Room for Rent Scammer - [email protected]

Hi,

This "Michelle Brehn" saw my ad in Moveflat and contacted me with the same email "she" sent you but from [email protected]
She sent me even a picture of hers! so i decided to give her a phone call as se was asking me for the Western Union Transfer details and as I am in London already I wanted to arrange a viewing first. When I called, a man with a really tough accent (I don´t know where from, but for sure not British/Spanish/Italian/French) picked up and told me I needed to scan the copy of the Western Union transfer... I said I didn't understand the procedure and if he could send me the details by email.
I googled the email address and found this... So I called back and told him to go to hell as i knew this was a scam, and I received this email:

My husband just called me now that you insulted him on phone and i will like you to know that my property is for real and not scam. I can forward the certificate of owner to you for you to know that i am the owner of the property.

Kindly let me know if you are still interested in my flat so that i can forward the certificate of ownership to you.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Brehn

and like 5 minutes later she sent me this:

Thanks for getting back to me. I wouldn't want you to get me wrong, the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate my lawyer procedure. I am a God fearing woman and i am not after your money. I have my own work and i earn enough money for my family and also to help the less privileged.

However, i didn't want to collect any money from you as long as you have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat. All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to someone close to you through Western Union Money Transfer, once you've done that, you get back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid.

After the confirmation might have been made by my lawyer, i will ask you to tell you friend to pick up the money and schedule a convenient day for the viewing. If eventually you don't want to proceed with the rent, i promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.

I look forward to reading from you soon.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Brehn

I obviously didn't answer to any of those emails... and he called me like 5 minutes ago saying "i understand what you're saying, just speak to my wife by email" or something like that...
I really don't get why he called me back when he knows i discovered this is a scam...

Welcome to ScamWarners alipaly. It is great you recognized you were dealing with a scammer. Scammers are tenacious and will keep after someone they think they can get money from. They will change their story, act insulted, act tough, then apologize. Anything to get money they do not deserve from people who don't realize what is going on.

Thank you for posting this up to help others.

And again... But from a different email address
[email protected]

Thanks for getting back. I am willing to have you in my flat as long as you view the flat and like it. Due to my past bitter experience. Henceforth, my solicitor and i have decided to carry out a simple test on seriousness and financial ability to pay for my rent before coming for viewing. I have travelled all the way from Coventry to take some interested candidates round my flat because that's where i work, which has brought about great loss to me.

I would not ask you to send your bank statements or pay slip. At least 1 month rent together with the security deposit £ 400 which is refundable would be required from you to transfer to someone close to you through Western union money transfer agent using your name as the Sender and your friend's name as the Receiver.

Once you have done this, scan the receipt to me and if you do not have scanner, you may write out the details on the receipt as i will forward it to my solicitor to verify if it's truly genuine and available in your friend's custody, after verification, then we can proceed for the viewing.

Note that the transfer must be confirmed valid before the receiver picks up the money and also, i will refund back to you the cost of transfer when we meet.

I look forward to reading from you soon.

Regards
Mrs Annie Jerkins

I too have been emailed by this guy rob...He messaged me about a house he had for rent. I got suspicious and googled the telephone number and found this site. Heres the emails:


From: Gumtree Mail <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 12:47
Subject: Robert replied to your ad: WANTED!!! 2/3 bed house great yarmouth




For your safety, email addresses are now masked by Gumtree. Replying to this email will send your reply via Gumtree for your protection. Find out more
You have received a reply to your ad: WANTED!!! 2/3 bed house great yarmouth This 3 bedroom house has many original features which together with the quality fixtures & fittings creates a lovely family home. To let furnished or unfurnished. Accommodation comprises: Entrance porch with tiled floor with Cloakroom (W/C and wash basin) and laundry cupboard (housing washer & dryer). Modern, fitted kitchen with dishwasher, fridge, electric oven, ceramic hob, extractor, tiled floor. Beautiful spacious dining room with caradine wooden flooring, wood burning stove, twin aspect windows and huge built in dresser. Very large lounge with wood burning stove, old beams over the fireplace - lovely furnishings, twin aspect windows. Upstairs to master bedroom with built in wardrobes and en-suite shower room with cubicle, W/C and basin. 2 further double bedrooms. Family bathroom - modern with shower over body form bath, toilet and wash basin. Fully double glazed. Electric central heating. Paved patio garden to front with lawn. Off road private parking for 2 vehicles. Available August 2012 and please do include where you want me to send details and pic
From: Robert


Hi Robert,
What is the rent on this property? deposit?
can you send me pictures to xxxxxxx

Does this property have a garden?
What area in great yarmouth is it?

