Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Helena Duffy <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 11:04:24 +0100
Subject: RE: Reply to your ad: Elegant Double bedroom flat in Brighton
City center.All bills inclusive
To: Michelle Banks


Thanks for the reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat.My
flat is fully furnished in and out as you can see in the picture and
there is a garage and a off street parking in my flat,I spoke with my
lawyer some couple of minute ago concerning the interest you have in
my flat and we both agreed to have you in my flat.

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 with (P. Elliott & Company).

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 are in Brighton,also some do not meet up with the
appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in
office by there employees.

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 or
before making a reservation for any interested candidate. I would not
ask you to send your bank statement neither your pay slip because it
will be inappropriate for me to collect any money from you neither my
lawyer. At least 1 month rent and security deposit which is £ 500
which is refundable after your first week stay in my flat, would be
required from you to transfer through the Money gram. You can make the
transfer with your name as a sender name and your partner or friend in
UK premises as a receiver.

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 Duffy

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.

Opening e-mail with telephone number:-

From: Helena Duffy <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Subject: RE: Citylets: Blackchapel Close, EH15 3SL, £480 pcm
To: Michelle Banks


Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and you can stay in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit.Rent £480 pcm : £ 120.00 pw and the Security Deposit: £ 500.00 (Returnable at the end of a week stay in my flat)Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet) Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm.

However, At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you.Can you keep my flat clean and tidy? Do you have references in Edinburgh and do you have a contact number in which i can reach you?i will appreciate if you can get back to me with all this information. Kindly reply for further information and i will like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat.

I look forward to reading from you. Have a wonderful week ahead of you.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy
+447024093708

I got involved with this Helena Duffy person ... just in email conversation but it went much the same way as the one you've described. The flat "for rent" was in Goldsmiths Row ... luckily didn't get sucked into the vortex of nonsense.

Helena Duffy is still trying to pull me in ... really persistent! This received today.

"Thanks for getting back to me. I wouldn't want you to get me wrong and am not asking you to pay before the viewing, the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate my lawyer procedure. I am a God fearing woman and i am not after your money. I have my own work and i earn enough money for my family and also to help the less privileged.

However, i didn't want to collect any money from you as long as you have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat. All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to someone close to you through the nearest western union outlet around you, once you've done that, you get back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid.

After the confirmation might have been made by my lawyer, i will ask you to tell your friend to pick up the money and schedule a convenient day for the viewing. If eventually you don't want to proceed with the rent, i promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.western union is the fast and easiest way to send money.Here is the western union transfer procedure below"

1.Locate the nearest western union around you.
2.Pick up the form of transfer and fill in the details which needs to be filled and return back to the post master.Details needed on the form are {sender name;your name and address.}{receiver name and address}
3. Return back to the post master with the cash you are transferring to your partner or friend and wait for the receipt to be returned back to you.
4. Scan the receipt to me and give me a call so i can check it if its truly genuine and available in your friend's custody.
5. After it has been confirmed on the website,then we can proceed for the viewing and you can as well tell your friend or partner to pick up the money

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible if you are well understood and i will appreciate if you can get the transfer done in time so that we can proceed with the viewing as soon as possible.I will appreciate if possible you can get the transfer done tomorrow over there as you can as well make the transfer with your family members name as a senders name and your own name as a receivers name to an address in London and you can as well use my flat address as well.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy"

Scammers can be very persistent when they think there is an opportunity to get money.

Once they realize they are not going to get anything from you, they will disappear--though you may find yourself receiving more scams in the future.

vv

Helena Duffy now trying it on in Bristol, through property advertised on Gumtree. Starts with text as above then emails similar to above, although now she apparently works in Coventry and travelling from there is a problem... I really hope no one falls for it!

I'm looking for a flat for my son, in London at the moment & I got this reply, to my phone -

"Thanks for the reply concerning my flat on gumtree.I will appreciate you get
back to me on my personal email [email protected] for further details."

I knew it was a scam because the phone number is +234 8060 882506, I checked out the country code & it's Nigeria.

