Renting a flat, not sure if it is a scam.

Hello everybody, I am Italian, I am moving in London in 2 weeks and I am lookig for a flat to share.
I found a really nice flat on www.easyroommate.com and I would like to reserve it from Italy. So it's impossible for me to visite the flat. The owner seems to be a nice yaung lady, with whoom I should share the flat. She sent me several photos of the property, the address, her name and surname, and now she ask me for reserve the room:
- to sign the Tenacy Agreement
- to transfer 1 month rent + security deposit (the total is 850£) by Money Graam.

Do you think is it safe or a bit strange and suspicious to ask for all this money through money graam service? What could I ask her to protect myself?

Thanks!

THIS IS HER EMAIL:

Goodmorning Sara,
Thanks again for the details you provide me. I am really much happy for you to be my new flatmate and can't wait to see you soon in my Flat. I can reserve and stop the flat room for you. I have attached the Tenancy Agreement and Refund policy Agreement along to this email to you.
You would need to read and print out the forms and sign it at the end of the pages as soon as you finished with it, you will Re-attached it back to me as soon as possible today and bring the copy along with you on your arrival date to my flat.

You will need to proceed with the transfer of the reservation deposit of 1 month rent and the refundable security deposit 450 pounds, the total amount you will transfer for the reservation deposit is 850 pounds.
Note: The security deposit is fully refundable back to you at the end of one week you move in my flat. Simply, Just go to your nearest MoneyGram outlet location office around you, they would be given you a slip to fill and you will fill below my details and yours for the transfer.

Sender's name/ Your name and Sender's address/ Your address.
Receiver's name/ Anita Grant and Receiver's address/ My flat address, UK.

Kindly as soon as you made the payment, you will need to get back with the scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can confirm that you made the transfer in order for my lawyer to issue out your reservation receipt for you which you will bring along with you, and also attach it with other utility document which will be handed over to you with the keys on your arrival date. Remember without the reservation receipt i wouldn't allow you to enter my flat.

I await your reply soon
Your's Flatmate,
Anita.

NB: I would also need you to provide me with your flight details and arrival time so that I can drive my personal car to come pick you up at the airport and tube station.

Welcome to Scamwarners.
I'm certain that's a scam. Western Union and Moneygram are only for sending money to those you know personally. And the English isn't quite right.
Can you post the email address please.

Hi sarabee.
Is the lady in question the owner of the flat? I notice the security deposit is apparently refundable but I have heard of those non-refundable ones too? Why is one months rent being transfered at this early stage, I wonder? Surely this money would be paid when you arrive in the UK, would it not?
Please exercise caution here.
It would help if you could post the email header and the full name the individual is using.
I'm no expert on real estate but I think a tenancy deposit scheme is in operation whereby the landlord must proptect your deposit in a Government authorised protection scheme. You should be able to recover the deposit when you move out. If you visit your local real estate agent, they will explain far better than I.

Just to make it clear-there is absolutely no question. This is a bog-standard rental scam.

The writing tells me the author is African, and in fact, the author has used this exact same script under the name Ellen Holt here http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-49987.html (in the post dated June 1st:)

Hi,
Thanks again for the details you provide me. I am really much happy for you to be my new flatmate and can't wait to see you soon in my Flat. I can reserve and stop the flat room for you. I just received your contract and the refundable policy agreement from my solicitor and I have attached the Tenancy Agreement and Refund policy Agreement along to this email to you.
You would need to read and print out the forms and sign it at the end of the pages as soon as you finished with it, you will Re-attached it back to me as soon as possible today and bring the copy along with you on your arrival date to my flat.

You will need to proceed with the transfer of the reservation deposit of 1 month rent and the refundable security deposit 400 pounds, the total amount you will transfer for the reservation deposit is 760 pounds.
Note: The security deposit is fully refundable back to you at the end of one week you move in my flat. Simply, Just go to your nearest MoneyGram outlet location office around you, they would be given you a slip to fill and you will fill below my details and yours for the transfer.

Sender's name/ Your name and Sender's address/ Your address.
Receiver's name/ Ellen Holt and Reciever's address/ My flat address, UK.

Kindly as soon as you made the payment, you will need to get back with the scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can confirm that you made the transfer in order for my lawyer to issue out your reservation receipt for you which you will bring along with you, and also attach it with other utility document which will be handed over to you with the keys on your arrival date. Remember without the reservation receipt i wouldn't allow you to enter my flat.

I await your reply soon
Your's Flatmate,
Have a lovely Day!
Ellen.

NB: I would also need you to provide me with your flight details and arrival time so that I can drive my personal car to come pick you up at the airport.

The scammer will have wanted you to send him money to have keys and documents to be couriered from abroad, or to send money to a family friend to show that you are financially sound and not a time waster. He would have asked you send money by wire transfer (normally Western Union or Moneygram).

These 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 may find this BBC news report and video of interest.... it shows how a similar Room for Rent scam works..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/art ... ture.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOGAxUqHxsE

For an overview of Rental Scams please follow this link:-

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=12278