Rental Scammer - [email protected]

This person also sends scanned copies of his and his wife's passport and uses a fake LinkedIn account.

He is using another email address to: [email protected]

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 23:54:36 -0700
From: [email protected]
Subject: Reply to your "Well presented clean and comfortable 2 bedroom flat (Auckland Central)" Ad on Gumtree?
To: Michelle Banks

Good to read from you on your interest on my apartment. The apartment is still very much available for rent. Just to give you a little low down about the apartment and myself. My Wife and I are Canadian, in our 50's and very responsible with impeccable references. Me and my wife are both retired lawyers. You can also check out my profile on < removed > . I also have a wine company in China. I inherited the flat from my late father. He was actually residing there only. Until his death with heart failure. This is why i decided to put up the property for lease. My wife and i recently relocated from China to Madrid, Spain. We have been in the country for just over 5 months. As i am setting up another wine company here

The whole flat is up for a total of 1000NZD Per Month. Which i also think is fair enough considering the location. I just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to occupy the apartment and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for now.

The flat comprises of two bedroom. Excellent condition inside. Good sized lounge, with a sofa, air-conditioning, and washing machine. Can sleep a max of 4, and ideal for family, couple and friends. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils.

Just to let you know, the keys are right here with me. But there wouldn't be any problem with that. As it can be posted to you, after all necessary agreement has be reached and signed into lease. Also i will like you to know that is not all about complying with the rent , but your absolute maintenance of the apartment. Just for the memories of my father. Who committed so much putting those facilities in place, so i wouldn't want an violation of my property if finally rented by you.

Address: 207 Federal Street, 4th Floor, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand. A great location for Auckland University, Central city, 2 minutes to Aotea Sqaure & Queen Street, close to bus stops, train station & shops. Included with this is a car park. As for the utility bills, there are not included on the rent, and also no outstanding bills. So you be paying the bills and starting the lease with a clean slate. The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 2 years with a possibility of extension.

Regards,
Garland

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.

Using fake lost or stolen Canadian passport numbers WQ691444 and WQ6911449

Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 07:11:44 -0700
From: [email protected]
Subject:
To: Michelle Banks

Hello Michelle

I have prepared the lease agreement. On the lease is the signature of my wife and friend/solicitor as my witnesses. Sorry i don't have the flat document here in Madrid in my possession. I left them back at my home in China before coming over here. But i assure you, there is nothing to worry about. As i am much working with you and so happy you are renting for a longer period of 6 to 1 year. And as you can understand i have being very forthcoming with your response to you, and also i am not out hereto cheat anyone. You can terminate the contract, if you feel not comfortable with the renting process at this early stage, to avoid wasting each others time. Which was why, i sent you a link to my profile details and reference. You have access to the gym, pool and parking space. For the water and electricity, they are still currently running. You just have to settle the bills each month. Like i told you earlier, the building manager, do not have access to my keys.

In respect to the lease, kindly examine the terms and conditions on each clauses. Then if you are comfortable with it, before completing your name and signature. You can then scan and email it to me, so i could document the hard copy, which i am posting along with the keys, receipt for the rent and deposit, and a letter of Occupancy from me to the management building to allow your moving in. The lease agreement will commence on the 25th of December as you requested. This actually gives you much time to move into the apartment, do some clean up also take down the list of inventories.

Like i earlier said. We can still re-evaluate the contract, if we are both still happy with our relationship after the first 2 months lease period. But for now lets settle and finalize on the lease, so we both know our fate.

For banking transfer. There are so much difficulties attach with international online banking transfer with reference to approval, clearance, and verification. As advised, you can transfer the one month refundable deposit and first month rent, if you are happy with the agreement. Through an international MoneyGram transfer service, which is also quite a secure way to transfer money at distances. And the 25th of each month is set aside for the monthly installment for the rent, as written on the lease. So you would be paying your second month rent, on the 25th of January

As requested on my previous email, i need a reliable address where the keys can be delivered to you in person. I have already made an inquiry with one of the DHL Post center here. They said, it would take 2-3 working days for the delivery, as they don't operate during weekends. Let me know your convenient time to receive the parcel during working hours. I will go about the shipping by this week, upon receiving the signed lease from you. And send you the details of the shipping, to enable you know when to await the delivery.

Regarding the transfer. I would leaving my details below. So i could pick up the fund at my most convenient time at any MoneyGram office over here.

Let me know, if you have any objection with the lease agreement. As i look forward to your response, and hopefully with the signed lease along side your attached International Passport ID. I am looking forward to a great tenant/landlord relationship between us.

And also, you will be taking the hard copy for stamp duty. You can do this after you have moved into the apartment. Then you can also send me a copy of the stamped lease.

Name: Garland Samuel Benny
Address: Calle de Fuencarral, 135, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Regards,
Garland

Does any one successfully get the money back?

Regards
Chan