I texted back & said I email when I got home, but could they remind me which flat it was & how much.

Lets see if they text me again when I don't email them

Hi Everyone,
I had an inkling I was being scammed by 'mr/mrs duffy' when i replied to an advert of theirs advertising a flat above a shop in Muswell Hill at 550pcm for 3 bedrooms! Ridiculous! SO i googled her name and about the second or third link was to this website. I am so glad people have already reported it. I am not sure the right way to have gone about responding to her but here is a copy of the correspondence we have just had so that if any of you are reading this and receive something similar then you know to back away!
the email address is [email protected]

''Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and you can stay in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit.Rent £550 pcm and the Security Deposit: £ 500.00 (Returnable at the end of a week stay in my flat)Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet) Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm.

However, At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you.Can you keep my flat clean and tidy? Do you have references in London and do you have a contact number in which i can reach you if possible a Landline that will be great?i will appreciate if you can get back to me with all this information. Kindly reply for further information and i will like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat.

I look forward to reading from you. Have a wonderful week ahead of you.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy

Thanks for the swift reply.My flat is still available for rent.I am willing to have you in my flat as long as you want after the viewing. It is unfortunate that my past experience of inviting people to come and view or reserve my flat without any form of confirmation of their seriousness and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled, has brought about great loss to me. I have traveled all the way from Coventry 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 lives close by, also some do not meet up with the appointments.

Henceforth, my solicitor and i have decided to carry out a simple test on seriousness and financial ability to pay for the rent before coming for viewing. I am not asking you to pay before the viewing but at least, one month rent together with the security deposit of £ 500 which is refundable would be required from you to transfer to someone close to you through Western Union Money Transfer agent using your name as the Sender and your friend or family member's name as the Receiver in the UK premises.

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 forward it to my solicitor to verify if it's truly genuine and available, after verification, i will ask you to inform the receiver to go and pick up the transfer and i will refund the transfer charges immediately after the viewing.

Kindly let me know if my explanation is well understood. Have a wonderful time.I 'll like you to know that,if you can get the transfer done tomorrow morning so that we can proceed with the viewing latest around 5pm in the evening or at your own convenience.

Best Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy

Thanks for getting back to me. I wouldn't want you to get me wrong and am not asking you to pay before the viewing, the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate my lawyer procedure. I am a God fearing woman and i am not after your money. I have my own work and i earn enough money for my family and also to help the less privileged.

However, i didn't want to collect any money from you as long as you have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat. All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to someone close to you through the nearest western union outlet around you, once you've done that, you get back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid.

After the confirmation might have been made by my lawyer, i will ask you to tell your friend to pick up the money and schedule a convenient day for the viewing. If eventually you don't want to proceed with the rent, i promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.western union is the fast and easiest way to send money.Here is the western union transfer procedure below"

1.Locate the nearest western union around you.
2.Pick up the form of transfer and fill in the details which needs to be filled and return back to the post master.Details needed on the form are {sender name;your name and address.}{receiver name and address}
3. Return back to the post master with the cash you are transferring to your partner or friend and wait for the receipt to be returned back to you.
4. Scan the receipt to me and give me a call so i can check it if its truly genuine and available in your friend's custody.
5. After it has been confirmed on the website,then we can proceed for the viewing and you can as well tell your friend or partner to pick up the money

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible if you are well understood and i will appreciate if you can get the transfer done in time so that we can proceed with the viewing as soon as possible.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy

i responded thanking her for another piece of evidence that she is a scam artist.

Welcome to ScamWarners communikatie, we are pleased information posted here was helpful to you and others. This is what our site exists to do. I have merged this post with others about this scammer.

Helena Duffy now trying it on in Bristol, through property advertised on Gumtree. Starts with text as above then emails similar to above, although now she apparently works in Coventry and travelling from there is a problem... I really hope no one falls for it!

From: Helena Duffy <[email protected]>

Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 10:29 PM
Subject: RE: Message from someone interested in your advert

Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and you can stay in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit. Rent per calender month is £320 { includes all bills : water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet} also Security deposit of £500 {Refundable after four weeks in the flat}.

