by Michelle
Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:01 pm
From: Tracy Marshell <[email protected]>
Date: 8 November 2012 13:35
Subject: Re: Property
To: Michelle Banks
Hello Michelle,
Thanks for the response. 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
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 travelled all the way from Coventry to take some interested
candidates round my flat because that's where i work.
Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet
they disturb the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or
relative who live close by, also some do not meet up with the
appointments.
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 the security deposit £ 400 which is refundable would be required
from you to transfer to someone close to you through Western union
money transfer outlet/shop close to you using your name as the Sender
and your friend or family member's name as the Receiver in UK.
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 for the
viewing.
Nevertheless, i will return to you the cost of the transfer without
any deduction.
Kindly let me know if my explanation is well understood and don't
hesitate to reply back if you don't understand.
Regards
Mrs Marshell
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.
