rental scam Saskatoon [email protected]

A vary prestigious condo complex in saskatoon in which he wanted much less than what would normally be asked. The e-mail is as followed. His supposed name is "eddie sokas" [email protected]

Thank you for your interest in my apartment located in 321 5th Ave N, Saskatoon, SK ,Canada. The apartment is in excellent condition and it's just like in the pictures, very clean and very well taken. Honestly from point of view I'm sure that you will rent it on spot. I'm not looking to make a business or a profit with the apartment, I'm just trying to find a good and trust person to take good care of the place. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It is furnished but if you want you can use your furniture and deposit mine in the storage unit that is located near the building not far away. The rent is 900CAD with everything included (heat, hydro, water, electricity, cable and internet, 2 parking spots, laundry in-suite, washer and dryer). You will have full access to all the amenities of the building. Pets are allowed. I stayed in the apartment with my wife for 3 months. I'm a civil engineer and I work for a company that has an auction for a project in construction in London, United Kingdom, so my accommodation period in England will be about 4 years. Everything in the apartment is new so there will be no need for repairs. The only problem is that I need to send you the keys and papers because it is a private property and I'm sure we can make this happen.

011 233548413326

Thank you for your reply. As I told you before the rent for 1 month will be 900CAD with no extra fees and you will have full access to all the amenities of the building. The price will not increase for the whole period that you will stay there. I would also like to know how many people will live in the apartment and also which rental contract do you prefer- 6 months rental contract with option of renewal or 1 year rental contract with option of renewal. The monthly payments can be wired to my Bank Account (TD Bank) or we can setup a payment method that is suitable for both of us. The apartment is in excellent condition, you only need to receive the keys and the contract so you could check it out, and see if you like it. Since at this moment I'm in London, United Kingdom and obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal.The solution is a worldwide third party company called CLICKANDBUY (www.clickandbuy.com) ,they will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the rental package. With this procedure you will be able to check the apartment before I receive the payment. Please be aware that is NOT necessary for you to register with ClickandBuy given that I'm a registered user for 4 years and I've made over 30 transactions with them so far. They are really professional and they have great services.
My phone number is +442032868341 (if you are calling from Canada you need to dial 011-44-20-32868341). You can call me or e-mail anytime you wish.
Let me know if you are interested so I can provide with all the steps of this transaction, everything that you need to know about this process before we get this started. I think is right for both of us.

3) Hi again,


You will only have to deposit to ClickandBuy the first month of rent from contract 900CAD$ so they can proceed with the shipping, and you can receive the rental package (keys and documents). I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the keys and the contract signed by me right away. I will explain you step by step how this process will work:

1 - To start the process all I need is your full shipping info(full name, address and a cell phone number).
2 - I will go at ClickandBuy to deposit the keys and the contract on your name as the intended receiver.
3 - ClickandBuy will check the package to see if everything is in order and also the legal papers that will come along with the keys and proof of ownership with their Real Estate Professional Department in London. They will also confirm with the building manager that I'm the legal owner of the apartment I'm renting to you.
4 - ClickandBuy will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the keys and the papers in their custody in which you will also have all the payment instructions to complete the money transfer to the ClickandBuy Agent.
5 - At this point you will have to make a money deposit on the ClickandBuy Agent Name for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit for the first month of rent. The payment needs to be sent within 24 hours after you receive the transaction details or else they will charge me an additional fee.
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the payment details to ClickandBuy.
7 - ClickandBuy will verify the transfer and if everything is in order they will start the shipping procedures using UPS or TNT Next Day Shipping Service.
8 - After you receive the package, you will go and check the apartment and in 5 days (inspection time) you must contact ClickandBuy to inform them if you keep the apt or not and if everything is in order you will instruct ClickandBuy to send me the information about the money deposit and I will be able to receive the funds. If you don`t like the apartment they will be sending the money back to you and you will send back the keys and contract. ClickandBuy can't release the funds without your approval.

