Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Robin Willan <[email protected]>
To: Michelle Banks
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2011 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: $560 / 1br - 456ft&sup2; - Studio/1BA Multi-Family -Berkeley 1802 Bonita Avenue,Berkeley CA 94709 (berkeley)

Thanks you for your interest, the Apartment is still available and it has 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom. I am looking for someone to live in it as soon as possible because i got a contract job recently in London and i will be working here for three years before returning home but i am yet to arrange my accommodation, so as a result of this I want to rent out my apartment so as to get some money to balance out the apartment i want to rent out here.

I`m the owner of the apartment and it is furnished. and this includes all utilities (water, electricity, heat, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator). You can move into the apartment when you receive the keys but the only problem is that am the only person who has the keys but i hope that we will reach a compromise on this.

Any further questions please contact and get back to me for the pics of the apartment and the address let me know if i should forward you the rental application form asap. Thank you for your interest and i`m awaiting

your response.
Thanks

From: Robin Willan <[email protected]>
To: Michelle Banks
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 11:13 AM
Subject: APARTMENT APPLICATION FORM AND PICTURES


Thanks, i have attached the pics of the apartment to this mail and i
will like you to provide me some details which are listed below so
that i can use it to fill out the rental applicants form which will be
included among the rental documents.


My number is :+447024035542

1)Your Full Name
2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone Number
3)How old are you?
4)Are you married?
5)How many people will be living in the apartment?
6)Do you have a pet?
7)Occupation?
How long are you staying
9)Your pictures or passport

it is fully furnished with all necessary appliance and utilities. If
satisfied please get back to me so that we can proceed with the rental
process.

Thanks

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.