Rental Scammer - [email protected]

From: Samantha Hughes <[email protected]>
Date: 2014-12-10 11:02 GMT-06:00
Subject: Re: Room for rent in Glasgow west end
To:

Thanks for accepting the contract obligations. Please sign the last page of the Short Assured Tenancy Agreement and email to me the signed copy.

On the item #2.3 of the contract, you are required to pay an advance one month rent of 450pounds plus the security deposit of 500 pounds (Total: 950 pounds) to fully confirm your reservation for the said move in date. Once you have finalised the transfer, you will email to me the bank transfer confirmation screenshot/receipt for verification.

Here is my bank account details for the transfer;

Bank name: Natwest Bank
Acct name: T.S Hughes
account num. 34898212
sort code 56-00-55

Please email me with the transfer receipt once done.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm regards,

Samantha

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.

Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:27:18 +0000
Subject: Lovely double bed in Bristol Bs1 6Xf
From: [email protected]
To: Michelle Banks

Lovely double bed in this delightful two bedroom house located close to Clifton in Weare Court, Baltic Wharf. This property is a fantastic let for anyone commuting into Bristol City Centre. Maintained to a good standard, it comprises of: Two double bedrooms, en-suite bathroom, sitting room with access to a courtyard garden and kitchen with all white goods included. The property also benefits from underfloor heating in the kitchen and bathroom. The garden is a true delight and comes with a storage shed and bike shed and i agree to pay for a gardener to maintain three times per year. Suitable for a young couple or sharers. It is located on Canada Way, Bristol Bs1 6Xf

Rent: £450pcm
Refundable security deposit: £500

Including bills (gas, electricity, water and council tax, + free wifi) and there are no hidden fees!

Regards,

Samantha

Scammer using Fake Lost or Stolen Passport 850545805

i ve just got an email from her as well
I have asked for viewing, will see what she will reply....

Lovely double bed in Hendon Nw4 2Dg
Odebrane
x
Samantha Hughes <[email protected]>

Załączniki21:59 (1 godzinę temu)


Lovely double bed in this well presented two bedroom ground floor maisonette in Hendon. Accommodation comprises two double bedroom, ensuite bathroom, reception room and a separate fully fitted kitchen. The property also benefits shared use of the rear garden. It is located on Heriot Road, Hendon Nw4 2Dg

Rent - £500pcm
refundable security deposit - £400

Including bills (gas, electric, water and council tax, + free wifi)
and there are no hidden fees!

Regards,

Samantha
8 załączników

Hi All,

I posted an advert on gumtree yesterday looking for a 2-3 bedroom property in northampton and after a while received SMS from the number +441618503864 saying :

"Hi, I saw your ad on gumtree. I've an accomodation that suit your requirement . Reply with your email address so that I can forward the delails to you."

Then I've received the e-mail (screenshot below):

It looked too good to be true. "Alice Watson" told me she is looking for reliable people to rent her furnished flat to, as she's found a job in London and going to live there not less than 5 years. Please see her e-mails to me below:

​Hello Roman,

Thanks for your reply. The flat is available, i am renting the property out because i have just moved outside Northampton to start a new job in London where i currently work and live, i will be here for at least 5 years. I am not only after the rent but someone that could take good care of my flat and all the facilities present.

I am looking for a straight forward interested candidate because i have been disappointed in so many ways in the past. However, my solicitor would need some information from you to draft an Assured Short-Hold Tenancy Agreement which you will read, print and bring along with when you're coming for the viewing. Details needed are:

Your full name:
Current address:
Confirmed move in date:
Mobile number:

Please get back to me with these information so that i can tell you how to proceed. I have another interested candidate but she doesn't sound serious, she came for viewing 8 days ago but i think she didn't have enough money for the security deposit. Let me know if you have other options because i wouldn't want to schedule a viewing with you and get disappointed at the end of the day. Thanks for your interest.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Mrs Watson

​Hello Roman,

Thanks for the reply and information provided. I have forwarded your personal details to my solicitor in order to enable us with the tenancy agreement because you need to read it before we proceed with the necessities. I will get back to you as soon as i have received it from my solicitor in the next few hours.

Regards
Mrs Watson

​Hello Roman,

I received the contract from my solicitor, please find the enclosed document files with this email. Please read through the Assured Short-hold Tenancy Agreement and get back to me if you are okay with the obligations. However, my solicitor said there are 2 other interested candidates that love the flat and also willing to make a holding deposit to secure my flat but i declined because i wouldn't want to disappoint you..

At this stage, we can proceed with the viewing on Sunday at your own convenient time, I would need to come down to Northampton to take you round my flat but i have been disappointed in so many ways in the past, some prospective tenants do not have the money to pay the deposit yet they disturb the landlord to arrange a viewing and some do not meet up with the appointments.

Nevertheless, i will appreciate if you can make a holding deposit ( The security deposit ), you will pay the rent after the viewing or on your move in date. Making a deposit doesn't mean you must rent my flat after the viewing, if you decide not to proceed with the rent, then i will refund the deposit immediately without any deduction. Let me know if you are willing to proceed with the payment so that i can provide to you the bank account details.

Hope to read from you soon.

Regards
Mrs Watson

That looked too risky for me to send 500 quid to a person I've never seen who found me with an awesome accommodation without any guarantees so I've asked her for a copy of ID and prove that she's actual landlord of the flat:

​Thanks for getting back to me, we can proceed with the viewing Sunday but you need to make a holding deposit as i stated in my previous email. I would like you to know that i am not after your hard earn money, i have my own work and also earn enough money for my family.

Private landlords are guided by law under the housing act. Private Landlords don't advertise what they don't have. The flat in the photo is exactly what you are coming to see.

Nevertheless, i am willing to send a scan copy of my ID and also the Certificate of Ownership which shows that i am the owner of the property. Making a deposit is to verify your sincere interest in renting my flat and if you decide not to proceed with the rent after the viewing, i will refund the deposit back to you without any deduction.
Hope to read from you soon.

Regards
Mrs Watson

After that I decided to do a bit research on that name and found the post on gumtree warning people that Alice Watson is a scammer. Please see the link below:
https://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-and-house-for-rent-wanted/scam-warning-landlord-alice-watson-is-a-scammer-/1149723955

Tonight she sent me a scanned copies of: "Her" passport and Ownership certificate, please see both below:



I've used online search for similar images and uploaded "her" passport copy there, then....

I've found this post.
The same photo, different name, different expiry date (another thing that has alerted me, as who sends you a copy of expired ID). Thanks to the author of this post, I hope my short story will help somebody too.
I'm currently still writing with "Mrs Alice Watson" and asked her to send me the bank details for money transfer, the reply below:

​Hello Roman,

Thanks for getting back to me, yes we can proceed with the viewing tomorrow at your own convenient time, you will bring 2 passport photograph along with you when coming for the viewing because my solicitor need to be present during the viewing.

However, you'll transfer the security deposit into my solicitor's account, he will bring the cash deposit together with the stamped tenancy agreement during the viewing tomorrow. Here's the account details below:

Bank name: Natwest Bank
Acct name: Vasco A S Caveiro
Acct no: 40193586
Sort code: 60 20 31
account noted MW
I will be looking forward to receive the transfer confirmation soon so that i can notify my solicitor.

Regards
Mrs Watson

Name: Mrs Alice Watson
Number: +441618503864
E-mail: [email protected]

SCAMMER!! BE CAREFUL!