by SkepticalGradStudent
Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:15 pm
This is a scam previously identified on these boards in Toronto, but it has now migrated to Milan, Italy. Excepting some changes in details, phrasing, etc. and corrections of some errors, the wording of the emails is identical. When asked for photos, the scammer will send pictures that look extremely and suspiciously professional. The ad originated on Craigslist; I would post a link to it but since I will be reporting it as fraud it should soon be taken down and thus useless. Instead I'm pasting the ad and her entire email correspondence below.
I originally confirmed this was a scam by searching for phrases in her email that struck me as odd, in this case "brooking firm," and bingo. I thought it was too good to be true, and her emails raised many red flags. Just a thought for those whose spidey-sense is tingling but who can't find a match for the name, email, address, or city in a particular suspicious listing. THANK YOU, SCAM WARNERS!!!!
The text of the ad:
EUR500 Two rooms Available (Via Luigi Settembrini )
Data: 2012-07-29, 10:46PM CEST
Rispondi a: [email protected] [Errore nel rispondere agli annunci?]
Two rooms available in a three bedroom two bathroom apartment in Milan with balconies, located on the fourth floor of the building (with porter and elevator) close to Corso Buenos Aires and to the Central railway Station (ww). Near the public park of Idro Montanelli at Porta Venezia and near the shopping street of Corso Buenes aires. Contact for more information & pictures.
Her first reply, in response to a request for photographs of the apartment and more information:
On Aug 11, 2012, at 8:42 AM, Mathilde Brebant wrote:
Hi XXX,
Thanks for your interest regarding my posted ad, let me take a little time to tell you something about myself, the room & its amenities, price and conditions to rent.
Why i am renting:
I live in a 3 bedroom flat but 2 separate bedrooms are vacant now. My previous flatmates are through with their activities and work here and has gone back to their countries and i am also on sabbatical holiday in United Kingdom. So, i need people who are fun to be with, someone whom we could share time and moments together whenever am in town, not just minding their business or going into your room after the day....but you can always have your private time and affair if you so wish and desire.
About myself:
I am a young 22yr old French who grew up abroad. I just returned back to London for my Sabbatical holiday, and i would be staying with my mother for a while due to her health issue. The apartment is owned by my mother and i have been living there for over 2yrs. I am an accountant and thus work for brooking firm here and also as a consultant, so this makes me travel often which is the mere reason why i need and search for good people to rent the two rooms so i will be rest assured that my flat is in safe hands in my absence.
I got my first degree at London School of Economics, i worked in Paris as a senior accountant in a brooking firm before i went to the Barcelona to take a 3 months course in public marketing and to learn the Spanish cultures and languages. Did my internship with JP Morgan in New York in 2009 which gave me an opportunity to visit the United States for the first time...what a traveler i am....lol, what else can i say..i think when we have a chat..you will hear more.
My house is Via Luigi Settembrini 30, 20124 Milano, located on the fourth floor of the building (with porter and elevator) close to Corso Buenos Aires and to the Central railway Station (ww). Near the public park of Idro Montanelli at Porta Venezia and near the shopping street of Corso Buenes aires.
Public transport:
The area is well connected by public transportation: the Green metro line (Caiazzo stop), the Red metro line (Loreto or Lima stops) and the Central train station. Furthermore, there are various tramlines (1 and 5), buses 90, 91 and 92.
Flat Amenities:
A small fridge in each room
A big freezer in the kitchen
Each room has a big wardrobe
TV connected to a cable
A surround sound system
A twin sleeper bed(double sleeper bed,capable of sleeping two people
conveniently)
Private toilet and bathroom for each room(ensuite room)
Washer/dryer for you laundry needs
Air-condition and fire place to keep the room cool and warm
Gas cooker and micro wave oven available in the kitchen
Utilities included in the rent:
Water
Gas refill
Heater/warmer
Electricity bill
Laundry
Parking space
Internet via wireless lan
Trash pick up
Price:
The monthly rent is €500 for each room inclusive of all bills in the apartment and a security deposit of €400
Therefore:
Rent per month............€500
per week................... €135 (Incase you want the room for a short stay and would like a weekly rental basis).
Security deposit...........€400
Upfront reservation fee: First month rent (€500) + Security Deposit (€400), total = €900
NB: The security deposit is inclusive of a month rent and the remaining €400 is refundable upon verification of the room which you rented to be in good order during your last day of move out from the apartment. And you two prefer to share a room, the room is big enough for two.
