Andries Voortrekker

I was the victim of a rental scam!

I found this site only to late!
I have been looking for a flat in Vienna and was seduced by the rental offer on Vienna craigslist.
A Wesley Martinez responded to my mail, with a long description of the flat and a reference to his solicitor called Andries Voortrekker.
If you come across these names, they are frauds!!
Despite warning bells going off in my head, I proceeded with paying the security deposit through Western Union, to Andries Voortrekker.

When no receipt of the transaction was produced I demanded some sort of legal proof of the transaction or indeed the legality of the whole process.
Andries Voortrekker sent me a home made attestation form (whatever that is) but despite the warning bells now going off like Cologne Dome bells, I was still persuaded into paying the first month rent.
When a request for the second month came with the following mail, I was done! I was convinced this was a scam, but when I told him in a mail, that the game was up, he started threatening with legal actions, since I was breaking the rental agreement!

Since I was in Vienna on a business meeting I actually visited the address in question and realised that the building did not correspond with the look in the photos.
I did, what I should have done much earlier, I googled the street name and the flat and found the exact same address up for rent on another site, more legitimate site.
However, the photos were completely different!!
The flat I had "rented" did not exist!
This time I confronted Andries Voortrekker again, with a link to the legitimate site!
The mails and threats stopped.

Yes, I have lost money, but I am now doing my best posting their name on scam sites and reporting it to the police. I have also flagged the post on Craigslist.
I hope you are more clever than me, and find these names by googling their names and email addresses.
Hopefully I can help someone else.

good luck!
Lena

Welcome here Icar.
It's such a shame that you ended up here as a victim.

Could you please post the email address that your scammer used at the time.
This will help others who might do a web search based on the email address.

Thanks for your effort and hopefully you will help someone else.

Hi there!

Here is the e mail adress they used.
[email protected]

and the "landlord" is [email protected]. aka Wesley Martinez...probably one and the same.

By the way, Andries Voortrekker seems, not only busy with being a part time solicitor in London, he also sells trek bikes in South Afrika online...hahah The most amazing thing is that he is also a South African party leader, Andries Pretorius, leader of the Voortrekker party in Transvaal, died in 1853.
Why didn't I find this sooner?!

cheers L

^^
Thanks for posting those email addresses.
It is sometimes a little strange how the names come about.

Domain name: andries-voortrekker.com

Creation date: 14 Jul 2010 15:51:00
Expiration date: 14 Jul 2011 10:51:00

Partly under construction, 1 year registration, and no address or phone call on the site. You've found us a fake website. Although without a scam pointing to it, I don't think we can do anything about it.

I have come across a similar scam in Singapore using the same lawyer and fake website. This time they use a different email address; [email protected] and the scammer purporting to be the owner is using [email protected]

My warning bells started ringing when they asked for a security deposit using Western Union. I visited the rental address and it is actually a car park for the Bible Society so they couldn't even come up with a decent fake address this time.

I am still entertaining the scammer trying to get a real bank account number that may reveal their true identity to the authorities.

Thank you for your post. It saved us from being victims of the same scam - only in France. It was the same Andries & Voortrekker firm. The same request for money via Western Union. After reading your post, I went to craigslist (where I saw the rental posting) and read their "avoid scams" advice. Had I done this in the first place, I would have immediately known the posting was a scam: 1) Deal locally with people you can meet in person. The rental ad was by a guy claiming to have been transferred to the UK so wasn't able to meet with me until after I gave him a bunch of money, 2) Never send anyone money by Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire transfer service, anyone asking you to do so is a scammer. This guy wanted the money by Western Union. I feel sheepish. Then of course there was the strange email from the so-called solicitor who was no where to be found as a registered solicitor in the UK, had a website under construction and zero contact information. I'm just very happy not to be out thousands of dollars. So, thank you again for your posting.

Hi jns I am glad that you were alerted before you got scammed. Sadly many people don't read the warnings, just as many people don't read the User agreements on software. As humans we often disregard the warnings. It doesn't mean we are defective or stupid, it means we are busy or in a hurry. Surprisingly people don't always reed the rules posted for this site either.


It sounds like the scammer that wanted to get your money used the same script. It will help others if you will post the email address and what was said in the emails.

Thank you and we are glad you are here.

Welcome JNS!

I'm glad this site was able to help you!

With the sheer volume of information just on the sites we visit on the internet, it is virtually impossible to keep on top of everything out there. Most people are trusting by nature, and aren't expecting that others are out to steal from them, so it's not surprising that these scammers succeed.

