Room for Rent and other rental scams
by sara.larsson Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:11 am
Hi everyone!

Me and my friends are looking for a flat in London, so we put up an ad on Gumtree and got response from someone who called themself Soraya Mulvenna. I asked her about why she didn't let through an agency and how she wanted her deposit, and I received this email (sorry for it being so long). I haven't replied to it, since I realised it was a scam.



from: Soraya Mulvenna [email protected]
reply-to: Soraya Mulvenna <[email protected]>
to: ******** (email adress erased)
date: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 12:31 PM
subject: Re: Reply to Gumtree ad, 3 bedrooms
signed-by: yahoo.co.uk

Hi *,
I have lost my faith in agencies which is why i have decided to rent the property out privately and the property is strictly for letting purpose now as my parents wont be needing it. Let me know when you want to come and view my flat, so that i will plan my time here and make sure am there before you arrive.

The only thing is that i need double assurance, because i want to avoid traveling from Birmingham to London in vain, i can afford my fare, but i can't afford to waste my time.

My Lawyer will get a contract ready for you to sign if you like to take the flat after viewing and the keys will be handed over to you immediately after contract has been signed.

Also, receipt of payment will be issued to you after which you'll have to sign the lease agreement form.

I was discussing with my Lawyer about the idea on how i will be so sure that i will not just waste my time to London without achieving my the aim and she advised that we can work out something via Western Union Money Transfer.

She said that Western Union Money Transfer can actually hold the money as an evidence and surety that her tenant will pay her at least for the first month and deposit. She gave me an option on what we can do since you have the funds at hand which will be explained below:

PROCEDURE:

1) Transfer the amount £2000 (1 month rent and security deposit) to any of your family members (wife, dad, mum, siblings) or your friend.

Your Name (as Sender) to any of your family members (wife, dad, mum, siblings) or your friend (as Receiver) in London or other parts of UK.

2) Scan & Send a copy of the Western Union transaction receipt as a proof of the transaction or mail me the transaction details. (The money is safe as it is only you that can withdraw since you need a national ID card or International passport)

3) Then, we will meet for viewing.

4) If you decide to take the flat, we will go to any local Western Union Money Transfer office for you to pick up the money and pay me. (You don't need to come with cash to view, after viewing we will go together, you will cancel the transfer and withdraw the money to pay me).

5) Keys will be handed over to you after signing the contracts.

I am pretty sure that the transaction at Western Union office will require some charges, i will definitely refund the transaction charges back to you upon viewing and if you don't see what i sent as pictures of my flat to you, you are free to leave without paying me anything.

I only want to be sure that i am not going to waste my time this time around and i think with this condition, both of us can be sure we are not wasting our time.

I will only rely on your honesty that you have made the transaction so that i can reserve the flat for you.

Let me know if you are okay with this so that we can proceed. Thanks so much while i will be waiting to read from you and i am looking forward to meet you and be great friends eventually.

NB: PLS DO NOT MAKE PAYMENT TO ME OR IN MY NAME, WHAT I NEED IS JUST AN EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE THE CASH TO PAY ONCE YOU HAVE VIEWED.

My contact number is 07572313367 i do have network problems with my phone at the moment but can receive text messages and then i can call you back at my spare time.

I am sorry for the lengthy mail, i only want to explain myself better.

Warm regards and have a nice day.

Soraya
Advertisement

by Bubbles Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:26 pm
Welcome to ScamWarners and congratulations for recognizing the scam. Thank you for posting it here for others to be able to find and learn from it.

Bubbles, former Scamwarners moderator.

Rest in Peace 24 June 2015.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 8 guests