Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Mike Obi <[email protected]>
To: Michelle Banks
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 12:47 AM
Subject: Re: $650 / 2b - APARTMENT FOR RENT (5416 Fair Ave. NoHo)

Hello,

Thank you for your interest in my 2 bedroom apartment. My name is Mike Ola of the apartment you are renting. I am very happy that i found an intending tenant for my apartment. I live in the apartment located 5416 Fair Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 with my wife and daughter before we relocated to West Africa 'Nigeria' where we are presently. We do not want the apartment to remain vacant because we left the US for a life-enriching programmed called (HBP) 'Healthy Babies Project, that basically focus and help at-risk families. We reach out to high-risk, low-income, substance-abusing, pregnant and parenting women, men, and their families and we also work with service provider partners to connect women and families to resources including health care, housing, nutrition, mental health services, educational support, skills building, substance abuse support and employment. We have inspiring stories from at-risk families who have had healthy babies and are moving out of the cycle of poverty - (thanks, to HBP) project. I am looking for a responsible and reliable tenant for my apartment. I am not after the money for the rent but if you can promise to be the right tenant to take good care of my home like it's your own then i will send you the keys and documents via Fed Ex courier services as soon as all terms are settled.

The 2 bedrooms apartment which is $650 monthly rent include utilities and it features: Breakfast nook, Refrigerator, Stove/Oven,garage, Balcony, Deck,or Patio, Air conditioning, Walk-in closet, Hardwood floor, Tile floor, Living room, Cable-ready, High-speed internet ,Garage parking. Washer/Dryer and the apartment is not furnished. We are presently in Lagos city in West Africa Nigeria with the keys and documents to the apartment because we could not locate an agent to take charge due to a short time of notice of our programmed and also we do not want any abuse of our home for any illegalities or to be destroyed at our absence. If the price and location of the apartment is okay by you then reply back with the details below,

TENANT'S DETAILS
1) Your Names
2) Your Address and Phone?
3) Age?
4) Marital Status?
5) Number of occupants?
6) Have any pet or a car?
8) Occupation?
9) Renting period and move in date?
10) Sex?

The apartment pictures are attached for your visibility, you can drive by or pass through to see the building, even though you can't view the inside because we have the keys here with us. For more details. Get back ASAP.

Thanks and God bless,

Best Regards.

Dear Michelle Banks

Thanks so very much for your response back to me and for promising us that our apartment will be well taken care of,and I appreciate your whole expressions,so i want you to stick to your words and handle our house as if its your personal property.The rent include utilities and also if we approve your application,You can move in with your pets in case you later decide to have one. We shall send you the keys and all necessary rental documents via FedEx or DHL courier delivery services while payment will be wired to us via Western Union Money transfer on monthly basis.

My wife and I will be visiting in 6 months time to inspect the apartment after you have moved in and to know how clean you are keeping the house. We are willing to do a long term and short term renting anytime you which to leave the apartment will be grateful because we will be here till 2013 and we will not be returning back into the apartment because we are already planning to relocate so as to change environment. I can let you continue to stay if you are a good tenant and keep my house clean and properly maintained.

Feel free to go and take a look at the apartment,You can only view the outside of the building but the pictures already should convince you that my house is a great and convenient one because that's the exact look of the inside of my apartment. And the below is the final question that you must answer to qualify for the rent of my apartment.

Thanks and God bless,

Fill out the rental application form below and return asap.
RENTAL APPLICATION:

Neatly complete all information below. All applicants over the age of 18 must complete and sign their own application.

1. Applicants full name:
Phone #:
DOB;

2. Current Address:
City:
State:
Zip:

3.Current Landlords Name:
Landlords Phone #:
How long at this address:
Reason for leaving:

4. Previous Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Previous Landlords Name;
Phone #:
How long at this address:
Reason for leaving:

5. Job Info:
Present Employer:
Phone #
Position:
Mo. Income:
How long at job:
Other income/source:
Employers Address:
City:
State:

6. Personal References
Name:
Years. Known;
Relationship:
Phone #:

I CERTIFY answers given here in that are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenant screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision, I also agree to pay $650... monthly for the apartment and I am ready to pay upfront of (--------) months in advance before moving into the apartment. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental
agreement entered into for any misrepresentations made above.

Date: --------------------------------------------------------------------

(Your Full names) (Intending Tenant)

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.