by Con Warner
Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:44 am
From: Lucas Clay <[email protected]>
To: Con Warner
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 11:11
Subject: Re: $650 / 1br apt
Thanks for your interest in my apartment. I am a professional piano/music theory teacher, I'm easy going and friendly. I like Music and have deep interests in travelling. I respect every religion and love to hang around with people and i am definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I am currently living in Manila - Philippine and I will be here for long that is why am looking for a clean and responsible person to live in my apartment. The apartment is located at: 501 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Its a spacious and lovely 1-bedroom fully furnished apartment with utilities included. The kitchen is well equipped. I want you to know that I am a kind and honest man and I spent a lot on my property that you are interested in renting, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of the apartment and I would want you to treat it as your own, I would like you to keep it tidy always.
The rental fees is $650 per month including utilities and the damage deposit is $355. I know you will be wondering why the rent is so cheap. Well I am not after the money, what am after is the welfare of my apartment. I will like you to drive by to the building today to view the exterior of the building for you to get a better view of the building and get back to me so that I can forward you the full interior pictures to you to have an idea how beautiful and spacious the inside looks and we can proceed to the application form.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Lucas
This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union or MoneyGram with a promise that he will send the keys through a courier company.
Sounds safe. It's not!
At other times, he will ask for proof that you are able to pay the deposit and rent due to a string of time wasters.
This proof is in the form of a Western Union or MoneyGram payment to a lawyer,a friend or family member.
In either case, if payment is made and you give this person the details, they will collect the money.
You will not hear from them 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 Craigslist, Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment 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.
