by Michelle
Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:49 am
From: Cecelia Davies <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2011 22:42:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: Compact First Floor Flat In Very Close
Proximity To Train Station Available Now
To: Michelle Banks
Hello,
Thanks for the swift reply and i am more than willing to have you in
my flat. However, it was 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 landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or
relative who are in Brighton, also some do not meet up with the
appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in
office by their employers.
Henceforth my lawyer and i have decided to carry out a simple test on
financial ability to pay for my rent before coming for viewing. I
would not ask you to send your bank statement. At least 1 month rent
and the security deposit of £ 400 which is refundable after your first
week stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer through
Western union money transfer agent. You can make the transfer with
your name as the sender and your partner or friend's name as a
receiver in UK.
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, after
verification, then we can proceed for the viewing.
Note that the confirmation must be made before the receiver picks up
the money and also, i will refund back to you the cost of transfer
when we meet.
Kindly reply if you have more questions to ask.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards!
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.
