by cakesheep
Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:43 am
i was so excited to actually had a chance to rent a room. it was my first time, and i was sure that i can finally lead an independent, quiet life alone. Elsa Fontaille, as she introduced herself offered a room at a luxurious location @ Scotts Road with full access to amenities under a good price of $700. The catch was that she was not able to receive the money as she was overseas, as an intern at her late father's company.
I was stoked and immediately agreed to her offer. I was to send the deposit money via Western Union to not her, but her mother at an American address, as opposed to a UK address where she was currently residing in. I was dim-wittedly blinded over the fact that, this very information was suspiciously, too good to be true. I emailed my photo and a copy of my passport. In a later type-written agreement, I was told to pay $800 as security deposit and $700 of a month's worth of rent. I negotiated that I was only able to pay security deposit as i was only working full-time next month, so i can send my rent then. She agreed. I thought she was such a reasonable person.
Closer to my move-in date, i have yet to send my deposit because my pay for a freelance job had yet to come in. I contacted her via email and profusely apologized. She was fine with it and even wished me luck in my new job. Finally my pay arrived (tonight) and I was prepared to visit a Moneygram or a Western Union location.
I didn't know why, but something moved me to research on the property i will be moving into and the tenant. I Googled this information. Alas, i was horrified to find out how Elsa Fontaille and 'her' email addresses are frauds and scammers. There were also other 'people' with different names but with SIMILAR stories such as what Elsa told me. I was completely heartbroken and dismayed. I had high hopes of moving into a place i can call my own home alone, but this happened. I cried over the phone telling my friend. I then checked my mail which i used to send mails to her.
Now something curious happened while i was on my Gmail. Elsa Anais Fontaille was actually ONLINE on Gmail! I try to ignore this until... she PMed me with "Hi"
I cannot believe a scammer is trying to chat with me. Here are the details of the chat:
On 4 August 2011 21:06, Anais Elsa <[email protected]> wrote:
20:17
Anais: Hi
me: hello elsa
Anais: How are you doing today
me: been doing well thank you
how's internship going for you?
Anais: fine thank you
And how was work going for you
me: tiring, but very awesome
Anais: oh ok hope you not stressing yourself at work
me: no no, all is well. when will you be back from London?
Anais: september ending
me: that's great.
Anais: so what is new with you
me: well, besides the job, there's nothing new really. played some gigs with the band, making music. that's about it. how about you?
Anais: nothing much
me:
Anais: ?
me: is your real name elsa fontaille?
Anais: yes
me: honestly, i was researching about your property and certain things came up on the net.
Anais: Elsa Anais hello
me: im still here.
what time is it at London now?
Anais: 1:31pm
me: good to know.
elsa, can i be very honest with you?
Anais: sure because have been honest with you since the first time
me: good
now i have been researching on your property and name on the Internet and found out websites that list you as a scammer. Is this true?
Anais: i beg your pardon what do you mean
what do you mean
me: i'm not trying to sound completely rude, but it seems on scam sites that you are listed amongst those who fraud ppl with an illusion that you can rent out a room.
Anais: Can you give me the site i need to tell my lawyer all this.i will report the site to my lawyer
whats all this rubbish
me: i understand. but it is not only one website dear. several.
understandably so, i refuse to believe this, thats why i am asking you
i felt really heartbroken and sad when i found out. I really thought I could trust you and the agreement.
Anais: i will surely report this to my lawyer because they are trying to tarnish my image
yes you need to trust me because have been trusting you from the start
me: well of course, you will trust me, i have sent my photo and address to you.
Anais: yes and i send you mine also
me: what i am scared of are scammers who will use my personal details to spread other frauds
Anais: Not at all you dont need to be afraid Suhaili because we are talking about trust on here
me: Elsa, I trying very hard to believe you because I was so excited that I didnt care whether i was going to be fooled or not. with that, i'd like an amendment for the date i will move in.
Anais: you dont need to be scared
me: I will only pass the security deposit to you in person, once you have reached singapore.
that will be, as you said, at the end september.
Anais: why thats mean we dont trust each other
me: no, that means, as a tenant and for myself, we both will come to know, that we both are not fakes.
Anais: yes i understaand you but i can assure you that you are not fake
me: assurance is only a force of persuasion.
but technically in this case, i do not trust you.
until i see the house and yourself actually living in it.
Anais: ok i understand you
me: I truly hope to trust you again, because before I was so happy to be moving in with someone i thot i can trust
i'm sorry to have disappointed you. I was disappointed myself. I am sure, if you are real, that you are a wonderful person.
do you have a webcam btw?
Anais: am using a computer there is no webcam sorry
me: alright. no problem.
thank you for chatting with me though. at least we've made clear some things.
ure still there?
Anais: ok, am here
me: are you living alone at your apartment?
me: i hope you're not troubled by my confrontation. please please email me once you are in singapore. I'd love to meet you because i am still much interested in your room and make friends with you.
Anais: ok thank you
me: oh, and don't be hesitant in chatting or emailing me abt anything random. i'd love to talk.
Anais: k
me: i will look forward to meet you very soon. i'm off to finish some work. take care elsa.
Anais: ok later
=end=
If she was a real scammer, I hope everyone knows about 'her' scams. If it turns out that she is NOT, when I meet her, I will help in anyway I can to clear her name. I trust people alot, and I also understand that misunderstandings will definitely happen. Elsa, if you happen to read this, know that I have been supporting you, but if you are truly a scam, I hope that this post can help bringing you to justice.