The good news is that something clicked with you and caused you to do a search, and that search ultimately led to you learning how some of these scams work. Not only were you able to avoid losing money, but you will also be prepared the next time one of these scams comes up.

Now if you want to help others, you can easily do so by spreading awareness among those you know, and coming back here and posting any others you encounter that aren't already listed (and if you are continuing the search for an apartment, you will soon see that there are plenty of them!)

Also, I see you stated that you received an email from the "attorney." If that email came from the website, posting it here (including headers) or forwarding it to someone on support staff (you can use my email in my signature) could help us to get that fake site closed down.

Hi everybody.
I ran the risk to become a new victim of the well-known solicitor ANDRIES VOORTREKKER in the last days.

I was looking for an apartment in Berlin as I am relocating in 1 month.
I found this nice apartment in Craiglist.de: big, elegant, full of light...centrally located (Tucholskystrasse 23), fully furnished, 2 bedrooms, monthly rent: 650 euros.
To good to be true, I know, but I am so enthusiastic about moving to Berlin that I wasn't able to look at it in a clear-headed way, for a moment.

Anyway there was something strange: the landlord (MICHAEL SEAN MARTINEZ) sent me a very kind email saying that I needed to pay a deposit via Western Union to secure the flat.
I also had him on the phone, he called me on my mobile from an unknown number and I thought he was calling via Skype. He was very polite, with a sort of Turkish/Middle Eastern accent which I didn't expected. He lives in London and would come to Berlin just to give me the keys, after signing the rental contract. Also unusual.
He put me in contact (always via email) with his solicitor: Mr. Andries Campbell of the ANDRIES VOORTREKKER law firm, based in London.
Mr Campbell sent me an approximate rental contract and the details for the payment via Western Union.
As I wasn't persuaded, I asked to see the landlord's passport and he sent me a scanned copy together with an attestation clause to prove the possession of the flat!
Luckily it was Friday evening and I needed some time to do the payment, so we agreed that I would sign the contract + do the payment on Monday (=today!).

During the week-end I had a flash of inspiration and called a friend who lives in London: she warned me about this kind of scams which is very common in London (and I fear everywhere). I was deceived at first but now I am really thankful to her for such a "cold shower". This morning another good friend of mine forwarded to me the Scamwarners blog link and this is it.

The email address the solicitor used is "[email protected]".
His (pretended) contact details are:
Andries Campbell
Office : 327 Old Street London
EC1Y 8SY United Kingdom
Phone : +44 704 575 1360 [I tried to call this number but it didn't work]
Fax : +44 207 113 2480
Web : http://www.andries-voortrekker.com [under construction]

The landlord's email is "[email protected]"

I will also inform Craiglist so to spread the word as much as I can.
I hope my story can be of some help for the Scamwarners readers.
For me the blog was precious!

We are glad that our efforts helped you gattasimo. You (an many others) are the reason we do this site. Saving people from getting scammed is very rewarding to us. I am glad that your friend aided you and helped prevent you from sending money to this scammer.

Best to you in your search for a place to stay. Thank you for telling your story.

Dear All,
Thank you, thank you, thank you !

Without you I would probably have added my name to the victims' list.

This time, the apartment was supposed to be in Istanbul, Turkey. The classified I answered was on Craigslist.
http://istanbul.en.craigslist.com.tr/ap ... 23782.html
PostingID: 2277123782

It all seemed a little too good to be true, but who doesn't want to believe that they're lucky ? Still, I didn't like the fact that I couldn't get the owner's physical (snail mail) address. Nor that different apartments for rent, appearing on legitimate rental websites, seemed to be in the same building.

Baskurt Sk 75, 34433 Istanbul , Turkey
"Owner" : Mr. Basturk Sukur

This morning, the penny dropped. I received the draft rental contracts, from one Danielle Zirpoli at the Andries Voortrekker lawfirm. To whom I am supposed to wire the money. That's right : her personal account, not the firm's. As to the contracts, my 11-year old nephew would have done a better job at them. No letterhead, no contact info nor license number for the law firm, no physical address for the landlord...

I googled the lawfirm's name, found the bogus website, and found you.

The e-mail addresses used were those :
[email protected] - apparently the scammer's personal mail
[email protected]
[email protected] - the supposed owner's address

I have flagged and reported the classified on Craigslist.

Thanks again !