Thanks
Bridget

Thanks for your email and interest in my house and it is furnished and also can be rented Unfurnished but it has a big storage to put away things okay?and its available to move in and i also accept dss,so fill out my form below and we can go from there, since i am not residing there for now,The house is fully Furnished and has a big storage.The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils,refrigerator-freezer,four-hob and oven, microwave,dishwasher and washing machine, my computer connected with Internet access.I have the keys and document with me here in West Africa Nigeria to be precise,I and my wife had the intention of selling our property before leaving but after a while we decided to place it for rent and and had few tenants before now so the house is very available and ready for you to move in if you are really interested in my house.I am here on a missionary work with my family and will be here for 3yrs but on Due cases i will be visiting to check on you and my house cause absolute maintenance of my house is what i am after cause its newly renovated,Very spacious and Clean,So after Normal process is taking i shall be sending you the keys and document for you to move in, Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really the issue, hope you are okay with the price of 400Pounds for deposit ,600Pounds Per Month including all bills like heat laundry facilities,and so on but your absolute maintenance of my house is most important to me, if you are really interested renting this house fill the application below and get back to me with the answers,Moreover as a man of God i intend to do my things with soft kindred heart.

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial

Sq Footage 1200

Parking 2 dedicated

Pet Policy Pets Allowed

Location...........Beccles Road Great Yarmouth Nr31 8Pr

********RENT APPLICATION FORM*******

********PRIVATE & \CONFIDENTIAL*********

Also,Please answer these questions below:

1)Your Full Name_____________________________________

2)Present Address(where you reside now) & Phone__________________

3)How old are you___________________________

4)Are you married_ __________________________________

5)How many people will be living in the House__________________

6)Do you have a pet____ ___________________________________

7)Do you have a car_______ __________________________________

8)Occupation____________ _________________

9)What is your religion__ _____________________________________

10)How long are you willing to stay___________________________-

11)When do you intend to move in ___

12)1 month Or 2 month deposit needed___________________________

13)Picture of you or Occupants......--------------------

I personally will come visiting you sometime during the year as our new tenant,Looking forward to hear from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file as my new tenant and we can go on with the process.Awaiting your reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you and you can ring me on the numbers Below

Thanks And God Bless.
+234-7086762242

I recieved the same emails after enquirering about a stupidly cheap flat to rent in Bournemouth. I checked with Western Union and was advised not to go through with the transfer. After researching them more and finding this site I realised just how naive I had been - Luckily I took the advice and never transfered the money. By this point I had given them my mobile and recieved a very strange call from the 'husband' - they kept pestering me and calling - the number is from Nigeria +2348069807474.



I

Welcome to ScamWarners Laracakes. It is great that Western Union warned you and you listened to the warning.

If you received emails from a different email address than the one listed, will you please post up that email address. Thank you for sharing this!

The email address they used for the advert i replied to was [email protected]

Thank you Laracakes, it is not uncommon for scammers to use the same script from more than one email address. This will help others searching as you did.

I got the same email. lol!.. ((New Email: [email protected]))

(My messages are in Bold. Scam Artist messages are in Italics)

First I saw this ad on Olx.co.uk for a place in the town centre of Bournemouth. Rent was really cheap and seemed like a good deal. I responded to the ad in a short space of a few minutes I received this email.

Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and you can rent my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit.

Rent : £ 240.00 pm
Security Deposit: £ 500.00 (Returnable at the end of a month stay in my flat)
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet Electricity. Except house cleaner bill) Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm

However, my flat is not shared apartment but you can share my flat with anyone you like and it's fully furnished in and out with all necessary house use also benefits a secured parking space. At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you and where your are coming from to stay in my flat. Can you take care of my flat as it is? How many months do you intend to rent and pay for? Do you have references in Bournemouth?

Kindly reply for further information and i would like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Brehn

Thinking I had gotten a good deal, I responded giving her a brief run down of my character, clean and tidy etc.

She responded:
Thanks for the reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat.My flat is fully furnished in and out as you can see in the picture and there is a garage and a off street parking in my flat. I spoke with my lawyer some couple of minute ago on phone concerning the interest you have in my flat and we both agreed to have you in my flat.

However,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. I have traveled all the way from Ireland to take some interested candidates round my flat because that's where i work with (P. Elliott & Company).

Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet they disturb the the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or relative who are in Bournemouth, also some do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in office by there employees.

