Bogus Apartment Scammer - [email protected]

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY TO THIS CON ARTIST.

Mods-> there are bank details below- can we flag these as being used for scamming people.

It's very easy to spot this scam, if you simply paste a paragraph or 2 into a google search. The name they are using for this scam is Helena Kopman, the location is Brussels and the email address [email protected], but be mindful that they change these details on a per scam basis almost.

Emails below:
--------------------------------------------

Hello,
I really appreciate you have interest in my flat, the flat located at the city center of Brussels (18 Rue des Chandeliers, 1000, Brussels ) is very close to amenities like,restaurant, medical center and university......the flat is fully equipped with modern facilities. wireless internet service, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine and air conditioner.
The flat comprises living room,bedroom,kitchen, dinning room,bathroom and toilet...the rent is 400 Euro monthly including all bills and the refundable security deposit is 500 Euro.
I have been here in the United Kingdom for past 3weeks with my family due to transfer at place of work and we will be here for 20 months. So, i am renting my apartment for maximum of 18 months and minimum of 1 month.

As regards viewing, I'll suggest you visit and view the apartment from outside since you don't have the keys. However, If you insist viewing the apartment from inside, it means my presence would be required. I have in the past had bad experience with prospective tenants such that my time and effort was wasted when I came all the way from United Kingdom, please understand my point. Can you believe I received a lot of proof from some tenants as well, like passport, job contract showing their earnings, bank statements yet i was disappointed when I came down, they are still asking if the price could go lower. So, I'm not interested documents.
This viewing will make you to have the information about the apartment, It's environment, the facilities the apartment has to offer which I believe it will further assist you in making your decisions. The interior is the best you can ever imagine, so don't have doubts because this apartment is cheap compare to other apartments in its category. Please, feel free to view like I've suggested and let me know if you are still interested thereafter.
-------------------------------------------
Hi,
I really appreciate your interest in my flat, i have all the keys with me and there's nobody to show you the inside. So In renting the apartment we will both sign a rental agreement contract form then i will post the keys of the apartment plus other necessary documents to you or i should come back to brussels and hand over the keys to you in person. I was in brussels few days ago for viewing and i was very disappointed as the prospective tenant just wasted my time.
I wouldn't like this to happen to me again that's why i gave you the address of the flat to make exterior viewing before i come back, therefore advance rental fee 400euro and security deposit 500euro in total 900euro will convince me to come over within 24hrs/48hours of the receipt of payment. Do get back to me with the below information so that we can proceed further:

Your full name:
Your full address:
Nationality:
Move in date and out:

With those information,i shall prepare the rental agreement which will be signed by you and me. When you have the contract, you will have to print it out, sign it and scan it back to me along side with the payment receipt (to be transferred to me via western union or into my bank account).
The address you provide in the mail is where keys and other necessary documents will be posted.
-----------------------------
Hi,
Attached to this email is the lease contract form try to print it out, read the terms and conditions, if you are okay with it, sign it and scan the last page of the form to me where you sign so that i can sign my own part to proof that you have pay for the rent and the flat has been reserved for you.
After that you will proceed to bank and make transfer of a month rent and deposit into my bank account.
Once you have done with the deposit, get back to me with the scan copy of the deposit receipt to proof that you have make the deposit into my account and as soon as i received the confirmation of the money i will get back to you and we can now arranged how to meet in Brussels and hand over the keys and the receipt to you in person.

Here's my details to make the bank transfer.

BANK NAME: SANTANDER BANK
BENEFICIARY NAME: HELENA KOPMAN
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 08484337
SORT CODE: 090128
IBAN: GB2809012808484337
BIC: ABBYGB3EXXX
LONDON BRANCH,UK

OR

You make the transfer via western union? i think that's faster than bank transfer because international bank transfer normally take 3-4 working days to reflect in my account and via westernunion or moneygram it's after some minute the money will be available for pick up by receiver so that i can come back to Brussels this week if everything goes well tomorrow morning with the transfer via western union and the transfer is very easy just locate any western union outlet,when you get to the location you don't need any assistance to make the transfer just collect the transfer form and fill it, your name will be as the sender's name and my name will be as the receiver's name in London and pay the money to the agent and get back to me with the transfer receipt to pick up the money here.
Once i pick up the money tomorrow i will book my flight and come back to Brussels on Thursday or Friday to hand over the keys to you in person.

Here's the information to make the western union transfer

NAME; Helena Kopman
ADDRESS; 14 New bond street, may fair,W1S 2TF,London
COUNTRY;United Kingdom.

Regards.
Helena

Welcome to ScamWarners 54321 and thank you for posting this information.

