by Michelle
Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:45 am
*******
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.
2010/4/4 Lynn A Johnstone < [email protected] >
Hi,
Thanks for your response to my ad.The flat is two bedroom apartment and you will be sharing with a professional female.Here is little details about the flat before we proceed.
Flat address: Bishop's Bridge Road, London
Post Code:W2 6HJ
Rent: £600 per month,all bills included
Security deposit:£600 refundable after four weeks in the flat.
Minimum Stay: 1 Month(s)
Maximum stay:1 yr with the option of extending the contract after 12 months
Moving in date: the room is currently available but I'm flexible with moving in date.
Flat amenities:TV ,CD - DVD - Video,Radio,High-speed Internet with WiFi,Washing Machine ,dryer, Heating, iron and Ironing board,Gas cooker,Electric Kettle,Toaster,Dishwasher,Refrigerator, Microwave e.t.c
The pictures of the flat are hereby attached with this email.
Location:
Unbeatable location in a quiet street yet close to everyting!
- 2 mins walk to Whiteleys shopping mall
- 5 mins walk to Bayswater tube (District & Circle lines)
- 7 mins walk to Queensway tube (Central line)
-7 mins walk to Paddington tube(Hammersmith, Backerloo and allRailway trainlines)
- 7 mins walk to Hyde Park
Super convenient:
- 2 mins walk to Waitrose, Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's, and other supermarkets
- Loads of restaurants, cafes, and pubs along the vibrant main street which is only 1 min walk away!
- Neighbouring areas include Notting Hill Gate, Paddington, Queensway, Hyde Park, Portobello Markets, Oxford Street
- Many buses along main street No. 23, 27, 7, 70, 148
Cheers
Lynn.
From: Lynn A Johnstone <[email protected]>
Date: 2010/4/5
Subject: Email me back to proceed
To: Michelle
Hi Maria,
There's no problem in inviting you for the viewing,I currently work and live in Manchester so I will need to take a day off from work in order to come down to arrange the viewing with you.I have had several cases of people we had a deal for viewing and fail to turn up is either they cannot afford the rent or the security deposit required but want me to come down with the aim of renegotiating.
I have consulted my lawyer and we 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 and able to pay his/her rent as at when due.
You will need to give someone that's close to you cash for a month rent plus security deposit (£600+£600=£1200) to transfer to you via Western Union at the nearest Western Union close to you .You will be the one to collect the money when you arrive for the viewing at the nearest Western Union outlet close to the flat and pay me after you have seen the flat and ok with it. In a situation whereby none of your friends is available to do the transfer for you, you can transfer the money to any friend's name,your flatmate's name or anybody that's close to you in London.The person will need to come with for the viewing so that he/she will be able to collect the money after the viewing while you pay me in person if everything goes well.
I do not want you to have the feeling that I am asking for money BEFORE you see what you are renting because I know that payment is meant to be done AFTER you have seen the Flat and okay with it that is why I said you should make the transfer to yourself so that you will be the one to receive the money and pay me in person after the viewing.
If you are ready ,you can go ahead and make the transfer ,let me know immediately you do the transfer so that I can know how to squeeze out time to come and meet you.You will need to scan the copy of the transfer receipt and email it to me in order to know you have made the transfer and to let you know that I will return back to you the full transfer charges whether you decide to rent the flat or not when we meet.
Let me know if you are ok with this arrangement so that we can proceed.
Kind regards,
Lynn.
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.