^^ Welcome to ScamWarners Khandoma.
I'm glad that you managed to find us before you fell for this scam.
Thanks for posting that information. I'm sure it will save someone from paying out.

Thank you, ConWarner.

Here is the e-mail received from the so-called law firm.
If there is anything you can do about it, that's just great.
Take care.


Dear Mrs. XXX,

Hope this email finds you well. We got your details from our client Mr. Basturk Sukur (The Landlord) regarding the apartment in Istanbul which our law firm is the direct solicitor and attorney to the property, we're the only solicitor in charge of the apartment and the contract lease has been attached. All you need is to print and sign the contract documents perfectly with the use of pen and kindly make the payment as soon as possible so that you can finally secure and reserved the unit to the fullest. Above all,please do try and keep the apartment well tidy and neat in all ways.


MODE OF PAYMENT
Find the attached Tenancy Agreement and Rental Agreement, our client have signed his own part as the landlord, you have to go through the documents very well and sign your own part. Below is our banking details you have to make the payment of TRL3000 for the deposit and the first month rent via Bank Money Transfer .

Bank Name: Wachovia
Account Name: Danielle M. Zirpoli
Acc No: 1010269549168
Swift Code: pnbpus33
Routine num: 063107513
Bank Address: 5. VILLAGE PLAZA
3625 BEE RIDGE RD,
SARASOTA, FL 34233


As soon as you have made the transfer via Bank Transfer, do get back to me with the scanned copy of the Transfer Slip and also the signed copies of the signed Tenancy Agreement and Rental Agreement via fax or e-mail for proper documentations.Hope to hear from you in due time .


Regards,



Andries-Voortrekker Law Firm,
Danielle Zirporli
USA Phone : +1 (770) 449-2351
USA Fax : +1 (773) 355-4251
eMail: [email protected]
Web : http://www.andries-voortrekker.com


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This e-mail, attachments included, is confidential. It is intended solely for the addressees. If you are not an intended recipient, any use, copy or diffusion, even partial of this message is prohibited. Please delete it and notify the sender immediately. Since the integrity of this message cannot be guaranteed on the Internet, andries-voortrekker cannot therefore be considered liable for its content.

Ce message, pieces jointes incluses, est confidentiel. Il est etabli a l'attention exclusive de ses destinataires. Si vous n'etes pas un destinataire, toute utilisation, copie ou diffusion, meme partielle de ce message est interdite. Merci de le detruire et d'en avertir immediatement l'expediteur. L'integrite de ce message ne pouvant etre garantie sur Internet, andries-voortrekker ne peut etre tenu responsable de son contenu.

Bank details reported - Michelle

Thank you to the ScamWarners site.

I was nearly scammed by Raphael Baldo and Sharon Jane Mitchell, at Andries Voortrekker (solicitor to Raphael Baldo). I would have lost a security deposit of 1600 $2287.

These are the addresses/emails/phone numbers used:
Raphael (Rapheal also) Baldo--name given for owner of flat #22 Rue de Pierre et Marie Curie
Craigslist ad for Paris placed on March 29, 2011 under Paris France rentals:
EUR1600 / 2br - NICE AND FULLY FURNISHED TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT (QUARTER LATIN, 7006 PARIS) Posting Number 2292802636

22 Rue de Piere et Marie Curie, Paris, France 75005
Raphael Baldo's phone number: +447045790617
Raphael Baldo's address in London: 38 Lensbury Way, London, SE29SY, United Kingdom
Sharon Mitchell's fax number: +442079002165
EMAILS:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Some bell-ringers: willing to rent for August (in March); smily face in lawyers' email addressed to Mrs. Nancy; architectural details of living room window didn't quite match facade of building; both solicitor and "owner" are in London; wrong RER train stop; incorrect zip code; said he'd fly his wife in from UK to show it but there is a building superintendent; WESTERN UNION $ up front; price too good to be true; under construction Andries Voortrekker site.
Reading through the previous posts, I wonder how he can still operate using Andries Voortrekker.
He has scammed in multiple countries under that name: Paris,France; Vienna, Austria; Berlin, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; Singapore......and?
What else can we do to get justice and prevent others from being victimized?
Or is there an international authority we can contact?

Raphael Baldo phoned me on my personal and home phones today about the Western Union money.
Should I be concerned that he has these numbers along with my emails? He also knows my name, my daughter's name, and her new school in France.
Thank you to all previous posters and to the moderators for your work on our behalf.