Rental Scammer - [email protected]

Hello!
I have just been scammed by this same "lady".
She only changed her name and email address ([email protected]). But skype contact is the same! I will paste here her email sent to me!

Hi,
Thanks for your interested in my flat, Enclose to this message you found some more pictures of the rooms available for rent. This Apartment is recently completely refurbished to a very high standard. Practically a brand new house inside, tastefully and stylishly furnished,It’s a beautiful flat with a splendid cozy eat in kitchen with a separate bathroom and toilet (see photos).

2rooms available in the same flat. The house has a paved garden with a shelter for securing bikes and the landlord periodically hires a gardener to tidy it up. We have a garage space available nearby and also qualify for a number of free and cheap parking permits in the area.Am looking for a young professional or mature student to join me.


Am a busy person but enjoy spending time together with a friend and flatmate up for a drink or two! The house is brilliantly situated for accessing all areas of Bristol:
5 minute walk to the Triangle, Whiteladies Road. 15 minute walk to Clifton Village 30 minutewalk to Bristol Temple Meads 10 minute walk to the bottom of Gloucester Road 10 minute walk to Cabot Circus, Broadmead and the Coach station


There is also a bus stop outside the house which goes down to Bristol Temple Meads on a regular and frequent basis. All bills are approximately £50pm (gas, electricity, metered water and broadband internet).

Flat Address: Talavera Close, St. Philips, Bristol BS2 0ED
Bedrooms available: 1 double bedroom Price: £300 per month
1 Single Bedroom prince : £285 per month

Total number of bedrooms: 3
Deposit required: 1 month rent
Building type: Flat
Price includes: All the bills
Furnishings: Furnished
Date available: flexible
Parking available: Permit on-street
Minimum term::1 months
Maximum term: None

Security Deposit: Refundable
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet)
Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm
All bills included: its fully furnished, DG, GCH, bath/wc phone.
The flat comes fully furnished
All Bill are included
1 ) GAS
2) ELECTRIC
3) WATER
4) WIRELESS INTERNET

This price is approximately 15% below average in this area which is very Low considering the Student and economics climate.Am looking for serious and friendly person, not just a flatmate But who will live in the flat with a family spirit.
Personal info:
I'm uncomplicated person, hang out, meeting new people and having friends over for dinner. I also like going to museums, theaters and musicals. I adore the Christmas time and love traveling. I like trying new things, especially when it comes to different cultures. I like keeping the apartment tidy and clean and I expect the same from my flatmate. I don't mind from time to time having a drink/dinner with my flatmate.

#Name:CLAIRE .S KIRKUP
#Age:26years
#Professional.
#Half British/Australian
#Available term:Long/Short term basis.
I'll be Waiting for your reply as soon as possible.

PS , do you have a skype account? if yes, add me on claire.kirkup1
Kind Regards.

And then the second email where she asks for Western Union money transfers:

Hi dear flatmates to be,
Please find the attached document.
MY PASSPORT COPY AND SOME OF MY PICTURES.TENANCY AGREEMENT FOR YOU.
NOTE: I will want you to please keep these documents private and confidential.
You know these documents are my private life and i will be happy if you can keep them private and confidential.

You will need to go to the nearest western union or https://www.moneygram.com close to you and when you get there, you will ask for western union money transfer slip and tell them you want to transfer money to your relative to make the transfer charges cheaper. and let me know the amount of the transfer charges so that i can refund it back to you when you arrive.

You will fill the following details:

sender name:
receiver's name
sender address:
receiver's address:
Amount sent;

Scan the receipt of the transfer and send it to me as soon as the transfer is done to get your reservation receipt.
After making the payment of the first month rent and holding security deposit,our family lawyer will issue the reservation receipt and other document for you to bring along with you when you are coming to Bristol that is why i copy him this email.I will be very happy to have your flight details as soon as you book it, so that i can come and pick you up at your landed destination with my private car and take you to our flat

Best Regards
Claire

Then she sends pics of her with friends and a scan of her passport! How can I know if the passport was stolen or faked?
I think the person is real and would like to let her know that someone is using her details to scam people.

[AlanJones]

Hello CassieMoon and welcome to Scamwarners.

If you email the passport and the other pictures to me at the address in my signature, I will take a look at it.

I have just forwarded the passport scan!
Thank you!

[AlanJones]

Thanks for the scan



I can't make my mind up (hence I have obscured the number just in case) the colour of the font for the name is slightly darker than the other data and also misaligned. But, she claims to be half-Australian and the birth location "Newman" and fact it was issued by the FCO would tie up with that (and would probably be beyond a scammers' comprehension).

EDIT: For the purposes of Google, in case any other victims have been sent the same passport.

Fake, Lost or Stolen United Kingdom Passport Number 707030396

In your opion, considered the mails I have received, can it be a real scam?
Can the person have taken a real passport and claim to be this person?
I had suspicions as I couldn't find anything online about this Claire. I can understand if I cannot find things regarding some older person, but she claims to be 26, it is very unlikely she is not anywhere on the internet.
Anyway, as soon as I sent her an email telling her I knew she was trying to fool me, she stopped writing and never heard of her since.

But she's back on business as her profile with the rooms for rent is up again (and I flagged as scam!).

[AlanJones]

It is 100% a scam.

The passport will have come from a past victim who sent it to the scammer.

Thank you for your help!