by Michelle
Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:51 am
On 08/03/2011, at 4:16 AM, Lora Colin wrote:
The following are the basic details you need to know about the flat.
The rent is £ 150.00 per week and Security Deposit is £ 400.00 which is refundable after 1 month stay in my flat.
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license, wireless Internet, Electricity. Except house cleaner bill) Utility Cost : £ 5.00 pcm
Moreover, the flat is fully furnished and equipped with all necessary house facilities also benefits a secured parking space but i can make it unfurnished if prefer. At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to ask you few questions . Can you take good care of my flat as it is? How many month do you intend to rent and pay for? Do you have any reference in London?
Kindly reply for further information.
Regards
Lora Colin
On 08/03/2011, at 4:16 PM, Lora Colin wrote:
Thanks for the reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat. My flat is available and I am willing to have you in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due.
However,it is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view my flat without any form of confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled, has brought about great loss to me. I have traveled all the way from Ireland to take some interested candidates round my flat because that's where i work.
Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet they disturb the the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or relative who live close by, also some do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in office by there employers.
Henceforth, my lawyer and i have decided to carry out a simple test on seriousness and financial ability to pay for my rent before coming for viewing. I would not ask you to send your bank statements or pay slip . At least 1 month rent of £ 600 plus the security deposit £ 400 which is refundable after your 1 month stay in my flat, so a total of £ 1000 would be required from you to transfer through Western Union Money Transfer agent to any of your trusted friend or relative in UK premises as a Receiver and yourself as a Sender.
Once you have done this, scan the receipt to me and if you do not have scanner, you may write out the details on the receipt as i will send it to my lawyer to verify if it's truly genuine and available in your friend's custody, after verification, then we can proceed for the viewing.
Note that the transfer must be confirmed valid before the receiver picks up the money and also, i will refund back to you the cost of transfer when we meet.
I look forward to reading from you soon.
Regards
Mr/Mrs Colin
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.
