Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Robben Michael Heinrich <[email protected]>
Date: August 6, 2013 at 11:11
To: Con Warner
Subject: Re: 258 St. Nicholas Avenue

In this moment i'm in Berlin-Germany and can not be present to deal face to face but I can make arrangements to rent the apartment from Berlin through Realtor.com is an international company dealing specifically in rentals apartments, I used it in the past and I was very pleased.In order to view the flat and settle a deal, you will need the keys, and the contract.
I will explain how it works..

If we decide to proceed with this transaction, I will need your phone number full name and address where you want to receive the keys/contract.Then I will go at Realtor.com company from Madrid provide them all the necessary information, and they will start the process right away in US.Next you will receive a notification message from Realtor.com containing all the instructions that you need to follow,the invoice and contract as well.Regarding the Payment, you will be instructed to deposit the amount to an agent from Realtor.com ,they will hold lock and insure your money until you check the apartment and decide if you want to rent the place or not.(That is my insurance).If you will not be satisfied with the apartment the total amount will be refunded in same day after your request.You will be given a ten days inspection period from the day you receive the keys and contract.During this period you can take a decision.
As for the monthly payment are done directly to my bank account from Berlin at the beginning or end of month at your convenience.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union or MoneyGram to an escrow company with a promise that he will send the keys through a courier company.

Sounds safe. It's not!
The emails claiming to be from the company are fake.

At other times, he will ask for proof that you are able to pay the deposit and rent due to a string of time wasters.
This proof is in the form of a Western Union or MoneyGram payment to a lawyer,a friend or family member.

In either case, if payment is made and you give this person the details, they will collect the money.
You will not hear from them again.

All the details such as names, addresses, pictures etc. that the scammer uses in order to back up his story, are stolen from elsewhere.

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 Craigslist, Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment 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.

This is his initial reply...

Thanks for your kind interest ,

My name is Robben Michael Heinrich, the owner of the apartment .I bought this apartment for my daughters during their studies in US, but now they come back home in Germany permanently, so I'm renting the place, even for long and short period.

The apartment has 1 Bedroom ,1 Bathroom,(cold/hot water, electricity, wireless broadband Internet, digital TV, 1 parking spots for 2 cars, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine) .The neighborhood is very well served with public transportation,park playground, shops,supermarkets ,you can easily get things needed.

The rent is $1,400 per month, security deposit is $1,400 and you get it back at the end of contract or when you decide to leave the apartment.

Before we go any further I would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons you intend to live in the apartment, and for how long.

Thank you

Got it - similar not same, he is in Italy now

EMail 1

Thanks for your kind interest ,

My name is Michael Robben, the owner of the apartment .I bought this apartment for my daughters during their studies in US, but now they come back home in Italy permanently, so I'm renting the place, even for long and short period.

The apartment has 2 Bedrooms ,1 Bathroom,(cold/hot water, electricity, wireless broadband Internet, digital TV, 1 parking spots for 2 cars, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine) .The neighborhood is very well served with public transportation,park playground, shops,supermarkets ,you can easily get things needed.

The rent is $1,500 per month, security deposit is $1,100 and you get it back at the end of contract or when you decide to leave the apartment.

Before we go any further I would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons you intend to live in the apartment, and for how long.

Email 2

In this moment i'm in Rome-Italy and can not be present to deal face to face but I can make arrangements to rent the apartment from here through Realtor.com is an international company dealing specifically in rentals apartments, I used it in the past and I was very pleased.In order to view the flat and settle a deal, you will need the keys, and the contract.
I will explain how it works..

If we decide to proceed with this transaction, I will need your phone number full name and address where you want to receive the keys/contract.Then I will go at Realtor.com company from Rome provide them all the necessary information, and they will start the process right away in US.Next you will receive a notification message from Realtor.com containing all the instructions that you need to follow,the invoice and contract as well.Regarding the Payment, you will be instructed to deposit the amount to an agent from Realtor.com ,they will hold lock and insure your money until you check the apartment and decide if you want to rent the place or not.(That is my insurance).If you will not be satisfied with the apartment the total amount will be refunded in same day after your request.You will be given a ten days inspection period from the day you receive the keys and contract.During this period you can take a decision.
As for the monthly payment are done directly to my bank account from Berlin at the beginning or end of month at your convenience.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

This came from Michael Robben <[email protected]> as mentioned in the subject line of this thread.

Property is 203 E 86th Street, New York, NY 10028