Let me know if you have the funds available (900CAD$) so we can move forward and e-mail me your full shipping information I requested. Any further questions regarding the transaction you can call me or e-mail me.

I was almost taken in by the same guy, but using the name "Simon Braddos, and the aol account "[email protected]". But the exact same 3 emails were received, with the price changed from $900 CAD to $920. Fortunately I became suspicious, noted that the picture of the front of the building in the ads did not correspond to the front of the building visible in Streetview in Google Maps. And then I found this to confirm. Thank you!

POST 1:
Thank you for your interest in my apartment located in 321 5th Ave N, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. The apartment is in excellent condition and it's just like in the pictures, very clean and very well taken. Honestly from point of view I'm sure that you will rent it on spot. I'm not looking to make a business or a profit with the apartment, I'm just trying to find a good and trust person to take good care of the place. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is furnished but if you want you can use your furniture and deposit mine in the storage unit that is located near the building not far away. The rent is 920CAD/month with everything included (heat, hydro, water, electricity, cable and internet, 2 parking spots, laundry in-suite, washer and dryer). You will have full access to all the amenities of the building. Pets are allowed. I stayed in the apartment with my wife for 3 months. I'm a civil engineer and I work for a company that has an auction for a project in construction in London, United Kingdom, so my accommodation period in England will be about 4 years. Everything in the apartment is new so there will be no need for repairs. The only problem is that I need to send you the keys and papers because it is a private property and I'm sure we can make this happen.

ME:
Hello, Simon

Well it sounds terrific. Walking distance from both the uni and downtown, en-suite laundry and extremely reasonable rent, even for Saskatoon. I would likely use your furnishings at the start (I have been playing academic gypsy over the last 3 years, and furnishings have fallen away), and then move yours into storage as I acquire my own.

To be clear about the situation--your renting out the condo (that you own) while you and your wife live in a long-term temporary stay in the UK, returning in 4 years. Do you plan on selling the property over the next year or two? My position at USask is for 3 years (although I hope that gets extended), but I'd be fine if there's a possibility of it being sold as long as I have a solid year without moving, and a couple of months to find a new place.

As to the keys/papers: I have temporary accommodations already booked at the USask dorms. I was planning on cancelling, but I could keep 1-2 nights there, which gives you an easier target to send the keys/papers to, unless your already in the UK. If you want to send them here, you could courier them, and I'll add the courier cost to the first months rent ( I presume you also want one month as security deposit).

Are you in the UK now, or are you still in Saskatoon? Either way, perhaps a Skype chat would be a more efficient way of resolving many of these details, and you could get a chance to see me and vice versa.

REPLY from "Simon Braddos" (note the odd start that responds to an issue I never raised):
Hello,

Thank you for your reply. As I told you before the rent for 1 month will be 920CAD with no extra fees and you will have full access to all the amenities of the building. The price will not increase for the whole period that you will stay there. I would also like to know how many people will live in the apartment and also which rental contract do you prefer- 6 months rental contract with option of renewal or 1 year rental contract with option of renewal. The monthly payments can be wired to my Bank Account (TD Bank) or we can setup a payment method that is suitable for both of us. The apartment is in excellent condition, you only need to receive the keys and the contract so you could check it out, and see if you like it. Since at this moment I'm in London, United Kingdom and obviously we need a safe way to complete this deal.The solution is a worldwide third party company called CLICKANDBUY (http://www.clickandbuy.com) ,they will provide assistance in handling the payment and delivery of the rental package. With this procedure you will be able to check the apartment before I receive the payment. Please be aware that is NOT necessary for you to register with ClickandBuy given that I'm a registered user for 4 years and I've made over 30 transactions with them so far. They are really professional and they have great services.
My phone number is +442032862368 (if you are calling from Canada you need to dial 011-44-20-32862368). You can call me or e-mail anytime you wish.
Let me know if you are interested so I can provide with all the steps of this transaction, everything that you need to know about this process before we get this started. I think is right for both of us.


Thank you and hope to hear from you soon!

