by Michelle
Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:59 am
From: [email protected]
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: RE: Marylebone room
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:52:29 +0100
Hello,
Your friend can come over to see my place but for security reasons you will have to transfer the security deposit and one month rent to YOUR FRIEND via western union then scan and send me the receipt so i will be able to confirm that you are a real and genuine person.London is a very big place and one has to be careful before bringing strangers into the apartment.I hope you understand ?
Hope to read from you soon and i hope this works out for us so we can stay together.
Magdalena
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 money (again via Western Union) 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.