Henceforth, my lawyer and i have decided to carry out a simple test on seriousness and financial ability to pay for my rent before coming for viewing. I would not ask you to send your bank statements or pay slip . At least 1 month rent of 240 GBP plus the security deposit £500 which is refundable after your 1 month stay in my flat, would be required from you to transfer through Western Union Money Transfer agent to your trusted friend or relative in UK premises as a Receiver

Once you have done this, scan the receipt to me and if you do not have scanner, you may write out the details on the receipt as i will send it to my lawyer to verify if it's truly genuine and available in your friend's custody, after verification, then we can proceed for the viewing.

Note that the transfer must be confirmed valid before the receiver picks up the money and also, i will refund back to you the cost of transfer when we meet.

I look forward to reading from you soon. +447024084809 +447024074317

Regards
Mr/Mrs Brehn

Then I called the number a man answered. I asked to speak to his 'wife' Michelle as I have been in contact with her via email regarding a property for rent. He then tells me that she's gone out to church. At this point I told him, she just wrote me a lengthy email how did she leave so quick. That was less than a minute after receiving her email. Anyway, he decided to give me the run down on the property etc. And the procedure of the deposit via Western Union to which I said that It's not a good idea etc. He told me about the Lawyer an then I asked him for a number for this lawyer. He responded vaguely saying that he won't be able to give the lawyer's number out as it is his privacy or whatever. (He sounded like an African putting on a foreign accent) Anyway. I thanked him and told him I would get in touch with the wife via email again.

This was my email to the 'Wife'

Hi Michelle,

I'm happy to pay 2 months rent up front and the deposit but I'm not comfortable with the idea of forwarding money etc. before a viewing, not even to your lawyer.

Also, P. Elliot & Company is not a registered company. I can't find much information on them.

What is the name of your lawyer? May I have a contact number for him as well? Does this company have a website?

I have no problem in paying the rent nor the deposit but the terms under which it must be done is not in my favour.

I would like to view the property before any financial means have been decided upon.

Please advise,

Kind Regards

Then she responds saying:
Thanks for getting back to me. I wouldn't want you to get me wrong, the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability is not only my idea, my lawyer and i decided to use that process and i can't violate my lawyer procedure. I am a God fearing woman and i am not after your money. I have my own work and i earn enough money for my family and also to help the less privileged.

However, i didn't want to collect any money from you as long as you have not sign a contract neither have i taken you round my flat. All what i request of you is to transfer the deposit to someone close to you through Western Union Money Transfer, once you've done that, you get back to me with a scan copy of the transfer receipt so that i can forward it to my lawyer to confirm if the transfer is valid.

More so ,I would have loved to schedule a viewing with you directly or ask for your bank statement or any other means of making a confirmation of your financial ability to rent my flat but as i stated in my previous email that the idea of making a confirmation of your financial ability to rent my flat through western union is not my idea and i wouldn't want to violate my lawyer's procedure because he's my personal legal adviser.

After the confirmation might have been made by my lawyer, i will ask you to tell you friend to pick up the money and schedule a convenient day for the viewing. If eventually you don't want to proceed with the rent, i promise to return the cost of the transfer without any deduction.

I look forward to reading from you soon.

Regards
Mr/Mrs Brehn

At this point, I replied with this


I thought you were in church?

Anyway, This seems to be fraudulent and I will not be forwarding with my interest in your place.

I have also sent your details to the necessary authorities.


I've also examined your header and I can see this email is coming from Lagos, Nigeria.

You are in trouble now.

their response to me was:

You must be crazy?

I then responded.

No. But I think you are.

Scam artist!

I'll have the police find you. You've just sent your scam to the wrong person.

His response now was:

Ogun go kill you..

I responded again saying:

Hahahahah!!
Now your African speech comes out. hahahaha... I'll send the police to find you

Thanks for responding.

That was the last email and I haven't heard back from Michelle or her 'Husband' lol!!..

Hi !!
I'm just writing with this same person... and I'm receiving exactly this same e-mails- texts... how ever they've change e-mail address
the new address is : "Helena Duffy" [email protected]

I felt suspicious after my friend just told me that it is impossible for flat to being so cheap and just be careful... so i checked Western Union thefts and told them that I'm not going to do any transfer of money because of that what i find out, but they still insist so later i found this site...I Can't believe that there are so monster people who want to still money from honest and poor people.

they where posting add about very cheap flat in central London on gumtree.

I'm wondering if there is any way for police to find them...