Rental Scam Oxford: [email protected]

Hello everyone,

I am a French student looking for accommodation in Oxford.

I want to report a scam from Sarah Blaney for this ad http://www.spareroom.co.uk/3746477/.
She appears under the name of Sarah Fanny on the website.
Her e-mail address: [email protected]
This flat is really cheap for the price of the city, really well located and looks really nice with professional pictures, looks big.
I contacted the "landlady". These are some bits of our conversation:

"Please, i want you to note that i am a kind and
honest person,also i spent a lot of money on my property that i want to
rent out. Am soliciting for your absolute maintenance of this Flat and
want you to treat it as your own,I hope you understand that!!.I want you to keep it clean and tidy always and I will
be glad if you are able to fulfill that at the end of your stay in my
flat,that is the reason i decided making the rent affordable."

"let me know how
soon you are willing to move in, as I am deciding very
soon on who to lease my flat too."

"you will have to read/sign the lease agreement contract form which I'll scan and email to you in other to secure the my flat for you, I will like to share about my past bitter experience of reserving and inviting people to come and view my flat without any form of
confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when
scheduled, has brought about great loss to me, is either they cannot afford the
rent or the security deposit required but want me to come up with the aim of
renegotiating.

Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet they disturb
the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or relative who are
in Bristol,also some do not meet up with the appointments
which has lead to the dismissal of some landlords in office by there employees.

I 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. In this case, a bank-statement or guarantee from your
organization wont be accepted as we have had wayward tenants tendering
fake documents."

I have reported the ad to SpareRoom.co.uk and they confirmed that it was a strongly suspected scam.

Rotifere

It is indeed a scam. The writing is that of a West African, not someone who grew up in England, and the script is similar to other rental scams such as viewtopic.php?f=39&t=91930.

She definitely remember you! Attempted to com me using probably you as my posible flatmate!
Please read carefully:

1st email
Amelia. B Blaney <[email protected]>
To [email protected]
Hello,

Thanks for your email and the interest in my flat.
I am the owner of the Flat,I formally reside in the Flat with my
kids,before I was transferred to Manchester due to my work.It is fully
furnished but we can get it unfurnished for you if you prefer that.

Below is the details of the flat before we proceed.
Flat address: Colchester Street, Coventry
Post Code: CV1 5NZ
Rent: £399 per month,all bills included for a room
expect car parking space.
Security deposit:£500 refundable after your stay
in the flat.
Minimum Stay: 1 Month(s)
Maximum stay:1 yr with the option of extending the
contract after 12 months
Flat amenities:TV ,CD - DVD - Video,Radio,High-speed
Internet with
WiFi,Washing Machine ,dryer, Heating, iron and Ironing
board,Gas cooker,oven, Electric.Kettle,Toaster,Dishwasher,Refrigerator,Microwave e.t.c.

Please, i want you to note that i am a kind and
honest person,also i spent a lot of money on my property that i want to
rent out. Am soliciting for your absolute maintenance of this Flat and
want you to treat it as your own,I hope you understand that!!.I want you to keep it clean and tidy always and I will
be glad if you are able to fulfill that at the end of your stay in my
flat,that is the reason i decided making the rent affordable..

Can you kindly answer these following questions:Where are you currently
located and What are your full names?your nationality?your
profession?how long have you been in the United Kingdom?
what would the start/end dates be,living in the apartment?
Short term stay,payment will be paid at once.
Long term stay,payment will be made on a monthly basis.
let me know how soon you are willing to move in, as I am deciding very
soon on who to lease my flat too.
Thanks for your interest.
Best Regards,
Amelia
N:B Attached is my flat pics...

And affter my questions she said:

Amelia. B Blaney <[email protected]>

Hello Vasilis,

A French female professional Laura Zenden(from Paris 25yrs) she has been living in the UK (Oxford)for the past 3 years,but her current contract will expire 19th of September she will be relocating to Coventry,she will be the one you will share the flat with.
She is a video game programmer,working on engines and tools for making video games,she will be moving to Coventry 19th of September because she got a job offer from a major video game studio there.

You will have access to your own private bathroom,the apartment has two bathrooms,no problem if you prefer the room with black bed it will be reserved.

I have attached you with the Tenancy agreement contract form to read/sign and email back to me in other to seal the contract and have the room reserved for you pending when we meet in Coventry.

You will have to proceed with the payment of £899 which stands for a month rent and the security deposit to my bank account for me to sure that you are capable and interested in renting the flat.

Once payment is made a copy of the Sealed Tenancy agreement contract will be email to you along with a receipt showing for your payment and note you are to come along with this documents upon meeting.

I only want to be sure that i am not going to waste my time this time around and i think with this condition, both of us can be sure we are not wasting our time.

Kind Regards,

Amelia