by Michelle
Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:59 am
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:04:34 +0000
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: 2 bed mews house to rent, Clareville Grove Mews, South Kensington, SW7
From: [email protected]
To: Michelle Banks
Hello,
First sorry for my late reply. My asking price is 400+100(including all taxes and bills) GBP per month and the first payment will be for 2 months of rent (1000 GBP), because the minimum period of rent is 2 months. The flat is very clean and I want to leave the flat to one person who is a clean and responsible tenant.
For me it is very hard to come in UK because of my working place, and if I will come I must be 100% sure that I will not come for nothing. As you can see in the photos everything it's new in the flat. I am working in Germany (Berlin) and I am here with my family.
Regarding the meeting, I think we could fix a date when I can come in UK for the viewing and we can reach an agreement. The property has a fully furnished kitchen, clean and well tidy sitting rooms, laundry room, and fully furnished with all home utilities like: electric shower, lounge, vacuum cleaner, toaster, oven and microwave, dryer, iron, washing machine , refrigerator , dishwasher, power shower, heater, cable ready, tv set and dvd player, internet connection, equipped kitchen and all utilities.
I am waiting for your mail to know if you are satisfied with the details of my flat which I have you, as well to know and arrange for the viewing of the flat and arrange for other necessary arrangements that are needed.
I am waiting for your response.
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:22:01 +0000
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: 2 bed mews house to rent, Clareville Grove Mews, South Kensington, SW7
From: [email protected]
To: Michelle Banks
Hi,
The 100gbp is for gas,and all bills of the flat.
I work for SBG - Sales Business Germany GmbH and is very hard for me to come in UK. I can't take the risk to leave my new job for days and when I arrive in UK to see that I come for nothing. I want to be 100% sure that when I will meet you, we do the rent papers then i can come back in Germany.
So i can be sure of that look how we can do:
You make the payment from your name and address to your best friend name and address in UK using WesternUnion for 2 months rent that means 1000 GBP and send me the scanned receipt. As soon as I see the scanned receipt that you have made the payment, I will come in UK and you will see the flat and maybe rent it. After that, we will go together at the WesternUnion office and you will take the money back and pay me.So all you have to do is to find a WesternUnion office and wire 1000 GBP from your name to your friend name and send the scanned receipt.I am asking you this to be sure that I do not come in UK for nothing. Hope you can understand my situations.
P.S : As I told you,I have a lot of customers interested to rent the apartment. I will reserve the apartment to the first one that provides
me the scanned paper from WesternUnion. As soon as I have the confirmation from WesternUnion that the money are available on his name I stop the transactions with all the other customers
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.
I still couldn't quite believe it so have been extremely exited to begin arranging a viewing and, even though I consider myself to be a 'scam-savvy' online consumer, I don't know quite how much I may have been blinded by the amazing deal proffered and ended up forking out some money. Luckily I Googled the email address out of curiosity and found this post/site and you may have saved me a fortune, hopefully by me posting my experience with this thief, others can become more aware too. 