Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: "ADRIEN PINOT" [email protected]
To: Con Warner
Subject: Re: EUR350 Five Star standard room in a new four bedroom apartment (Amsterdam)

Dear Renter

Thank you for your response the content is well understood and the
room will be available from now for as long as you wish to stay.
I would like to know your present location as well

The house is located at Herenstraat 05 1015 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The room is a good size 11x14 inch a big walk in closet It is a four
bedroom duplex but only 2 rooms is available for rent. The condo has
been recently renovated (new kitchen, bathrooms, trim and paint) it
feels very new and very clean.
I have all the amenities you could possibly want, Gym, in unit W/d,
D/W, all new stainless steel appliances, Internet in every room as
well as wireless, 32" plasma in the family room, etc.

I am a 25yrs,I am working and doiny my masters here, and the house belongs to my parents
who are currently in the UNITED KINGDOM.
The rent again per month is Eur 350, which includes all utilities to
be paid just once which covers the whole of utilities for the duration
of your stay and a security deposit of Eur 300, which is refundable at
the end of your stay in the room.
The purpose of this money is in case of damages (either by you or any
of your guests). Your money will be refunded in full to you at the end
of your stay in the room if there is no damage to the room or the
fittings.

The transport system is quiet very good as it is located in the heart
of AMSTERDAM HOLLAND and its very close to the train station which
makes it just few minutes to get to the city central and all is just
located within a few minutes walk from the house. The house is also
close to the main shopping mall , groceries, and market and jewelry
store all for you to purchase your basic needs.

Your quickest response shall be highly appreciated to determine your
interest as a flat mate, because there's some other potential renter's
interested in my flat but i am considering you based on priority and
honesty. Attached to this email is pictures of the apartment for your
view.

Regards,
MR ADRIEN PINOT

This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union, MoneyGram or bank transfer with a promise that you can have the keys to a property that does not belong to him.

Sounds safe. It's not!

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.

Thank you SO much for the warning!!!
I almost fell into the trap until I searched the address
then I confronted the landlord and never heard from him again...

As I got quite involved in the process, I would like to post all the emails he sent so everyone will have a full understanding and avoid this kind of situation ever again.

Dear Renter

The room is a good size 12x14 SQM a big walk in closet. It is a four bedroom apartment but only 2 rooms is available for rent. The condo has been recently renovated (new kitchen, bathrooms, trim and paint) it feels very new and very clean.I would like to know your present location as well

The house is located at Herenstraat 05 1015 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I have all the amenities you could possibly need, Gym in the flat free usage, in unit we have Wshing and drying machine, Drsk and chair in rooms, all new stainless steel appliances, Internet in every room as well as wireless connections, 41" plasma in the family room, etc. I am a 25yrs,I am doing my masters and working at the same time, and the house belongs to my parents who are currently in the UNITED KINGDOM.

The rent again per month is Eur 350, which includes all utilities to be paid just once which covers the whole of utilities for the duration of your stay and a security deposit of Eur 300, which is refundable at the end of your stay in the room. The purpose of this money is in case of damages (either by you or any of your guests). Your money will be refunded in full to you at the end of your stay in the room if there is no damage to the room or the fittings.

The transport system is quiet very good as it is located in the heart of AMSTERDAM HOLLAND and its very close to the train station which makes it just few minutes to get to the city central and all is just located within a few minutes walk from the house. The house is also close to the main shopping malls, groceries, and market and jewelry store all for you to purchase your basic needs.

Your quickest response shall be highly appreciated to determine your interest as a flat mate, because there are some other potential renter interested in my flat but i am considering you based on priority and honesty. Attached to this email are pictures of the apartment for your view.

Regards,
MR JOSE GARCIA

Then when I showed my interested in renting the room


Dear Renter

I thank you for your e-mail.

I will be more than happy to reserve and rent out the apartment to you because we seem to have a good relationship so far. You can move into the house at your own time as you have planned and the room will be reserved for you

I am having my annual vacation and decided to join my parents in UK and spend some time with them.

You will have to fill the Rental Application Form then send it with either your international passport or drivers license for identification since i am not in the Town to meet you in person as i earlier planned.Print form out fill it and sign and then send me a scanned copy of your Id either passport or D/L

Once i receive it i will give you information that you will use to send the deposit to my dad so that the room will be reserved for you. I will return back to Town on 4th May. If you are comfortable with this arrangement get back to me .