For future reverence, you can flag even your own post by clicking on the triangle with the ! in it. The post will get special attention.

The same person offered an apartment in Amsterdam through Kamernet.nl where they insisted on e-mail contact. When I contacted them, I got this e-mail:
--
Return-Path: <[email protected]>
Received: from col0-omc1-s3.col0.hotmail.com (col0-omc1-s3.col0.hotmail.com. [65.55.34.13])
by mx.google.com with ESMTP id e6si69508447pbd.117.2012.01.04.14.46.37;
Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:46:38 -0800 (PST)
Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of [email protected] designates 65.55.34.13 as permitted sender) client-ip=65.55.34.13;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of [email protected] designates 65.55.34.13 as permitted sender) [email protected]
Received: from COL103-W5 ([65.55.34.7]) by col0-omc1-s3.col0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.4675);
Wed, 4 Jan 2012 14:46:37 -0800
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Return-Path: [email protected]
X-Originating-IP: [85.192.241.205]
From: Helena Kopman <[email protected]>
Subject: (Javastraat
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 22:46:36 +0000
Importance: Normal
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 04 Jan 2012 22:46:37.0498 (UTC) FILETIME=[B78A01A0:01CCCB32]

Hello,
I really appreciate you have interest in my flat, the flat located at the city center of Amsterdam (Javastraat 28 , 1094 HH Amsterdam) is very close to amenities like,restaurant, medical center and university......the flat is fully equipped with modern facilities. wireless internet service, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine and air conditioner.
The flat comprises living room,bedroom,kitchen, dinning room,bathroom and toilet...the rent is 500Euro monthly including all bills and the refundable security deposit is 500 Euro.
I have been here in the United Kingdom for past 3weeks with my family due to transfer at place of work and we will be here for 30 months. So, i am renting my apartment for maximum of 30 months and minimum of 1 month.

As regards viewing, I'll suggest you visit and view the apartment from outside since you don't have the keys. However, If you insist viewing the apartment from inside, it means my presence would be required. I have in the past had bad experience with prospective tenants such that my time and effort was wasted when I came all the way from United Kingdom, please understand my point. Can you believe I received a lot of proof from some tenants as well, like passport, job contract showing their earnings, bank statements yet i was disappointed when I came down, they are still asking if the price could go lower. So, I'm not interested documents.
This viewing will make you to have the information about the apartment, It's environment, the facilities the apartment has to offer which I believe it will further assist you in making your decisions. The interior is the best you can ever imagine, so don't have doubts because this apartment is cheap compare to other apartments in its category. Please, feel free to view like I've suggested and let me know if you are still interested thereafter.

Please find the attached file

Regards.
--

The photos looked ridiculously good for that price, so I did a reverse image lookup and got that they were a composite of these two listings:
http://www.carterjonas.co.uk/properties ... 10359.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for ... 93235.html

That bank account is reported.

Through Kamernet.nl I was able to acquire the following information from this scammer:

NAME; Marady Kopman
ADDRESS; 14 New bond street, mayfair,W1S 2TF,London
COUNTRY;United Kingdom.

BENEFICIARY NAME: MARADY KOPMAN
BANK NAME: SANTANDER BANK
BIC:ABBYGB2LXXX
IBAN:GB54ABBY09012804371457
LONDON BRANCH,UK.

This scam artist is still going strong.

I almost fell victim today, but luckily did a google search and discovered the scam.

I was told it was an apartment on 14 Bond Street as well.

I found the apartment on spareroom.com

Needless to say I will be more careful in future. Thankfully I discovered the scam before any money was exchanged. I also sent an email to spareroom themselves warning of the scam. I hope no one else gets caught out.

K

Hi,
We don't have to waste our time, i told you there's nobody to show you interior of the flat because i have all the keys with me here in London and i told you the reason why all this must be done,So i have to come back to Utrecht and hand over the keys to you in person and your rent and deposit must be confirmed. I'm not after your money this just has to be done now that's why i send you my passport page just for you to proof that your money is very safe and secured.
If you're ready for the flat kindly get back to me with the requested information to prepared the contract form and i need to know if you're ready to make transfer just for the deposit money 500euro after signing the contract form to proof that you really serious about the flat and have the cash for the rent?.if this can't be done now..i think we stop emailing. not trying to be rude but due to time waster.

