by Michelle
Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:46 am
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010
From: [email protected]
Subject: R: Reply to your ad: flat to rent in Plymouth
To: Michelle
Hello,
Thanks for your email. I hope you understand my English . Excuse me if I make mistakes but my English not so good. First I want to provide some information.
I live with my family in Italy . I work here in Italy, I have a 5 year contract with a big company . I work as engineer in construction . The flat was at my uncle who unfortunately which is no longer among us because he had a serious accident . I am the only relative survivors and this flat is now mine. My wife does not want to sell the flat and I decided together to rent this flat . Is a beautiful apartment situated in Ebrington Street, Plymouth , in excellent condition, fully furnished and equipped . There is internet connection, phone, washing machine with dryer, cable TV and most important parking place. The rent is £480 per month including all bills and council tax . You can rent the flat as long as you need to stay but minimum 6 months . The first payment will be for 2 months £960 (one month is in advance £480 and the rest £480 is a guarantee for my flat ) . This money £480 you will get back when we finish the contract if the flat is in good condition . In case you want it, let me know so we can arrange the transaction. Accept families with children I also accept animals (dogs, cats). I do not want people just referenced. I want to rent this flat a family that is really needed which do not damage and for that i don't ask for a big rental amount .
I will wait your email so i know if you are interested to rent this flat .
Thanks ,
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 11:02:47 +0000
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: R: Reply to your ad: flat to rent in Plymouth
To: Michelle
Hello,
As you can see on this pictures the flat is fully furnished and equipped with everything you need to live decently .
I tried to rent this apartment but I had a bad experience. Two weeks ago I was contacted from a person interested to rent the flat and made me come in U.K. and spend money for the flying tickets, I finally arrived in U.K. and I waited two days and this person has never arrived and I responded more to the phone and my email ...
I'm working here in Italy and is very hard for me to come in UK. I can't take the risk to leave my new job for days and when I arrive in UK to see that I come for nothing. I want to be 100% sure that when I will meet you, we do the rent papers then i can come back in Italy.
So i can be sure of that look how we can do:
You make an deposit with the money that you will pay me for 2 months rent thats means £960 using Western Union . You will find an Western Union agency , go there and send the money to an your best friend name or an your familiar name but in Italy . Once the payment is made you will send me the scanned receipt paper from Western Union ( PRINTED RECEIPT COPY OF THE TRANSFER ) by email so i know the payment is made . In this way i'm sure you have all the money to rent my flat . As soon as I see the scanned receipt that you have made the payment, I will come in UK and you will see the flat and rent it . After the rental contract is signed , we will go together at the Western Union office and you will change the receivers name to my name so i can pick up the money when i will be in Italy .
So all you have to do is to find a Western Union office and wire £960 from your name to your friend name and send the scanned receipt . I am asking you this to be sure that I do not come in UK for nothing . I hope you understand.
As I told you,I have a lot of customers interested to rent the apartment. I will reserve the apartment to the first one that provides me the scanned paper from Western Union. As soon as I have the confirmation from Western Union that the money are available I stop the transactions with all the other customers!
If you accept my conditions I wait your e-mail. I don't want you to feel offended if i'll not answer you in case of a negative answer,because I don't see the reason why we should continue to write eachother,since I will not accept any other way to close the deal.
Respectfully!
Franz
The thief will tell you that you can rent his accommodation only if you can prove that you have genuine interest. He will ask you send money by wire transfer (normally Western Union) to yourself or a member of the family to show that you have sufficient finances and that you are not a "time waster".
Another variation of this scam is that you need to send money (again via Western Union) in order that the keys and other documents can be couriered to you
He will ask you to send him the transfer details.
Make no mistake ! Western Union Transfers can be picked up virtually anywhere in the world and with the minimum of identification. They are almost impossible to trace once the money has been collected. You will never get to see the accommodation or your money again.
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 Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment by Western Union 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.
