Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: [email protected]
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: RE: Reply to your ad: WANTED studio flat, Close to the west brigdford area
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2011 21:14:28 +0100


Dear Michelle
Thanks for getting back to me and your message is well understood. I understand that you are under housing benefit which is okay by me but before we proceed with the necessities, my lawyer would like to make a confirmation of your seriousness towards the flat.

However, i wouldn't want to collect any money from you before the viewing and signing of the tenancy agreement. You are just required to transfer at least the deposit of 300 pounds to your friend or relative through the western union money transfer.

Once you have done that and my lawyer verified it valid, i will send you an email so that you can inform the receiver to go and pick up the money and also proceed with the viewing.

Here is the western union transfer details,

Transfer details:

1. Locate the nearest Western union outlet around you.
2. Pick up the form, fill in the required information and return to the post master. Information require on the form are (Sender's name: Your name and address) (Receiver's name: Your friend's name and address).
3. Return to the post master with the cash you are transferring me and wait for the receipt to be returned back to you.
4. Scan the receipt to me and if you don't have scanner, you will write out the information on the receipt.
5. Note that my lawyer must confirm the transfer valid before the receiver picks up the money then we schedule for the viewing at your convenient time.

Hope to read from you soon.

Regards
Nessa

+44-702-401-4830

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.

Dear,
Thanks for getting back to me. 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 with British Steel Ireland Ltd.

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 Glasgow, 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 security deposit which is £400 which is refundable after your stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer through Western union money transfer. You can make the transfer with your name as a sender name and your partner or friend in UK as the 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.

Kindly reply if you have more questions to ask.

I look forward to reading from you.

Kind Regards
Nessa