by Con Warner
Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:16 pm
From: Robert Anderson - [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Hello,
The company i'm going to use to rent the flat is a major real estate agency from London, specialized in international rentals.
They are called Prime Rent LTD, and their website is: www.prime-rent.com/content/HowItWorks.html <---fake website reported
This agency will handle the delivery of the keys, the inspection of the flat and also the payment .
Here's how it works :
1 – To start this transaction, I need your full name, address and telephone number. I will also need to know the rental period so I can put it in the contract.
2 – I will go to the Prime Rent LTD office to drop off the keys and documents of the house, along with the contract
3 – Prime Rent LTD will check the documents to make sure I am the actual owner of the flat, then, they will send you an invoice.
4 – At this point you'll have to pay the money for the first month and the security deposit ( 1040 Euro ) to Prime Rent LTD, according to the instructions from the invoice.
This will be a guarantee that they don't send an agent all the way to your country for a joke. The deposit will be just a formality, and it will not commit you to renting the flat.
The money will remain in the custody of Prime Rent LTD until you have checked the flat and confirmed that everything is ok.
5 – At this point you will have to make a deposit on the Prime Rent LTD agent name in London assigned with this transaction for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit is for the first month of rent and security deposit.
After you pay the deposit, and send them the details, Prime Rent LTD will send an agent to your country in the next 24-48 hours (Monday to Friday) to meet you and help you inspect the flat. .
You can also decide which date and time will fit your schedule best for the inspection.
7 – If you will be satisfied with the flat, you will sign a copy of the contract and pay the first month of rent to the agent. (the following rents will be paid directly to my account)
However, if you are not pleased with the apartment for any reason, the Prime Rent LTD agent will give you the money back on the spot, and I will get my keys and documents back.
I will pay for the services of the agency, so there will be no extra costs for you.
Also, in case you have another apartment right now, and you cannot move out immediately, we can make the deal as I explained it now, and consider it only an inspection and reservation. You will move in when you are ready and pay the first rent then.
If you want to begin, please give me the details which I requested above, so I can make the arrangements.
I am waiting for your quick response, because there are several others interested in the apartment, and I need to know if I can count on a deal with you.
Thank you,
--
Robert Anderson,
(B.Env Des – Architecture)
Accreditied Designer & Builder
Accredited Building designer
Environmental Building Designers and Builders
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
INTERIOR DESIGN
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
BUILDERS
This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union or MoneyGram to an escrow company with a promise that he will send the keys through a courier company.
Sounds safe. It's not!
The website is a fake.
These companies do not work this way.
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.
