Rental Scammer - [email protected]

*****

From: Michelle Johnstone - [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 11:08 PM
Subject: More details about my flat in South Kensington, London

Hi,

Thanks for your response to my ad.The flat is two bedroom flat and currently have one rooms available and here is little details about the flat before we proceed.

Flat address:Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London
Post Code: SW7 4DW
Rent: £550 per month,all bills included for a room
Security deposit:£600 refundable after four weeks in the flat.
Minimum Stay: 1 Month(s)
Maximum stay:1 yr with the option of extending the contract after 12 months

Flat amenities:TV ,CD - DVD - Video,Radio,High-speed Internet with WiFi,Washing Machine ,dryer, Heating, iron and Ironing board,Gas cooker,oven, Electric Kettle,Toaster,Dishwasher,Refrigerator, Microwave e.t.c

Located:
- in zone 1.
- 3 mins walk to gloucester road and earls court tube stations. bus stops nearby.
- imperial college, royal college of art, royal college of music (all about 10 mins walk away)
- sainsbury's supermarket 1 min walk (open late). other shops nearby.
- kings road
- kensington high street
- kensington gardens / hyde park
- science, natural history, and victoria & albert museums
.... all a short walk away.

I have attached some photos of the flat with this email.

Hope to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,
Michelle.

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.

From: Michelle Johnstone ([email protected])
Sent: 20 June 2012 10:38:25
To: Michelle Banks
Hi Michelle

There's no problem in inviting you for the viewing,I currently work and live in Manchester so I will need to take a day off from work in order to come down to arrange the viewing with you.It is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view my flat without any form of confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled, has brought about great loss to me, is either they cannot afford the rent or the security deposit required but want me to come down with the aim of renegotiating.

I have consulted my lawyer and we have resolved that any potential tenants should be able to prove in the following way in order to determine who is financially buoyant and that he or she can stick to appointment when scheduled and able to pay his/her rent as at when due.In this case, a bank-statement or guarantee from your organization wont be accepted as we have had wayward tenants tendering fake documents.

PROCEDURE:


1) Transfer the amount £1150 (1 month rent and security deposit) to any of your family members or your friend via Western Union at the nearest Western Union outlet/shop close to you. You can ask any of them to make the transfer to you either.


Your Name (as Sender) to any of your family members or your friend (as Receiver) in London or any of them make you the receiver.


2) Scan & Send a copy of the Western Union transaction receipt as a proof of the transaction or mail me the transaction details. (The money is safe as it is only you that can withdraw since you need a ID card or International passport)


3) Then, we will meet for viewing.


4) If you decide to take the flat, we will go to any local Western Union outlet close to the flat for you to pick up the money and pay me. (You don't need to come with cash to view, after viewing we will go together, you will cancel the transfer and withdraw the money to pay me).


5) Keys will be handed over to you after signing the contracts.


I do not want you to have the feeling that I am asking for money BEFORE you see what you are renting because I know that payment is meant to be done AFTER you have seen the Flat and okay with it that is why I said you should make the transfer to yourself so that you will be the one to receive the money and pay me in person after the viewing.

If you are ready ,you can go ahead and make the transfer and let me know immediately you do the transfer so that I can know how to squeeze out time to come and meet you.You will need to scan the copy of the transfer receipt and email it to me to confirm it online in order to know you have made the transfer and to let you know that I will return back to you the full transfer charges whether you decide to rent the flat or not when we meet.

Let me know if you are ok with this arrangement so that we can proceed.

Kind regards,
Michelle.

Fake or Stolen Passport : UK 093213543

It's amazing that the modus operandi of all these scammers is so similar. Let's hope that people don't get caught ... I know I nearly did until I found this site and other warnings on net.