My 2nd REPLY:
I'm definitely interested. I think a 6-month rental would be wisest for us to start with, given that we are doing this whole thing via email haven't had any chance to even meet each other. I'm sure we'll end up re-extending without problem.

I'll be the only one living there, although obviously if family or friends come to visit they may stay with me during the course of the visit.

Your solution to the keys/documents issue sounds intriguing, but I'm not sure how I can check out the apartment before payment if I'm in Australia until July 1 unless you want to hold off finalizing the deal until I've landed in Saskatoon on July 2, and had a chance to check the apartment out. Is that fine with you? Are you willing to wait that length of time?

As to making regular payments, if you have a TD account in Canada you can access regularly, then I should be able to transfer money into that on-line. If you can register this account with CIBC (my bank), then I could set up regular payments via on-line banking. Perhaps I can call you around 7 am Thursday (your time) to sort out the details?

"Simon Braddos" 3RD REPLY. Note again how most issues I've raised, including my suggestions for a phone converstation, are ignored, and the usually significant problem of the delayed move-in date is brushed off in a postscript:
Hi again,


You will only have to deposit to ClickandBuy the first month of rent from contract 920CAD$ so they can proceed with the shipping, and you can receive the rental package (keys and documents). I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the keys and the contract signed by me right away. I will explain you step by step how this process will work:

1 - To start the process all I need is your full shipping info(full name, address and a cell phone number).
2 - I will go at ClickandBuy to deposit the keys and the contract on your name as the intended receiver.
3 - ClickandBuy will check the package to see if everything is in order and also the legal papers that will come along with the keys and proof of ownership with their Real Estate Professional Department in London. They will also confirm with the building manager that I'm the legal owner of the apartment I'm renting to you.
4 - ClickandBuy will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the keys and the papers in their custody in which you will also have all the payment instructions to complete the money transfer to the ClickandBuy Agent.
5 - At this point you will have to make a money deposit on the ClickandBuy Agent Name for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit for the first month of rent. The payment needs to be sent within 24 hours after you receive the transaction details or else they will charge me an additional fee.
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the payment details to ClickandBuy.
7 - ClickandBuy will verify the transfer and if everything is in order they will start the shipping procedures using UPS or TNT Next Day Shipping Service.
8 - After you receive the package, you will go and check the apartment and in 5 days (inspection time) you must contact ClickandBuy to inform them if you keep the apt or not and if everything is in order you will instruct ClickandBuy to send me the information about the money deposit and I will be able to receive the funds. If you don`t like the apartment they will be sending the money back to you and you will send back the keys and contract. ClickandBuy can't release the funds without your approval.

Let me know if you have the funds available (920CAD$) so we can move forward and e-mail me your full shipping information I requested. Any further questions regarding the transaction you can call me or e-mail me.

P.S.: I'm fine with the move-in date as soon as we start the transaction now and you can deposit the funds for the 1st month of rent from contract (July 2012) so I can be sure that you will rent the apartment. I'm sure you understand.

I ran into the same guy in Toronto going by the name of William Tallens. The emails were almost completely identical. Except he was trying to rent an apartment at 330 Red Maple Rd. in Richmond Hill. I contacted Click and Buy Security before renting from him, and they responded by saying;

"The kind of transaction to which you are referring, known as Person to Person, is not a valid transaction through ClickandBuy.
All transaction which are conducted by ClickandBuy are done so online between the merchants and providers that accept our payment method and the customer directly.
We do not under any circumstances accept any payment through Western Union money transfer.
If you have been informed by a vendor that we can accept transactions this way we believe they are trying to defraud you by using our name and logo without authorisation in an attempt to legitimise the transaction.
These individuals are not affiliated with ClickandBuy and have no authority to use our company name as a screen for their online activity. We strongly recommend that you do not proceed with any payment."

My boyfriend found this scam warning around the same time I got the reply, so obviously I didn't go ahead with the transaction. But it was a very convincing scam for a brief period there. Thanks for the warning!