Rental Scammer - [email protected]

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> >Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 14:25:58 +0000
> >From: [email protected]
> >Subject: My flat details with pictures Homestay Directory.
> >To: Michelle Banks
> >
> >
> >
> >Thanks for your response to my ad.The flat is two bedroom flat and below is the details of the flat before we proceed.
> >
> >Flat address: Harwood road Fulham Broadway,London
> >Post Code: SW6 4QL
> >Rent: £440 per month,all bills included for a room expect car parking space
> >
> >Rent: £880 whole flat
> >
> >Security deposit:£600 refundable after four weeks in the flat.
> >Minimum Stay: 1 Month(s)
> >Maximum stay:1 yr with the option of extending the contract after 12 months
> >
> >Flat amenities:TV ,CD - DVD - Video,Radio,High-speed Internet with WiFi,Washing Machine ,dryer, Heating, iron and Ironing board,Gas cooker,oven, Electric Kettle,Toaster,Dishwasher,Refrigerator, Microwave e.t.c
> >
> >The pictures of the flat are hereby attached with this email.
> >
> >The area: It"s very Close to Fulham Broadway Station ( District line) Just 5 Minute walking distance.
> >Buses 14 and 22 which are 24hour to Piccadilly, 295 to Clapham, 211 to waterloo, 391 to richmond, 11 to Liverpool street, 424, and 28 also.
> >Easy access to all of Central London.
> >
> >About the room:
> >
> >Comfortable double bed, with storage draws underneath.
> >Very large wardrobe with hanging, shelving, and draws
> >Desk and chair.
> >Bed side table with draws.
> >
> >About the flat:
> >--- The flat is wood floor
> >--- living room to share
> >--- Safe and peaceful area
> >--- Big Sainsbury within 5 mins walk
> >--- Tube station within 5 mins walk
> >
> >Could you tell me a bit about yourself and where you are presently located now?
> >
> >Will you be able to take good care of my flat like your own?
> >
> >Are you capable of funding the rent and refundable deposit before moving in?
> >
> >Yes i can make a reservation for April-June for you.
> >
> >Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
> >
> >Kind regards,
> >Michelle and Mark.
> >

> >Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 13:35:22 +0000
> >From: [email protected]
> >Subject: Email me back to proceed
> >To: Michelle Banks
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >Thanks for your email and interest in my flat. There's no problem meeting with you when you arrive in London and that means I will need to hold unto the room for you till your arrival but before doing that I will need to be sure of your readiness and capability because I will not want a situation whereby I will secure the room for you and you will not turn up when you arrive.I have had several cases of people we had a deal for viewing and fail to turn up is either they cannot afford the rent or the security deposit required.
> >
> >Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet they disturb the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or relative who are in London, also some do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in office by
> > there employees.
> >
> >This is what you will need to do in order to secure the room, you will need to make a transfer of a month rent plus security deposit (£400+£600=£1000) via Western Union Money Transfer using your name as the receiver of the money while you use the name of someone that's close to you as the sender of the money so that when you arrive London you will be the one to collect the money and pay me after you have viewed the flat and ok with it.
> >
> >You are doing this just to be sure of your seriousness and capability before securing the room for you because I will not want a situation whereby the room will be reserve for you and you will not turn up when you arrive that's why I want you to do the transfer and you will need to email me the scanned copy of the transfer receipt for confirmation (https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/order ... try=global) before securing the room for you.
> >
> >I do not
> > want you to have the feeling that I am asking for money BEFORE you see what you are renting because I know that payment is meant to be done AFTER you have seen the flat and okay with it that is why I said you should make the transfer to yourself so that you will be the one to receive the money and pay me in person after the viewing.
> >
> >You don't need to worry about the transfer charges, I will personally refund it back to you,I'm doing this just to make sure everything is perfect before securing the room for you.
> >
> >Let me know if you are ok with this arrangement so that we can proceed.
> >
> >Kind regardsMichelle

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.