Rental Scammer - [email protected]

Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:50:36 +0000
From: [email protected]
Subject: "Large double room in London Kings Cross / Angel N1"
To: Michelle Banks

Hello

The large double room (15ft by 10ft, ie 4.3m by 3m) in modern, spacious flat, available now. The room has a built in wardrobe, large window, and white walls. The room comes with a double bed, chest of drawers, shelving, a desk, chair and plenty of storage space.

Under 10 minutes' walk to King's Cross and the Angel. 1 minute to buses going direct to the West End, City, Camden, and Regents Park. Just off the Caledonian Road. The local area is quiet and safe with restaurants, bars and supermarkets nearby. A swimming pool is next door and there are tennis courts 5 minutes away.

The rest of the flat has been decorated recently, with a well-equipped kitchen (inc. dishwasher) and bathroom. There is a balcony and a large living room. Wireless internet, telephone, digital TV.

Smoking is ok on the balcony but not in the rest of the flat.
The bills (council tax, service charge, electricity, gas, water, internet, cleaner) are all included.

I'm looking for bright, friendly people who are up for occasional meals in and nights out together, but who also have their own interesting lives. so i can have peaceful and understanding tenants living together.

I have a cleaner who comes once a week.
Rent: £550 per month,all bills included
Security deposit:£700 refundable after four weeks in the flat.
Total Payment: £1250
Minimum Stay: 1 Month(s)

Let me know if you'd like to come and have a look at the flat. Please include a bit about yourself and when you'd be free to come over

Please also indicate the date you would be looking to move in.

Thanks
Thomas Smith

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:40:40 +0000
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: "Large double room in London Kings Cross / Angel N1"
To: Michelle Banks

Hi,

I live and work in Liverpool. I will come down to Kings Cross on Saturday with the contract agreement papers, and hand over the keys to you, if you decide to rent immediately for you to view the flat and we can meet 5pm (Let me know if the time is ok by you). But i will need proof of available money, to show you can afford the cost of renting before i can come down to Kings Cross, because i was in Kings Cross on Monday, when Harrison showed interest in the flat and i sent him the flat details and pictures he proceed and schedule to meet for viewing on Monday, i was in Kings Cross on Monday expecting Harrison but he didn't show up, he sent me mail on Tuesday, informing me that he cannot afford the cost of renting the room and he had decide to stay more in the flatshare he lives in. That is why i had to place the ad again.
So i wasted my time and money transporting myself to Kings Cross because of Harrison, so i really don't want this to happen again, i will like to see proof that you have available money for renting and can afford the cost of renting.

You are to go to MoneyGram Or Western Union Office, Transfer the rent and refundable security deposit
(£550 + £700= £1,250) to your close friend or yourself within London.

Sender's Name should be your brother or sister's name.
Receiver's Name should be your name, so you will be in possession of your money. (The money is safe as it is only you the receiver that can withdraw the money)
Receiver's Address Should be London

Then, Scan and Send a copy of the Moneygram or Western union transaction receipt as a proof of the transaction or mail the Sender's Name and The MTCN Number to me.

I will have to confirm online with Western Union if the money is available for you. With Western Union Online confirmation link: http://www.westernunion.co.uk/WUCOMWEB/ ... e=HomePage

Once i confirm it, i will send you an email to go back and withdraw your money.

I know MoneyGram/Western Union office will require some charges for the transaction, but i promise to refund the transaction charges back, when we meet for viewing.

With this i will be sure you can afford and capable of renting the room, then, I will come and meet you for viewing. So after viewing you can pay me in Cash if you like the room and if you dont like it, you can go with your money.

Note: Please DO NOT send money to me, all transaction should be in your name so you will be in possession of your money. All i want is just to be sure you can afford to pay for the rent.
You are to pay for the rent AFTER VIEWING if you decide to rent it.

I have had several cases of people we had a deal for viewing and fail to turn up is either they cannot afford the rent or the security deposit required but want me to come down with the aim of renegotiating.

I do not want you to have the feeling that I am asking for money BEFORE you see what you are renting because I know that payment is meant to be done AFTER you have seen the Flat and okay with it that is why I said you should make the transfer to yourself so that you will be the one to receive the money and pay me in person after the viewing.

I'm sorry for any inconveniency this might cause but i just have to be sure you can afford renting before coming for viewing.

Expecting to hear from you soon.

Regards
Thomas

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.