However, At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you.Can you keep my flat clean and tidy? Do you have references in Bristol and do you have a landline number in which i can reach you?i will appreciate if you can get back to me with all this information. Kindly reply for further information and i will like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy

On 31 Mar 2013, at 12:43, Helena Duffy <[email protected]> wrote:

Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and you can stay in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit. Rent per calender month is £320 { includes all bills : water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet} also Security deposit of £500 And it is protected by the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme(http://www.depositprotection.com/){Refundable after four weeks in the flat}.

However, At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you.Can you keep my flat clean and tidy? Do you have references in Brighton and do you have a landline number in which i can reach you?i will appreciate if you can get back to me with all this information. Kindly reply for further information and i will like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy

On 31 Mar 2013, at 14:46, Helena Duffy <[email protected]> wrote:

Thanks for getting back to me.I wouldn't want you to get me wrong, the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate my lawyer procedure. I am a God fearing woman and i am not after your money. I have my own work and i earn enough money for my family and also to help the less privileged.

However, i didn't ask you to transfer any money to me as long as you have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat and i would have ask to send your bank statement or your pay slip but some prospective candidate had misused the opportunity in the past by sending fake document.

All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to someone close to you through western union agent, once you've done that, you get back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid.

After the confirmation might have been made, i will ask you to tell you friend to pick up the money and schedule a convenient day for the viewing and i promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.western union is the fast and easiest way to send money and it is a money transfer in a minute.Here is the western union procedure below.

1.Locate the nearest western union outlet around you.
2.Pick up the form of transfer and fill in the details which needs to be filled and return back to the post master.Details needed on the form are {sender name;your name and address.}{receiver your friend's name and address}
3. Return back to the post master with the cash you are transferring to your partner or friend and wait for the receipt to be returned back to you.
4. Scan the receipt to me so that i can forward it to my lawyer to check it if its truly genuine and available in your friend's custody.
5. After it has been confirmed valid, i will send you an email so that you can inform the receiver to go an pick up the money and thereafter, you'll schedule a convenient time for the viewing.

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible if you are well understood and i 'll appreciate if you can get the transfer done tomorrow morning so that we can finalise the viewing tomorrow evening.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Duffy

From: [email protected]

To: Michelle Banks
Subject: RE: Request for your Offer at Starflats.co.uk
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2013 15:17:08 +0100

Hello Michelle

Thanks for getting back to me.I can make a perfect reservation for you without no delay but how can i be rest assured about that as i am willing to make a perfect reservation for you for the said date but i don really know how much you have at the moment to secure the flat as i realy need to show it to my lawyer so that he can be rest assured to prepare all document for you and the flat can be secured for you without any doubt as he is in a seminar at the moment with my husband in Africa and you 'll need too send the funds to him and get back to me with the copy and i can make a reservation for you and if possible i can come and show you the flat this evening as we don't want any let down as we have been disappointed in the past by some other interested candidate whereby we make a perfect reservation for them at the end they don't have any to show that they are capable ofpaying the rent.

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so that i can send you the information where you can send the funds to reserved the flat and how much you can be able to transfer to make the reservation for you.I 'll like you to know that if you can get that done today we'll proceed with the viewing before 6pm this evening or at your own convenience.

Regards!

Recently seen writing from:-

IP Address Quick Report
IP Address: 41.206.15.59
Organization: Vgc Communication
City: Lagos
Country of Origin: Nigeria
* For a complete report on this IP address goto ipTRACKERonline

about 20 minutes ago I got one. went to my boyfriends parents to ask for there advice.. she googled her and it came up with this page! thank you all soooo much!! I emailed he/she back saying

Hi

Sorry but I just googled "Helena Duffy" and your on SCAMWARNERS.COM!!
Can't believe I was about to fall for this.

Scums


HE/SHE NEEDS TO BE FOUND AND LOCKED AWAY!!