by Con Warner
Sun Feb 09, 2014 8:34 am
****
Transaction # 5W4PE1OHSQ9R
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.
Transaction # 5W4PE1OHSQ9R
From: COLUMBIA TRANSPORT INC. - INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDER
Sent: 02/07/14 11:11
To: Con Warner
Subject: Invoice
Columbia Transport
Since 1982, shipping the best of Italy to you
Columbia Transport is a full service international freight forwarder, specializing in shipping commercial cargo from and to Italy by air and by ocean. Moving Cargo In and Out of Italy is Our Business. Door to door service, competitive pricing and dedicated service is our guarantee.
Columbia Transport started on April 1982 with one specific goal: to provide the highest quality international transportation services to our worldwide clients. Our company was founded by Mr. Giovanni De Luca, who was inspired by the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first orbiter to fly into space in 1981. To us, this name represents the spirit of conquest, innovation and a continuous effort to go beyond current service limits. During the past thirty years of hard work and commitment, our management team and staff believe that we have achieved significant success by providing our highest quality services in response to our customers’ needs worldwide. For the future, our passion will continue to feed our commitment to providing increasingly effective solutions for your shipping needs. We look forward to celebrating our next 30 years by successfully serving all our clients just as we have in the past.
Since 1982, we have helped our clients ship their goods between Italy and worldwide locations by also reducing the high cost of transportation.
Dear Con Warner,
We are pleased to inform you that the package is in our custody and pending payment verification. This email confirms that you were successfully registered as a tenant.
Your transaction manager is Arturo Catala.
Transaction Status: Open
Transaction date: 2/7/2014
Transaction # 5W4PE1OHSQ9R
Country of origin: Italy
Country of destination: Canada
Shipping Status: Waiting for delivery
Payment Status: Pending
Columbia Transport reduces risks associated with Internet transactions by acting as a licensed, trusted, neutral third party for on-line transactions.
The landlord leaves the package into our custody.
The package will remain in our custody until the tenant provides the payment information to our department.
The payment will be made to our manager.
Once the funds are verified by our department, the package will be sent to the tenant.
If the tenant will not be satisfied with the property, Columbia Transport will send the keys back to the landlord. Also the payment will be sent back to the tenant.
The landlord will receive the payment only if the tenant will contact us and tell us that will keep the property.
Columbia Transport acts as a third party holding at the same time the package and the payment.
After the package is received by the tenant, the tenant will have two business days to review the property.
If the tenant decides to keep the property, the tenant will instruct us to release the funds to the landlord.
If for any reason the tenant does not want to keep it, the tenant will ask Columbia Transport for a refund.
The refund procedure is very simple, the tenant will receive the money from us through Bank to Bank Wire Transfer, Check, MoneyGram or by Western Union Money Transfer. The refund method is at the tenant's choice.
Landlord
First name
Mike
Last name
Leeson
Address
Via Senofane Isola, 37
City/State
Rome
Postal code
00125
Country
Italy
The package must be sent to
*Removed*
The landlord is unable to receive any information regarding the payment data. We will hold the payment until you will send us your confirmation that you are satisfied with the property. As soon we receive your confirmation we will forward the payment to the landlord.
Columbia Transport - Tracking Number | xxxxxxxxxxx
The Tracking Number will be activated after the payment is verified and then, the parcel will be in transit.
Once you will receive our email, you have to contact us and tell us when you will send the payment! The payment details are confidential and will not be released under any circumstances. Our customer chose this payment method in order to speed up the transaction. Columbia Transport security measures are constantly reviewed and modified given evolving circumstances globally, drawing on both internal assessments and the support of government agencies. Our constant priority is for the safety of our people, our customers, and the general public. Columbia Transport always tries to fulfill its customers' needs.
Shipment details
Packaged and inspected by Columbia Transport Service
All the papers are double checked
Verified signed by the landlord
Columbia Transport is dedicated to delivering your parcels with speed and care. During the some of the transit process that we offer parcels may be handled several times. It is therefore important that all items are adequately packed. Columbia Transport have some tips that will help you make sure your package arrives at its destination in the best possible condition and on time. Columbia Transport also offer a packing service and can supply you with the relevant material.
Billing information for the shipment
Payment status
Pending
Amount to be paid by the tenant
CAD 550.00 / Amount insured
Ready to ship
The price includes shipping and insurance fees
Payment method
Cash / All currencies in CAD / EUR
Service
Door-to-door / Delivering worldwide
Delivered by
I.A.T.A. 2nd day delivery
Tips & Warnings
This communication contains proprietary business information and may contain confidential information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately destroy, discard, or erase this communication.
Columbia Transport
Since 1982, shipping the best of Italy to you
We have grown up in the shipping world: we are well aware that the needs of individuals and companies change from day to day. What we offer is not a single solution, but expert staff that have received specific training and a range of advanced services, ready to handle the unexpected and to cater to new needs.
This is not just our opinion. For a number of years Columbia Transport has been meeting customer satisfaction goals and complying with methods laid down by standard UNI EN ISO 9001. The meeting of these standards is assessed every year by a certifying authority, which passes judgement on the express courier service, the urban motorcycle courier service and the distribution of parcels.
We are a team of professionals always ready to assist you. All service information, quote requests, or questions about payment method are taken care of by by one of our agents.
Please get in touch with us at [email protected] for any further information, we will be glad to give you as soon as possible and totally free, best answers.
Milan office
Headquarter of Columbia Transport s.r.l.
Address: Via Giovanni XXIII, 24; 20090 Rodano (MI) Italy
Tel.: 0295328598 Fax: 0295328745
R.e.a. MI 1214098
VAT: IT 08256590152
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.
