by Michelle
Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:52 pm
From: Zara Kowalski <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 15:56:06
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: Re: Zara replied to your ad: large studio wanted for short term let
Hi ,
Good to read from you again. The rent for this period would be 700pounds including all bills and the deposit is 700pounds as well
A lil about me : Am a 35years old fashion designer, very friendly.
I live in Birmingham. Reasons why we want to rent this place out is so that there will be an occupant in the flat. We just need life in the flat.
About the flat : The flat was once a family flat till my old parents acquired a new property in Spain and moved, so i have been left in charge of this flat and nobody occupies the flat at the moment.
Concerning viewing: I can only travel from Birmingham to attend to serious tenants that are ready to move in and can prove that they can pay for the rent and deposit, i don't do general viewing. I need to know that you are serious and have the money to pay before i can come down to London.
I have a tight working schedule caused by my upcoming fashion show week, which preparations are on for at the moment with my coordinators from New York. You can search the map for that area and what you see in the pictures are what the interior of the flat looks like.
If you feel comfortable with that let me know, if not don't bother to reply so that we won't waste each others time.
Thanks and warm regards,
Zara
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.