Thank you.
I was stoked and immediately agreed to her offer. I was to send the deposit money via Western Union to not her, but her mother at an American address, as opposed to a UK address where she was currently residing in. I was dim-wittedly blinded over the fact that, this very information was suspiciously, too good to be true. I emailed my photo and a copy of my passport. In a later type-written agreement, I was told to pay $800 as security deposit and $700 of a month's worth of rent. I negotiated that I was only able to pay security deposit as i was only working full-time next month, so i can send my rent then. She agreed. I thought she was such a reasonable person.
Closer to my move-in date, i have yet to send my deposit because my pay for a freelance job had yet to come in. I contacted her via email and profusely apologized. She was fine with it and even wished me luck in my new job. Finally my pay arrived (tonight) and I was prepared to visit a Moneygram or a Western Union location.
I didn't know why, but something moved me to research on the property i will be moving into and the tenant. I Googled this information. Alas, i was horrified to find out how Elsa Fontaille and 'her' email addresses are frauds and scammers. There were also other 'people' with different names but with SIMILAR stories such as what Elsa told me. I was completely heartbroken and dismayed. I had high hopes of moving into a place i can call my own home alone, but this happened. I cried over the phone telling my friend. I then checked my mail which i used to send mails to her.
Now something curious happened while i was on my Gmail. Elsa Anais Fontaille was actually ONLINE on Gmail! I try to ignore this until... she PMed me with "Hi"
I cannot believe a scammer is trying to chat with me. Here are the details of the chat:
On 4 August 2011 21:06, Anais Elsa <[email protected]> wrote:
20:17
Anais: Hi
me: hello elsa
Anais: How are you doing today
me: been doing well thank you
how's internship going for you?
Anais: fine thank you
And how was work going for you
me: tiring, but very awesome
Anais: oh ok hope you not stressing yourself at work
me: no no, all is well. when will you be back from London?
Anais: september ending
me: that's great.
Anais: so what is new with you
me: well, besides the job, there's nothing new really. played some gigs with the band, making music. that's about it. how about you?
Anais: nothing much
me:
Anais: ?
me: is your real name elsa fontaille?
Anais: yes
me: honestly, i was researching about your property and certain things came up on the net.
Anais: Elsa Anais hello
me: im still here.
what time is it at London now?
Anais: 1:31pm
me: good to know.
elsa, can i be very honest with you?
Anais: sure because have been honest with you since the first time
me: good
now i have been researching on your property and name on the Internet and found out websites that list you as a scammer. Is this true?
Anais: i beg your pardon what do you mean
what do you mean
me: i'm not trying to sound completely rude, but it seems on scam sites that you are listed amongst those who fraud ppl with an illusion that you can rent out a room.
Anais: Can you give me the site i need to tell my lawyer all this.i will report the site to my lawyer
whats all this rubbish
me: i understand. but it is not only one website dear. several.
understandably so, i refuse to believe this, thats why i am asking you
i felt really heartbroken and sad when i found out. I really thought I could trust you and the agreement.
Anais: i will surely report this to my lawyer because they are trying to tarnish my image
yes you need to trust me because have been trusting you from the start
me: well of course, you will trust me, i have sent my photo and address to you.
Anais: yes and i send you mine also
me: what i am scared of are scammers who will use my personal details to spread other frauds
Anais: Not at all you dont need to be afraid Suhaili because we are talking about trust on here
me: Elsa, I trying very hard to believe you because I was so excited that I didnt care whether i was going to be fooled or not. with that, i'd like an amendment for the date i will move in.
Anais: you dont need to be scared
me: I will only pass the security deposit to you in person, once you have reached singapore.
that will be, as you said, at the end september.
Anais: why thats mean we dont trust each other
me: no, that means, as a tenant and for myself, we both will come to know, that we both are not fakes.
Anais: yes i understaand you but i can assure you that you are not fake
me: assurance is only a force of persuasion.
but technically in this case, i do not trust you.
until i see the house and yourself actually living in it.
Anais: ok i understand you
me: I truly hope to trust you again, because before I was so happy to be moving in with someone i thot i can trust
i'm sorry to have disappointed you. I was disappointed myself. I am sure, if you are real, that you are a wonderful person.
do you have a webcam btw?
Anais: am using a computer there is no webcam sorry
me: alright. no problem.
thank you for chatting with me though. at least we've made clear some things.
ure still there?
Anais: ok, am here
me: are you living alone at your apartment?
me: i hope you're not troubled by my confrontation. please please email me once you are in singapore. I'd love to meet you because i am still much interested in your room and make friends with you.
Anais: ok thank you
me:
oh, and don't be hesitant in chatting or emailing me abt anything random. i'd love to talk.Anais: k
me: i will look forward to meet you very soon. i'm off to finish some work. take care elsa.
Anais: ok later
=end=
If she was a real scammer, I hope everyone knows about 'her' scams. If it turns out that she is NOT, when I meet her, I will help in anyway I can to clear her name. I trust people alot, and I also understand that misunderstandings will definitely happen. Elsa, if you happen to read this, know that I have been supporting you, but if you are truly a scam, I hope that this post can help bringing you to justice.
Thank you.