Jose

Call me on uk phone: +44-7937683016 or +44 7045707265

And I did fill in the form and send him a copy of my passport, then he sent me a copy of his passport as well.
With the following content,


Dear (my name)

How are you today?

Sequence to your email with the form, I have shown your rental application form to my parents today just as I promised. He has approved your tenancy and your rentage of the apartment and has advised that you should go ahead and pay the refundable security deposit of Euro 300 + Euro 350 for 1st month rent = Euro 650 so that the room can be reserved for you till your move in date and a receipt of payment will be issued to you.

Use the following information to send the money Through bank Account below:

Bank Name: La Caixa Bank
Bank Address: Paseo De La Habana, 2, 28036 Madrid, Spain
Account Name: Lucky Owede Garcia
Account Number: 2100 2133 9401 0023 3810
IBAN/BIC: ES74 2100 2133 9401 0023 3810
Swift Code: CAIXESBBXXX

Get back to me immediately with the payment details. My passport is attached to this email so you know who you are dealing with.

Thank You.

Jose Garcia

He even called me to make sure I received the email and started urging me to complete the payment

Dear (my name),

It was nice talking to you on the phone, you really sound nice and i believe you will make a good flatmate, sorry for cutting your sleep, guess you slept late, please email me once you have transfered the euro 650 with the transfer reciept so i can notify my dad to confirm with the bank.

Have a great day.

Jose

Hello (my name)

Good day, how was your day, hope went well, please email me the transfer reciept for confirmation, i believe you made the transfer today so we can confirm it tomorrow before the weekend.

Jose

I made the deposit, however I set the date after the agreed move in date so I can view the actual place before paying, that's his reply

(my name)

I have just read your email, i wonder why the money will be effected on the 6th when your moving in on the 4th, its not a proper procedure, please note that your money is safe and am honest and not a thief, you have my intl passport which makes it possible fot you to track me from the embassy if anything goes wrong, you also have my dads bank account which also makes it possible to ask for your money back when necessary, this approach of mistrust from you is unacceptable. please return to your bank and make the transfer go through so it can come today or tomorrow . waiting for your positive reply on this.

Jose

He called me again to persuade me to make the deposit right away as this is what "his dad" wants and this is the procedure in Amsterdam. But as I have never paid before viewing the room, so I asked my friends for opinions as well as checked his name, his dad's name and bank account, until I typed in the address and it directed me to here.

If it wasn't this post, I would probably send the money and become unsheltered on the day I arrived Amsterdam. That's why I share my experience to make some contribution, I truly, truly hope no one will fall into this scam, all the best.

[email protected] is another email address he is using was avery similar email i received from him and also used the name Jose Garcia the same as in the 2nd post on here, this was on craigslist and located in Vienna Austria.

Dear Renter


The room is a good size 12x14 SQM a big walk in closet. It is a four bedroom
apartment but only 2 rooms is available for rent. The condo has been recently
renovated (new kitchen, bathrooms, trim and paint) it feels very new and
very clean.I would like to know your present location as well

The house is located at Boltzmanngasse 57, A-1090 Wien, Vienna AUSTRIA


I have all the amenities you could possibly need, Gym in the flat free usage, in unit
we have Wshing and drying machine, Drsk and chair in rooms, all new stainless
steel appliances, Internet in every room as well as wireless connections, 41" plasma
in the family room, etc. I am a 25yrs,I am doing my masters and working at the same time,
and the house belongs to my parents who are currently in the UNITED KINGDOM.


The rent again per month is Eur 300, which includes all utilities to be paid just once
which covers the whole of utilities for the duration of your stay and a security
deposit of Eur 250, which is refundable at the end of your stay in the room.
The purpose of this money is in case of damages (either by you or any of your guests).
Your money will be refunded in full to you at the end of your stay in the room if there is
no damage to the room or the fittings.

The transport system is quiet very good as it is located in the heart
of VIENNA and its very close to the train station which makes
it just few minutes to get to the city central and all is just located
within a few minutes walk from the house. The house is also close to
the main shopping malls, groceries, and market and jewelry store all
for you to purchase your basic needs.

Your quickest response shall be highly appreciated to determine your
interest as a flat mate, because there are some other potential renter
interested in my flat but i am considering you based on priority and
honesty. Attached to this email are pictures of the apartment for your
view.

Regards,


MR JOSE GARCIA