship.

Best regards,
Glen.

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.

Hi!! I received exactly the same email but from Troy Stefan Edgar.
At the same time i got an email from a Julie Roach, but with the exact same text, so that's why I knew it was a scam.
On the enquiry i've sent, i saw another emailaddress than the one of 'stefan', so I already was a bit suspicious.
[email protected] (this is the fake emailaddress)
[email protected] (I think this is the emailaddress it REALLY got sent to?).
________________________

From: [email protected]
To:
Subject: RE: realestate.com.au Enquiry: 9119327 - 6 Belvoir Street SURRY HILLS 2010
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 06:07:27 +0000

Hello,
My name is Stefan Edgar . I'm a project manager in civil engineering. I just moved in United Kingdom because my company has won an auction for a big construction project. I'll stay here for the next 3-4 years or more so I won't come back in Australia soon. I'm looking for someone to live in my apartment from there. Also i would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons do you intend to live in my apartment, for what period, how old are you etc . Don't be offended but i must know to who i will rent my apartment.
I will tell you from the beginning that I don't have a problem if you are a student or if you would like to keep pets there, as long as you clean up after them. The apartment is exactly like in the pictures. The minimum lease is for 2 months. Also, very important, the utilities are included in the price of AU $1000 per month . First payment will be for 1 month + a security bond of AU $1,500.
I'm 48 years old and as I told you, i'm a project manager and my job even if is paid very well, requires that I move a lot and without notice. I bought the apartment while I was working there. You can move in the apartment in the same day that you will receive the keys. The only problem is that I'm already in Manchester, UK because we started the work, but you don't need to worry because i've made all arrangements to rent the apartment from here.
I can guarantee you that this is a great apartment so looking forward to a future collaboration and friendship.
Cheers,

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:57:48 +1100
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: realestate.com.au Enquiry: 9119327 - 6 Belvoir Street SURRY HILLS 2010

________________________________

Watch out for moneybookers.com and http://www.cargo-worldwide.tk/. You won't see your money again!
They even make a profile of 'an agent' from those companies, to make you believe it is real.


another one: Tania Tup this time (they really aren't that good with inventing names)
________________________________

Hello,

Thank you for your interest. My name is Tania Tup and from the internet add you could see, the apartment is located in: 68A Brocks Lane , Newtown ,2042.
I am writing you from United Kingdom and i must inform you that I bought this apartment for my daughter, who used to leave in Australia for almost 5 years. Now she's back in the UK with a new contract of work and we decided to rent the apartment until she will be back in Australia (no less than 3 years).
I am looking for someone responsible to live in it. The apartment is furnished, but I have the option of sending all my furniture into storage if you want to bring your own (no extra costs). The rent for 1 month is $ 1000 (for the whole apartment) including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator). You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m the only person who has the keys but I hope that we will find a solution. The requested deposit is for 1 month of rent ( $ 1000) + $ 400 bond.

Thank you for your interest and I will look forward to hearing from you soon.

-Tania Tup
______________________________________________________-

So, please, watch out everyone!
Good luck!

Welcome to ScamWarners and thank you for posting these up Ihatescam. If you have an email address for Tania Tup, I will split these into separate threads so they are easier to find.

We appreciate your participation here and the help it will give to potential victims.

I received the same email today (see below). The listing was on realestate.com.au for an apartment in Brisbane. I replied to the email but assumed it was a scam from the price. Three bedroom apartment for $1000 = too good to be true which is what i said in the email. Hence why I googled the name. Wonder if they'll reply?

Another email address on the message was [email protected]. Also the apartment listing was for 82 Boundary Street BRISBANE 4000.

From: Troy Stefan Edgar ([email protected])
Sent: Sunday, 13 February 2011 6:00:30 PM

Hello,
My name is Stefan Edgar . I'm a project manager in civil engineering. I just moved in United Kingdom because my company has won an auction for a big construction project. I'll stay here for the next 3-4 years or more so I won't come back in Australia soon. I'm looking for someone to live in my apartment from there. Also i would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons do you intend to live in my apartment, for what period, how old are you etc . Don't be offended but i must know to who i will rent my apartment.
I will tell you from the beginning that I don't have a problem if you are a student or if you would like to keep pets there, as long as you clean up after them. The apartment is exactly like in the pictures. The minimum lease is for 2 months. Also, very important, the utilities are included in the price of AU $1000 per month . First payment will be for 1 month + a security bond of AU $1,500.
I'm 48 years old and as I told you, i'm a project manager and my job even if is paid very well, requires that I move a lot and without notice. I bought the apartment while I was working there. You can move in the apartment in the same day that you will receive the keys. The only problem is that I'm already in Manchester, UK because we started the work, but you don't need to worry because i've made all arrangements to rent the apartment from here.
I can guarantee you that this is a great apartment so looking forward to a future collaboration and friendship.
Cheers,

Hi,

I received the same email as NatBar followed by another email asking to use http://www.cargo-worldwide.tk to send over the keys for a viewing and pay the rent.

Miss Marple

Hi,

I have also received a similar email including the 3rd agent as http://www.cargo-worldwide.tk/. It was a to-good-to-be-true apartment in Newtown, NSW. The email adress listed from "Tania Tup" is [email protected]

The website this scammer has pointed you too looks like it has been taken down or is a total fabrication. The .tk designation resolves to the Netherlands. I may be wrong about this, but this is what I found.

It is dangerous to pay through any money transfer agency or through any escrow system that is given to you over an email. Also, if it sounds too good to be true, It is most likely a scam.