In deep trouble, scam?

In order to tell my story I have to start at the beginning.

I was looking for a room in Oslo, Norway because I was going to follow a course there. I found someone on no.easyroommate.com who responded on my request.I made an account and contacted ads.

Her first E-mail:

Katherine Mcdermott ([email protected])

Hello,
Thanks for the interest in my room.
ABOUT ME
My name is Katherine Mcdermott, working professional here in Oslo and also attending a Language school, non-smoking, active, very friendly, clean, and respectful.I am seeking someone who meets the following description: Female or male, non-smoking, professional or Student that speaks English and some Norwegian.The most important thing I'm looking for is to find a flatmate to share daily life and common values.

PRICE
The rent for this room is 4000NOK per month and refundable deposit of 5000NOK,including the electricity and gas (which goes towards the heat and hot water). There is also a charge of 50NOK per month which pays your half of the WIFI Internet,television, telephone (with free, unlimited international calls). Your monthly costs will therefore total 4050NOK. This includes all cost and you would not be asked to make any other additional payments.

THE APARTMENT
The rooms i am renting out are 18m2 (= 170 sq ft) There is plenty of space as well as many storage closets. Two bedrooms with sunny courtyard views, a large living room, a dining room, a fully-equipped kitchen (large refrigerator, oven, microwave,washing machine ,vacuum cleaner dishwasher, coffee machine, all plates, silverware, pots, etc.), and a bathroom with a full-sized tub. There is a very large balcony, too. Plenty of windows and light. Hardwood flooring all over and ceramic tiling in the bathroom, kitchen, and toilet room. There are two fireplaces with old-fashioned mirrors above them. This place is truly beautiful and comfortable! The bedroom you will rent has a twin-sized bed, furnished (wardrobe, bookcase, desk, printer, your own phone with free calls to fix phones in 49 countries including Europe and North America). there is high speed and Wi Fi internet, and a washing machine. Bathroom with bath tub and separate toilets.

LOCATION
The apartment is located at Pilestredet ,0180 , Oslo,on the 2nd floor (elevator) in a well-maintained, typically-Parisian building on a quiet street. It is only a two-minute walk from the National Theatre station, where you can take the underground (T-bane), a tram or busses to all parts of town. You can also catch the airport train, which takes you to Oslo Airport Gardermoen in just 25 minutes. and all the other shops you'll need nearby on a daily basis.

People have wasted my time on this rental issue and i really want someone very serious to deal with this time around.I have attached the picture of the room to this email so that you can see how the room look like.I sincerely want someone very serious and willing to rent the room because a lot of people have wasted my time on this rent.
waiting to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Katherine Mcdermott

Please send your Skype ID for fast conversation.

After that I responded whit my story, I had contact with her in skype and all seemed fine.
She asked me for the deposit and the first month rent. I contacted my school for information, was that normal? They replayed it was. We made a contract that we both signed and she send me her passport. I did the same thing after.

She asked me to transfer it to her father who lived in Denmark and gave me a contract in Word:

THIS IS THE RENTAL AGREEMENT FORM WHICH I WILL ADVICE YOU TO READ VERY WELL BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WILL CONSTITUTE THE BASIS FOR OUR CONTRACT.AFTER READING THIS AND YOU ARE OK WITH MY TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEN YOU CAN PROCEED WITH PAYMENT WHICH MUST BE RECEIVE BY MY FATHER SO THAT I CAN SECURE THE ROOM FOR YOU BECAUSE I HAVE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE ROOM AND I'LL GIVE THE ROOM TO THE MOST SERIOUS PERSON WHO PAYS FIRST..PLEASE MAKE PAYMENT AVAILABLE TO MY FATHER THROUGH HER BELLOW INFORMATION NOT LATER THAN 48 HOURS YOU RECEIVED THIS AGREEMENT FORM.
PLEASE MAKE THE PAYMENT VIA EXPRESS BANK TRANSFER TO THE FOLLOWING INFO:

BANK INFORMATION

BANK: Dea Danske Bank
ACCOUNT NAME: JUAN PETERSON
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3215292827
IBAN: DK8730003215292827
SWIFT CODE: DABADKKK
BANK ADDRESS: Fællesskabsvej 4 4900 Naksov, Denmark

LET ME HAVE THE FOLLOWING AFTER TRANSFERRING THE PAYMENT:

1. A SCANNED COPY OF THE TRANSFER RECEIPT

2. THE NAME OF THE BANK YOU TRANSFER THE MONEY FROM.

HOWEVER,AFTER I RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION THAT YOU HAVE TRANSFER THE PAYMENT TO OUR FATHER I WILL SEND THE SIGNED AGREEMENT/CONTRACT FORM TO YOU VIA ATTACHED EMAIL OR FAX WHICH YOU WILL ALSO HAVE TO SIGN AS WELL AND BRING ALONG WITH YOU WHEN COMING DOWN HERE,THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT IN FORCE.

WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU
KATE

So I did, I first transferred the deposit and a few days later the first month. I my eyes everything was fine..
But then the weird things started.
She asked me to subscribe her American uncle on a dutch dating site, weird question but I helped her out.
She asked me to pay it, I didn't! I told her she could first send me the money before I would pay. She never did. and she left it there.
We had nice talks the next few weeks but out of the blue she told me that she would go to Afrika for charity work. and if she could send me money that I later on would send to her in Afrika by Western Union. I responded with a lot of questions and again she left it there.
But 2 weeks later she told me the money was transferred already and a day after I got almost 1400 euro on my bank account. She asked me to send it to her by Western Union because she could not use her bank card.
I contacted my bank and the western union and the told me that the money could not get reclaimed. So I did send her the money because I did wanted to help her out.. Bad choice..
Now I just got a letter from my bank that the money is reclaimed, but first I need to give permission and I will not do that of course.
I googled the person and she has no social media, she gave me a phone number that isn't right: +47225400711 (I believe one extra digit)

But I get a strong feeling that this all is a scam and there isn't a room in Oslo (pilerstredet 7) But I am not sure. She was still talking to me on skype yesterday.

This is a very common "rental scam".
The scammer has no property to rent, he's using stolen details that he probably found on a property agent's site or advertised elsewhere. Everything he uses is stolen.

The passport scan was obtained from a previous victim, just like you. He may use your ID in the future. If he does, unfortunately there is nothing you can do to stop him. That's all he can use it for though as financial institutions, government offices, etc. do not accept scanned identity documents.

The scammer appears to also be a romance scammer, as he asked you to pay for him on a dating site. Scammers never use their own money, it's always stolen.

The money that you received into your account is from another victim who thinks they are paying his relative or agent and the account you paid into belongs to a victim also who has received a payment under the same circumstances as you.

He asked for you to send the payment to Africa via Western Union because he lives there and Western Union payments can be picked up anonymously.
Most rental scammers are from West Africa and nearly always Nigeria. I'm guessing that's where the money was sent to.

Yes, the money went to Nigeria. But the thing is, why I did it, was because I used the name on the passport I got the copy from and the Western Union told me only the person from that passport can get the money there..
So I though it was really this British girl that picked up the money.

I notice that you were given a real bank account in to which to pay money. This is possibly a 'money mule' who has been duped in to receiving funds for a scammer, believing that it is a legitimate transaction.

I don't know whether or not it is possible for us to report the use of the bank account in a fraud but I'm making this post to highlight it to moderators, in case they can.

yes I payed to a real account and the money I got was also from a real account.
I still am in contact with the girl who want to rent the room, I didn't told her anything.

Last thing she sad was that she is gonna get me an African dress O.o

I am not sure what I have to do, do I need to get a new passport? I will go to the police tomorrow!

You need to talk to the police about more than just a passport.

The money you received and transferred was stolen. By not allowing the person to reclaim the money, you have essentially made the decision NOT to return the money to its rightful owner. Unfortunately, that makes you part of the crime, by receiving and forwarding stolen money. I know that is not what you intended, but that is what has happened. The person whose money was stolen may go to the police and report you as the thief, because you are the person who received the money and did not return it.

It is important that you keep all emails related to this scenario, and be prepared to show them to the police, to show that you were not knowingly part of a crime.

Do not worry I have been to the police already, had to make an appointment but I went this morning!
They are going to investigate it!
They told me that I dont really need to worry about my passport, luckily you cant do a lot with just a copy.

Since I am scammed I am not part of a crime at all, but i victim of what happened, since it was never my intention to steel money from anyone. I can't return the money because I dont have the money...
I did keep everything from the contract to the e-mails and chats. The police knows all the names and they are gonna look into it! they will keep me updated!

I really hope that this post may help people to be save.

I never would have though a thing like this would happen to me, but they are really smart sometimes and they notice if you are unknowing about things. I learned that its not a shame that it happened, its sucks hard, but there are also a lot of people that have my back.

Still you need to be prepared for possible criminal investigation. Ignorance or not knowing is not a valid defense. If the person whose money was transferred into your account can successfully press charges, you will have to return the money. I believe that by refusing the initial claim (after the person realised he was scammed) you've basically admitted to being a part of the scam process.