by Michelle
Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:51 pm
On Sunday, 28 September 2014, Vivienne Mercier <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello,
The property is still available for rent. I am not planning to move back in the flat for the next 7-8 years therefore we can make a contract for any period you would like, but for 1 month at least. I am the owner of the flat and the property is not a flatshare. The rent is 400 pounds/month for the whole flat (the bills and taxes are included: electricity, gas, water, tv, internet, council tax) and after you will sign the contract you will pay for the first month of rent in advance, plus the refundable deposit of 400 pounds. The property is very clean and I want to leave it to a person who is a clean and a responsible tenant. As you can see in the photos everything is new. I am working in Denmark (Copenhagen) and I am here with my family. For me it is a bit hard to travel to London because of the location of my working place and I want to be sure that you are really interested in my offer. Regarding the meeting, I think we could plan an encounter when I can come to UK for the viewing. The property is fully furnished with all home utilities like: electric shower, vacuum cleaner, toaster, oven and microwave, dryer, iron, washing machine , refrigerator , dishwasher, heater, cable ready tv set and dvd player, internet connection, equipped kitchen.
I am waiting for your mail to know if you are satisfied with the details which I gave you, as well to make the necessary arrangements for the viewing. I am waiting for your response.
From: Vivienne Mercier <[email protected]>
Date: 1 October 2014 14:34
Subject: Re: one bedroom flat in Waterloo
To: Michelle Banks
Hi again,
Sorry for my late reply but I was very busy these days and today I check my email. I have attached some pictures of the flat, a map of the location, the floorplan and a copy of my passport. I work for Vestas Wind Systems and because of my special situation (being abroad) I need to be sure that you are a genuine interested tenant. I am willing to have you in my flat as long as you pay your rent but it is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to view my property without any form of confirmation of their financial ability has brought great loss to me. Some potential tenants do not have the money to pay their rent and yet they disturb the landlord to arrange a viewing. Also some people do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in their place of work by their employers and I cannot afford to find myself in a similar position. Therefore my lawyer and I have decided to carry out a simple test on financial ability before coming for the viewing. I am not asking you to send your bank statement and I definitely do not want to collect any money from you before the viewing.
This is what we can do:
You will make a money transfer to someone you know (it can be a family member) with name and address in UK using Western Union for 1 month rent and the deposit (that means 800 pounds) and send me the scanned receipt (I will pay you back the transfer fees, do not worry). As soon as I receive the scanned receipt I will forward it to my lawyer to verify if it is truly genuine (note that my lawyer must confirm the transfer valid before the receiver picks up the money). After my lawyer verifies the authenticity of the transfer, I will book a flight for UK and I will meet with you. When we will meet I will bring all the documents and legal papers certifying my ownership of the flat and also the tenancy agreement which we will both sign after you will see the flat. You will pay me only after you will see the flat and after you will read and sign the contract.
Western Union is an international money transfer service (money transfer from one person to another, not between bank accounts). You do not need an account with them and you do not need a bank account to make a transfer and the transfer only takes 10 minutes to make and you need an ID and the money. My lawyer instructed me to use Western Union because in this way we can have the confirmation of the money from a legit third party. The transfer is easy to make. You only have to find a Western Union office (you can find one at the local postal office). Or you can make the transfer online using the service "Money in minutes", with cash pickup for the receiver (not to a bank account - http://www.westernunion.co.uk/gb/bank-a ... -cash.page).
So all you have to do is to find a Western Union office and wire 800 pounds to a friend of yours and send me the scanned receipt. I am asking you this to be sure that I do not come in UK for nothing. I hope you can understand my situation.
Please understand that this money transfer by Western Union is not a payment for the flat, it will only prove to me that you are a serious and reliable person. I can come to London in 3-4 days after you make the transfer. I am waiting for your mail.
This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union, MoneyGram, pre-paid credit card 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.