There is contract available for weekly, month to month and long term basis. If you want a long term rent contract, i will prefer an initial 3 months contract which is renewable 2weeks prior to the rent expiration. This is for us to get to know more about ourselves and see if we could live together happily as flatmate for a longer period.
Immediately i confirm your interest, I will send to you the current pictures of the rooms and the flat in general after which we proceed with the necessary details to prepare the tenement contract necessary for your move in.
Regards;
Mathilde Brebant.
When we responded, asking for more information about her, contact information for her previous roommates, and photos of the apartment, she wrote the following:
Dear XXX ,
I am very happy that you are still interested in the room and i found your profile interesting, you sound like my choice of person to live with. Yes it is possible, there is availability for either long or short term rent, just indicate respectively the period you intend to stay so as to make a Contract base on that. Furthermore, before we proceed with the rental process, you'll need to make a reservation for the room by signing of Tenement Contract and also pay the reservation fee(which is the security deposit plus first month rent) in-order to have the room reserved for you. Immediately i received the signed Contract & deposit from you, I will schedule time to exchange keys with you so you could move in as soon as you arrive in Milan. Note that your security deposit will be refunded back to you on the last day of your stay.
As you know i travel a lot due to the nature of my job, this is the reason i need someone clean & tidy to take proper care of the house even in my absence which i believe you are. I hope that goes well with you because my apartment is one of the best you can see around the area at that cheap monthly rent and you will like my place.
MODE OF RESERVATION:
A) Tenant will supply his/her details which will be forwarded to our lawyer to prepare the contract documents.
B) Tenant will print out the Contract Documents and Sign it if the terms of the agreement is accepted.
C) Tenant will pay the security deposit to my mother either Bank to Bank Transfer or Money transfer depending on your choice, payment confirmation/receipt will be attached to the contract documents and sent to me for confirmation and proper documentations by our family Lawyer/Realtor.
I attached some interior pictures of the apartment (kitchen, toilet, bathroom, and the two vacant bedroom), also i need the following information from you in order to prepare the Contract:
1. Full Name(s):
2. Address:
3. Nationality:
4. Your move in date:
5. Your move-out date:
6. Your passport / identity card (for proper identification):
7. Phone number:
After the receipt of the above information, our family Lawyer/Realtor shall prepare the Contract for you.
Thank you, hope you are having a wonderful time.
Best wishes;
Mathilde Brebant.
Thanks to Scam Warners, we will not be pursuing this/contacting this person further!
I originally confirmed this was a scam by searching for phrases in her email that struck me as odd, in this case "brooking firm," and bingo. I thought it was too good to be true, and her emails raised many red flags. Just a thought for those whose spidey-sense is tingling but who can't find a match for the name, email, address, or city in a particular suspicious listing. THANK YOU, SCAM WARNERS!!!!
The text of the ad:
EUR500 Two rooms Available (Via Luigi Settembrini )
Data: 2012-07-29, 10:46PM CEST
Rispondi a: [email protected] [Errore nel rispondere agli annunci?]
Two rooms available in a three bedroom two bathroom apartment in Milan with balconies, located on the fourth floor of the building (with porter and elevator) close to Corso Buenos Aires and to the Central railway Station (ww). Near the public park of Idro Montanelli at Porta Venezia and near the shopping street of Corso Buenes aires. Contact for more information & pictures.
Her first reply, in response to a request for photographs of the apartment and more information:
On Aug 11, 2012, at 8:42 AM, Mathilde Brebant wrote:
Hi XXX,
Thanks for your interest regarding my posted ad, let me take a little time to tell you something about myself, the room & its amenities, price and conditions to rent.
Why i am renting:
I live in a 3 bedroom flat but 2 separate bedrooms are vacant now. My previous flatmates are through with their activities and work here and has gone back to their countries and i am also on sabbatical holiday in United Kingdom. So, i need people who are fun to be with, someone whom we could share time and moments together whenever am in town, not just minding their business or going into your room after the day....but you can always have your private time and affair if you so wish and desire.
About myself:
I am a young 22yr old French who grew up abroad. I just returned back to London for my Sabbatical holiday, and i would be staying with my mother for a while due to her health issue. The apartment is owned by my mother and i have been living there for over 2yrs. I am an accountant and thus work for brooking firm here and also as a consultant, so this makes me travel often which is the mere reason why i need and search for good people to rent the two rooms so i will be rest assured that my flat is in safe hands in my absence.
