This scammer is also pretending to rent rooms himself.
From: Diana Wilson <
[email protected]>
To: Michelle Banks
Sent: Sunday, 28 October 2012, 11:46
Subject: RE: Property to rent
Thanks for the response. I am delighted to inform you that my flat is still available. Here are the details you need to know about my flat with attached photographs of the flat.
PRICE:
* £ 320 (Per Month)
* Utility (electricity, water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet)
* 1 Calendar month rent in advance plus £ 400 security deposit (refundable).
*Flat address: Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 9BG. This is conveniently located very close to transport links, Uni and other local amenities.
Fully furnished flat but i can make it unfurnished if preferred -- Wardrobe, chest of drawers, Central heating, entrance with lock & key system.
Fully fitted kitchen, cupboards and fridge/freezer, Microwave,Dish washer, Washing machine, secured parking space. How long do you intend to stay in my flat? Hope to read from you soon.
Kind Regards
Mrs Wilson
From: Diana Wilson <
[email protected]>
To:
[email protected] Sent: Sunday, 28 October 2012, 12:59
Subject: RE: Property to rent
Thanks for the response. Living room is present and I am willing to have you in my flat as long as you view the flat and like it. It is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view or reserve my flat without any form of confirmation of their seriousness and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled, has brought about great loss to me. I have traveled all the way from Coventry to take some interested candidates round my flat because that's where i work. Some do not have the money for rent, some would not even show up at all while some would come with the aim of renegotiating.
Henceforth, my solicitor and i have decided to carry out a simple test on seriousness and financial ability to pay for the rent before coming for viewing. I am not asking you to pay before the viewing but at least, one month rent together with the security deposit £ 400 which is refundable would be required from you to transfer to a family member or friend through Western union money transfer using your name as the Sender and your friend or family member'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, after verification, i will ask you to inform the receiver to go and pick up the transfer and thereafter, we can proceed with the viewing where you would sign the tenancy agreement and perhaps the keys handed over to you. Note that I will refund the cost of transfer when we meet for viewing.
Kindly let me know if my explanation is well understood.
Regards
Mrs Wilson
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.
