by Michelle
Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:31 am
2012/9/14 Andy Lawson <[email protected]>
The following are the basic details you need to know about the flat.
Rent- £ 65.00 per week
Security Deposit- £ 400.00 (returnable at the end of a month stay in my flat)
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license, WiFi wireless Internet, Electricity. Except phone bill) Utility Cost : £ 0.00
Other house facility: fridge/freezer, Microwave,Dish washer, Washing machine, Steam Shower & Whirlpool Bath.
Moreover, the flat is one bedroom fully furnished and equipped with all necessary house facilities also benefits a secured parking space but i can make it unfurnished if prefer. At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to ask you few questions . Can you take good care of my flat as it is? How many month do you intend to rent and pay for? Do you have any reference in Oxford?
Kindly reply for further information.
Regards
Mrs Lawson
From: Andy Lawson <[email protected]>
Date: 2012/9/15
Subject: RE: 1 Bedroom Flat
To: Michelle Banks
Thanks for getting back to me. I am willing to have you in my flat as long as you want after the viewing. 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 Coventry to take some interested candidates round my flat because that's where i work, is either they cannot afford the rent or the security deposit required but want me to come up with the aim of renegotiating.
Henceforth, my solicitor and i have resolved that any potential tenants should be able to prove in the following way in order to determine who is financially buoyant and that he or she can stick to appointment when scheduled. I am not asking you to pay before the viewing but at least the 1 month rent together with the security deposit of £400 would be required from you to transfer to any of your family members in the UK or your close friend via Western Union Online or Western Union outlet/shop close to you.
Scan & Send a copy of the Western Union transaction receipt as a proof of the transfer or mail me the transaction details should in case you don't have access to a scanner.
After the confirmation of the transfer valid the same day, then we can proceed with the viewing at your own convenient day/time.
If you decided to take the apartment, we'll both go to any local Western Union outlet close to the flat for you to pick up the money and pay me. (You don't need to come with cash for viewing but we can both go after viewing to cancel the transfer and withdraw the money to pay me).
A receipt showing for your payment will be issued and handed over to you after signing the contract.
However, i don't want you to have the feelings that am asking you for money before viewing the flat because payment is meant to be done after you might have seen the flat, that's why i said you should make the transfer to someone close to you and after the confirmation, you can easily cancel the transfer as the sender or inform the receiver to pick it up at any western union outlet.
Kindly let me know if my explanation is well understood and note that i will refund the transfer charges immediately after the viewing.
Best Regards
Mrs Lawson
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.
