Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Paul Tholens <[email protected]>
Date: 2012/5/12
Subject: RE: appartment Leidsegracht
To: Con Warner


Hello,

Thank you for your interest. I just read your e-mail about my apartment.

I am the owner of the apartment and it was used by me when I lived in Netherlands.
Before we continue I would like to know a little something about you, such as how many people you intend to go to live in the apartment, and for how long.
I do not have a problem with pets (I have a small dog myself).
Now I'll tell you something about the apartment and me so we can get to know each other a little better.
The apartment looks exactly the pictures, fully furnished and renovated.
Also very important to the utility companies (cold / hot water, electricity, wireless Internet, digital television, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) are included in the price of 600 EUR / month .
The rent for 1 month is 600EUR, but you must deposit 1200euro/2months. You can have my furniture, but you can also create your own.
If you decide your use, you have access to a very large and well-ventilated cellar, where you can be my furniture store.
My name is Mark Tholens and I was working engineer designer in Netherlands but now I have a contract with my job for a long time for many years in United Kingdom, where I live and work in this moment. I have the key with me in United Kingdom because no one had lived in the apartment, but that's no problem, because we solve this problem in a maximum of 48 hours, using an agency Rental-Estate from London .
They will act as a third party in our transaction.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to friendly cooperation.

This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union, MoneyGram or bank transfer with a promise that you can have the keys to a property that does not belong to him.

Sounds safe. It's not!

At other times, he will ask for proof that you are able to pay the deposit and rent due to a string of time wasters.
This proof is in the form of a Western Union or MoneyGram payment to a lawyer,a friend or family member.

In either case, if payment is made and you give this person the details, they will collect the money.
You will not hear from them 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 Craigslist, Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment 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.

Haha this is too funny. I got exactly the same email:


Hello,

Thank you for your interest. I just read your e-mail about my apartment.

I am the owner of the apartment and it was used by me when I lived in Netherlands.
Before we continue I would like to know a little something about you, such as how many people you intend to go to live in the apartment, and for how long.
I do not have a problem with pets (I have a small dog myself).
Now I'll tell you something about the apartment and me so we can get to know each other a little better.
The apartment looks exactly the pictures, fully furnished and renovated.
Also very important to the utility companies (cold / hot water, electricity, wireless Internet, digital television, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) are included in the price of 700 EUR / month .
The rent for 1 month is 700EUR, but you must deposit 1400euro/2months. You can have my furniture, but you can also create your own.
If you decide your use, you have access to a very large and well-ventilated cellar, where you can be my furniture store.
My name is Paul Tholens and I was working engineer designer in Netherlands but now I have a contract with my job for a long time for many years in United Kingdom, where I live and work in this moment. I have the key with me in United Kingdom because no one had lived in the apartment, but that's no problem, because we solve this problem in a maximum of 48 hours, using an agency Rental-Estate from London .
They will act as a third party in our transaction.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to friendly cooperation. Have a good night.



And after this a reply:



Hello ,

Thank you for your reply . The apartment has 2 bedrooms.
After analysing all the applications together with my wife, we decided that you would be suitable to rent the apartment.
In order to view the flat and settle a deal, you will need the keys, and the contract.
Rental Estate AG (www.rentals-estate.com) will be our mediator. I can't trust you to simply send the keys, I hope you understand my hesitancy as we just know each other.
You will need to make a security deposit to this company (one month + one guarantee). Once you confirm the payment to Rental Estate AG, they will deliver the keys/contract.
I explain to you step by step how this will work:
1 - To start this transaction I will need to know your full shipping name, address and phone number to proceed with this deal.
2 - I will go to the Rentals Estate office to drop off the keys and documents of the house, along with the contract.
3 - The agency will check the envelope to see if everything is OK with it and also the legal papers that will come along with the Keys.
4 - Rental estate will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody.
5 - At this point you will have to go and make a money transfer deposit on the Rental Estate Agent name assigned with this transaction.
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the infos about the money deposit to agent (MTCN, sender's name and address).
7 - The agent will verify the payment information and if everything is ok they will deliver the keys and the contract to you.
8 - After you receive the package, the agent will get in touch with you and will come directly to the new apartment that you want to rent and show you my flat and explain everything you have to know . You have to tell them if you keep the apartment or not, if everything is in order you will instruct agent to release the funds to me. If you don't like the apartment, or in case you change your mind, not to rent it anymore, the agent will give all your money back in hand and release my the package but this will not happen, you will love the place. Also, in case you have another apartment right now, and you cannot move out immediately, we can arrange the deposit and inspection now, and consider the flat reserved for you. If you agree then I must have all the shipping details so I will be able to make all the arrangements for the delivery. Afterwards, the company should notify you regarding the further steps.
I look forward to your quick response, because there are several others interested in the apartment, and I need to know if I can count on a deal with you.

Thanks and wait news from you !


I got a strange hesitation when I was reading point 4. Googled his email adres and found this forum. Interesting!