Rental Scammer - [email protected]

Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:34:52 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apt for 450 euro -- photos???
To: Michelle Banks

Hello,

Thanks for the reply, Yes, the apartment is still much available for rent.Here are some important details you need to know. You have to be very clean and
have to make sure you take care of the apartment as it it were yours because presently i am not in Barcelona, i just left couple of weeks back,i was just
been transferred by my company.That is why i am renting out my apartment.

It cost: 450 EUR a month and security deposit of 500 EUR which is refundable while packing without any lost or damage of my properties.
Bills include the following: water, electricity, internet connection, microwave oven, fridge,gas etc.
Location: Via Laietana, 40 08003 Barcelona, Spain and it just few distance to its metro station,the apartment spacious is about 65sqm and a room is about30sqm, restaurant and public transport all around and it's few minutes walking distance to the supermarket, so it's located in a very nice and safe area.

I attached some pictures of how my apartment looks like.
Kindly let me know if you will be interested in renting and here is my number for further discussion +447035916487

Best regards,
John

Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:51:13 -0800
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: important questions RE: Apt for 450 euro
To: Michelle Banks

Hello Michelle,

Thanks for the email, you sound very responsible and i will like to have you as my tenant but presently i am not in Barcelona. I just relocated to UK .I decided to to move with my family. briefly about me i am a bussiness man and deals with exportation of electronics from china to different parts of the world(HILLARYMC GROUPS of Company) also i have no one there that i trust to leave my keys and properties with, more so i dont like the the way my friends and agent do treat my tenant and properties while i am not around. I decided to lock up the apartment, so i have the keys here with me. Although i did not intend to rent it out but as my wife advise we should not just lock up the flat for long since we will not be staying there for now. So we decided to rent it out with the help of my lawyer here in UK. The apartment is quiet and there is balcony and elevator in the building, there are no bedbugs and i have never used toxic chemicals to get rid of bugs For you to get the place reserved we will both sign a rental agreement contract which will be prepared by my lawyer then i will post the keys of the apartment and the payment receipt to you via DHL express (overnight delivery ) after your deposit payment which is your first month rent and the security deposit has been confirmed.

Get back to with the following information so that i can forward it to my lawyer to prepare the rental agreement contract.

Your full name
Your Sex
Your nationality
Your date of birth
Your passport ID number
Your phone number
Your move in and move out date
Your current address that i can send the keys to

I will be waiting for the details

Best wishes,
John.

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.