Regards,
Helena

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Maliebaan
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 02:23:11 +0300

Hi,
Come in my shoes for a minute!
You'll send money to an unknown,with just the exterior view,she'll post the keys and etc?It sounds a bit strange.
Don't you have some relatives here to show me the appartment and they'll have a pair of keys of the house,for example your parents?
I understand that you probably came here for nothing.But you can also be someone who made this to earn money for free.
Please understand my situation and see the facts.I can't send money to a person I'd never saw.
Could you just get here, arrange the rest and give you the 900€ cash?
Regars,
Chris



Hi,
I really appreciate your interest in my flat, the flat is fully furnished for your needs, i have all the keys with me and there's nobody to show you the inside. So In renting the apartment and order to reserved the flat for you,we will both sign a rental agreement contract form then i will post the keys of the apartment plus other necessary documents to you or i should come back to Utrecht and hand over the keys to you in person. I was in Utrecht few days ago for viewing and i was very disappointed as the prospective tenant just wasted my time.
I wouldn't like this to happen to me again that's why i gave you the address of the flat to make exterior viewing before i come back, therefore advance rental fee 400euro and security deposit 500euro in total 900euro will convince me to come over within 24hrs/48hours of the receipt of payment.I'm not after your money this just has to be done, Do get back to me with the below information so that we can proceed further:

Your full name:
Your full address:
Nationality:
Move in date and out:

With those information,i shall prepare the rental agreement which will be signed by you and me. When you have the contract, you will have to print it out, sign it and scan it back to me along side with the payment receipt (to be transferred to me via western union or into my bank account).
The address you provide in the mail is where keys and other necessary documents will be posted.

Regards,
Helena

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Maliebaan
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 01:21:45 +0300

Dear Helena,

As I can see from the photos the house is quite good.Probably you are the owner of the house and the thing is that you have to come to see if the pics are from the same house according to the advertisment.I don't want to get you here for nothing but i have got some questions to do.
First of all,if the appartment is the same with the photos,probably we will proceed to step 2,the contract.Will that be ready in the same day? As I read correct, the rent is 400€/month and the deposit 500€.The 400€ will be for example: 1st of June and 1st of July i have to pay to your account the next 400€ right? And the 500€ will be the deposit,that I will rent the house and etc?
Secondly,if you want we can talk through skype to see who i am and know who i'll meet.The problem is that i'm in hurry because i have to find a room or appartment in this situation because on the 25th i have no place to go.I would like to be sure that,first if we will continue you have to be here anyway till Thursday,so there is a space for you to come and second to stop searching and calling to find a room.
Finaly, I am 26 now and not 18 or 19,so i know and i'll respect your appartment as it would be my own!
I am looking forward to hearing from you very soon!

Regards,
Chris

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Maliebaan
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 21:46:52 +0000

Hello,
I really appreciate you have interest in my apartment, the apartment located at the city center of Utrecht (Maliebaan 91,3581CH Utrecht) is very close to amenities like,restaurant, medical center and university...the apartment is fully equipped with modern facilities. wireless internet service, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine and air conditioner. you will live alone in the apartment,
The apartment comprises living room,bedroom,kitchen, dining room,bathroom and toilet...the rent is 400Euro monthly including all bills and the refundable security deposit is 500 Euro.
I have been here in the United Kingdom for past 3weeks with my family due to transfer at place of work and we will be here for 30 months. So, i am renting my apartment for maximum of 30 months and minimum of 1 month.

As regards viewing, I'll suggest you visit and view the apartment from outside since you don't have the keys. However, If you insist viewing the apartment from inside, it means my presence would be required. I have in the past had bad experience with prospective tenants such that my time and effort was wasted when I came all the way from United Kingdom, please understand my point. Can you believe I received a lot of proof from some tenants as well, like passport, job contract showing their earnings, bank statements yet i was disappointed when I came down, they are still asking if the price could go lower. So, I'm not interested documents.
This viewing will make you to have the information about the apartment, It's environment, the facilities the apartment has to offer which I believe it will further assist you in making your decisions. The interior is the best you can ever imagine, so don't have doubts because this apartment is cheap compare to other apartments in its category. Please, feel free to view like I've suggested and let me know if you are still interested thereafter and let me know if you're ready to make reservation of the flat.

follow the link by checking out the pictures http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj544/brainer45/

Regards,
Helena
________________________________
The room found on kamernet for a room in utrecht..she-he also send me a copy from "passport".
I don't know how to insert it but it's look like fake to me!I made a google search and found this page with the same mail.Hope everyone who tries again to find a room must be beware,do some research on google and this scumbag stop sometime and banned from every website with these mails given

Hopefully people will search, and find the info we are sharing.

Another important thing is to make your friends aware that sites like this exist, and help them to learn search techniques to check info they are being sent from scammers. We need to encourage proactive education.