by Michelle
Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:40 am
From: Wayne Merman <[email protected]>
Subject: Apartment for rent in Melbourne
To: Michelle Banks
Received: Wednesday, 18 April, 2012, 1:19 AM
Hello Michelle
Thanks for your interest in wanting to be my tenant. I am looking for a responsible & clean tenant that will be able to take good care of my apartment because I work as architect (Building Designer) and I do travel a lot. Presently I am in United Kingdom for a project and I don’t know when I will return back to Australia that’s why am looking for a Tenant who will live in the apartment and take care of it as i dont want to sell it. The apartment is available for long term and short term lease is also accepted.
The apartment is located at 804/39 Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
When i will come back to Australia, i will not be living in the apartment as i am about to buy a new house. The apartment is furnished but if you need it unfurnished, i can order for the furnitures be moved to storage. The rent is inclusive of the below listed utilities:
• High Speed Internet
• In-Suite Laundry
• Large in-suite storage
• Cable
Its a spacious and lovely 1-bedroom 1bathroom and 1 storage furnished apartment, Utilities are included and Pets are allowed. Kitchen completely equipped, Kettle – Toaster – Dishwasher – Freezer – Microwave – Oven – Dryer – Heat – Water – Washing Machine and Electric.
I want you to note that I am a kind and honest man and also I spent a lot on my property that I want to give you for rent, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of the apartment and I would want you to treat it as your own, I would like you to keep it tidy all the time I also want you to let me have trust in you as I always stand on my word,the rental fees is $540 per month, i require first and last month rent. I will like you to drive by to the building at your convenient time to view the exterior of the building for you to know where the apartment is located. Find attached, some of the interior pictures of the apartment for you to know what the inside looks like.
I will be shipping the keys and documents of the apartment to you through DHL Express next day delivery as soon as we have concluded. Once you have seen the exterior of the building and wish to continue, reply me as soon as possible.
Best Regards
Wayne Merman
From: Wayne Merman <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Apartment for rent in Melbourne
To: Michelle Banks
Received: Wednesday, 18 April, 2012, 2:33 PM
Hello Michelle
Yes the rent is $540 per month with furniture, and it is exactly as in the photos.
You seem to be a very nice person and I can assure you we will not have any problems
First of all if you want to rent the apartment you need to pay 1 month of rent + 1 month of warranty ( $540 + $540 = $1080 ) ! ( but that month of warranty you will receive back after you finish the contract ) !
The price is cheap because i want to find a good person who take care of my apartment !
If we decide to proceed with this transaction, I will have to contact DHL and provide them all the necessary information, so they can start the process right away.
I will need your full name and address for that. You will receive a notification from DHL shortly after that, together with all the instructions to follow and the invoice as well.
Regarding the payment, you will be instructed to deposit the money to a DHL account. They will hold and insure your money until you check the apartment and decide if you want take it or not.
That is how their buyer protection policy works. As far as my concerns, I will be glad to know that DHL has the possession of the money during the delivery period. That is my insurance. As soon as the funds have been deposited into their account, they will immediately start the shipping process.
The keys and rental contract will be delivered at your address in no more than 3 working days. You will be given a five days inspection period from the day you receive the keys and contract at home. If you decide to hold the apartment, then you will have to authorize DHL to release the funds to me, and the transaction will be completed. If you will not be satisfied with the apartment, you will be able to send the keys and contract back through the same service and ask DHL to return the funds to you. Through I am sure you will love the apartment, it is good to know that you do have this second option available. If you wish to proceed with renting the apartment, please provide me your full name and address so I can initiate the deal through DHL right away.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you
Wayne
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.