I got my first degree at London School of Economics, i worked in Paris as a senior accountant in a brooking firm before i went to the Barcelona to take a 3 months course in public marketing and to learn the Spanish cultures and languages. Did my internship with JP Morgan in New York in 2009 which gave me an opportunity to visit the United States for the first time...what a traveler i am....lol, what else can i say..i think when we have a chat..you will hear more.
My house is Via Luigi Settembrini 30, 20124 Milano, located on the fourth floor of the building (with porter and elevator) close to Corso Buenos Aires and to the Central railway Station (ww). Near the public park of Idro Montanelli at Porta Venezia and near the shopping street of Corso Buenes aires.
Public transport:
The area is well connected by public transportation: the Green metro line (Caiazzo stop), the Red metro line (Loreto or Lima stops) and the Central train station. Furthermore, there are various tramlines (1 and 5), buses 90, 91 and 92.
Flat Amenities:
A small fridge in each room
A big freezer in the kitchen
Each room has a big wardrobe
TV connected to a cable
A surround sound system
A twin sleeper bed(double sleeper bed,capable of sleeping two people
conveniently)
Private toilet and bathroom for each room(ensuite room)
Washer/dryer for you laundry needs
Air-condition and fire place to keep the room cool and warm
Gas cooker and micro wave oven available in the kitchen
Utilities included in the rent:
Water
Gas refill
Heater/warmer
Electricity bill
Laundry
Parking space
Internet via wireless lan
Trash pick up
Price:
The monthly rent is €500 for each room inclusive of all bills in the apartment and a security deposit of €400
Therefore:
Rent per month............€500
per week................... €135 (Incase you want the room for a short stay and would like a weekly rental basis).
Security deposit...........€400
Upfront reservation fee: First month rent (€500) + Security Deposit (€400), total = €900
NB: The security deposit is inclusive of a month rent and the remaining €400 is refundable upon verification of the room which you rented to be in good order during your last day of move out from the apartment. And you two prefer to share a room, the room is big enough for two.
There is contract available for weekly, month to month and long term basis. If you want a long term rent contract, i will prefer an initial 3 months contract which is renewable 2weeks prior to the rent expiration. This is for us to get to know more about ourselves and see if we could live together happily as flatmate for a longer period.
Immediately i confirm your interest, I will send to you the current pictures of the rooms and the flat in general after which we proceed with the necessary details to prepare the tenement contract necessary for your move in.
Regards;
Mathilde Brebant.
When we responded, asking for more information about her, contact information for her previous roommates, and photos of the apartment, she wrote the following:
Dear XXX ,
I am very happy that you are still interested in the room and i found your profile interesting, you sound like my choice of person to live with. Yes it is possible, there is availability for either long or short term rent, just indicate respectively the period you intend to stay so as to make a Contract base on that. Furthermore, before we proceed with the rental process, you'll need to make a reservation for the room by signing of Tenement Contract and also pay the reservation fee(which is the security deposit plus first month rent) in-order to have the room reserved for you. Immediately i received the signed Contract & deposit from you, I will schedule time to exchange keys with you so you could move in as soon as you arrive in Milan. Note that your security deposit will be refunded back to you on the last day of your stay.
As you know i travel a lot due to the nature of my job, this is the reason i need someone clean & tidy to take proper care of the house even in my absence which i believe you are. I hope that goes well with you because my apartment is one of the best you can see around the area at that cheap monthly rent and you will like my place.
MODE OF RESERVATION:
A) Tenant will supply his/her details which will be forwarded to our lawyer to prepare the contract documents.
B) Tenant will print out the Contract Documents and Sign it if the terms of the agreement is accepted.
C) Tenant will pay the security deposit to my mother either Bank to Bank Transfer or Money transfer depending on your choice, payment confirmation/receipt will be attached to the contract documents and sent to me for confirmation and proper documentations by our family Lawyer/Realtor.
I attached some interior pictures of the apartment (kitchen, toilet, bathroom, and the two vacant bedroom), also i need the following information from you in order to prepare the Contract:
1. Full Name(s):
2. Address:
3. Nationality:
4. Your move in date:
5. Your move-out date:
6. Your passport / identity card (for proper identification):
7. Phone number:
After the receipt of the above information, our family Lawyer/Realtor shall prepare the Contract for you.
Thank you, hope you are having a wonderful time.
Best wishes;
Mathilde Brebant.
Thanks to Scam Warners, we will not be pursuing this/contacting this person further!
