Rental Scam - [email protected]

Friess Wolfgang < [email protected] > wrote:

Yes registration is possible, here is the flat's pictures.....about the proof that the flat is real, yes I can understand your concern so for your safety and guarantee, I can send you the scan copy of my passport Id along with the contract for you to see and know whom you are dealing with so you can be sure of me..., in order to reserve the place so i
can post the flat's keys to you and you can receive it at your doorstep the next day, you and i will have to sign a rental agreement which i will email to you from my email to your email so that you can print it out and sign it and also scan it back to my email.... so after then you can now send the rent and deposit to me and after the payment has been confirmed i will post the keys to your address and
you will have it the next day after i post it...so i will need the details below to get the contract done ....
Your Name in full...........
Your Date of birth.............
Your Move in and out date....
Your phone number as the DHL will need it for the delivery of the keys.
Your passport ID number.....
Your Address to post the keys once the contract and the payment is done...
I wait for your details for the contract soon

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.