by Mary Al
Tue Jan 06, 2015 11:16 am
Hello everyone,
I was looking for an apartment in Montreal (Canada) in the international quarter of the city. I found a very nice condominium in a few rental websites. Answered the announce asking to visit the apartment in 445 Avenue Viger O Montréal, QC H2S 1G6. And next day I received this email:
At this point I did not see it as a scam yet, because I never encountered similar situations and I was not aware of this kind of fraud. That's why we all end up here reporting it, right?
He/She kept sending nice emails, booking our visit for the week after. As proof of their honesty, he asked me to prepare the Moneygram transfer and keep the receipt with me. He would just ask me the Moneygram transfer info (codes, etc) after visiting the apartment, in case we were pleased with it. Sounded honest to me at this point.
On the day of the visit, he called me, talking nice and politely, asking me to read his last email, where he was instructing me to access the Moneygram webpage and go through the 'verification' option, in order for him to be sure I prepared the transfer. But the link he sent was a fraud, not the official Moneygram website, asking all the information of the transfer. This way he would get our money and disappear. This is his last email:
Of course I figured it out by now. So I tell him on the phone 'Give me a few moments, I will read your email carefully and I will call you back'. And he insisted that I should read it and click on the link following his instructions during the phone call.
I ended up threatening him on the phone, telling him I would report him to the police and he started yelling at me on the phone challenging me to do so.
Looks pretty clear that this was a scam since the beginning. But for someone not used to this kind of fraud, was easy to become a victim. Even though we're alert and smart, we all have bad days and we can't figure out things clearly.
Fortunately I was not a victim. But I was close to it.
Hope that this can help someone else! Please be careful. Always ask for the ID of the owner and proof of property. And inform yourself about the red flags of scams of all kind. Investigate emails, numbers, names, facebook accounts, etc.
I leave here all the information from this scam/fraud in his emails:
Scam/fraud name: Mme Alvyne cyrielle GALLAND
Scam/fraud name: Mr Mme Galland
Scam/fraud name: Lucrece Galland
Scam/fraud name: Lucrece Pastriot
Scam/fraud name: Antoine OKPO
Scam/fraud address: Avenue Hotel Benin Marine, Code post 00229, City: Cotonou, Country: Benin
Scam/fraud apartment address: 445 Avenue Viger O Montréal, QC H2Z 1G6 CANADA
Scam/fraud email: [email protected]
Scam/fraud number: (00229) 99 90 64 44
Take care.
I was looking for an apartment in Montreal (Canada) in the international quarter of the city. I found a very nice condominium in a few rental websites. Answered the announce asking to visit the apartment in 445 Avenue Viger O Montréal, QC H2S 1G6. And next day I received this email:
"|Google translate: French to English| Good Morning,
I just take notice of your email describing your interest in renting our downtown Grand 4 1/2, 2 bedrooms at: 445 Avenue Viger Montreal, QC H2X 1G6. The apartment is already free to be leased with option to rent furnished or not your preference, it is conventionné you could benefit from AID TO SOCIAL HOUSING if you already have.
Description of the accommodation (Photos attached parts)
Condo 2 bedroom European style! beautifully designed on 2 floors located in the international district of Montreal. sunny, high ceilings, fireplace, hardwood floors and terrace. fully furnished with all services included, as well as a private gym. Luxury awaits you !!!
Fully furniture luxury Unite
Security Guard
private terrace
gym
Dogs and cats are accepted
acceptable animals
Washer / dryer
Dishwasher entry
Possib. Parking: Yes
In fact we decided to rent SLOT for job reasons (husband was asked for a new job in Benin) in Benin is therefore now with all our family and that for 9 years at least, we do not want that the apartment was abandoned during that time is our motto for this rental property. So we do not offer for rent to make us necessarily money but rather we aim maintenance during our absence. This is what also explains the fact that we have set the rent at a flat rate of $ 950 inclusive.
My husband is ready to organized a meeting with you if your application gets our attention.
The following information is required for the tour pending approval of your application by us:
NAME:
FIRST NAME:
TEL:
City Current Residence:
REASON FOR RENT:
INCOME Monthly:
TERM LEASE REQUIRED:
Number Of capita (s): (Specify if you have pets)
Who Will pay the rent ??? :
Availability for a visit:
GARANT: (If you do not have a contract of employment or therefore income)
PS / 1- The rental kit must be received by mail before confirmation came from my husband if your application is accepted.
2- SOCIAL AID TO HOUSING accepted only after an interview.
3- A deposit must be paid to the visit after the signing of the lease if your application is approved.
Mr. and Mrs. "
At this point I did not see it as a scam yet, because I never encountered similar situations and I was not aware of this kind of fraud. That's why we all end up here reporting it, right?
He/She kept sending nice emails, booking our visit for the week after. As proof of their honesty, he asked me to prepare the Moneygram transfer and keep the receipt with me. He would just ask me the Moneygram transfer info (codes, etc) after visiting the apartment, in case we were pleased with it. Sounded honest to me at this point.
On the day of the visit, he called me, talking nice and politely, asking me to read his last email, where he was instructing me to access the Moneygram webpage and go through the 'verification' option, in order for him to be sure I prepared the transfer. But the link he sent was a fraud, not the official Moneygram website, asking all the information of the transfer. This way he would get our money and disappear. This is his last email:
"|Google translate: French to English| Re,
Please excuse me for the trouble I make you suffer but understand that these are provisions that allow us to avoid the jokes as part of the proper conduct of the meeting and for confirmation that the money is well moneygram online before my trip. This forces you also made the trip as agreed. We are really pleased that this property will soon lead to the delight of everyone of us. To save time and have a real confirmation, we will proceed with the online verification of the mandate. You are going to follow some instructions for the confirmation.
These instructions once followed and confirmed certify that the required is because I just waiting confirmation for the visit and the eventual signing of the lease contract.
For instructions, you must do so online tracking warrant (ie verification) to give us final confirmation through the online tracking service by mail. To do this, you click the moneygram link to go directly to the home page moneygram
http:// moneygrams .twomini .com/
Once on the page, click on the tab (Check online transfer) and then fill the verification form. After all this you click "Check" and you will receive an email in your email address by post confirming that the mandate was actually made and secure. Because we want to ensure that you will have to give us a valid receipt reassuring that funds are deposited with moneygram and secure.
Thank you for understanding "
Of course I figured it out by now. So I tell him on the phone 'Give me a few moments, I will read your email carefully and I will call you back'. And he insisted that I should read it and click on the link following his instructions during the phone call.
I ended up threatening him on the phone, telling him I would report him to the police and he started yelling at me on the phone challenging me to do so.
Looks pretty clear that this was a scam since the beginning. But for someone not used to this kind of fraud, was easy to become a victim. Even though we're alert and smart, we all have bad days and we can't figure out things clearly.
Fortunately I was not a victim. But I was close to it.
Hope that this can help someone else! Please be careful. Always ask for the ID of the owner and proof of property. And inform yourself about the red flags of scams of all kind. Investigate emails, numbers, names, facebook accounts, etc.
I leave here all the information from this scam/fraud in his emails:
Scam/fraud name: Mme Alvyne cyrielle GALLAND
Scam/fraud name: Mr Mme Galland
Scam/fraud name: Lucrece Galland
Scam/fraud name: Lucrece Pastriot
Scam/fraud name: Antoine OKPO
Scam/fraud address: Avenue Hotel Benin Marine, Code post 00229, City: Cotonou, Country: Benin
Scam/fraud apartment address: 445 Avenue Viger O Montréal, QC H2Z 1G6 CANADA
Scam/fraud email: [email protected]
Scam/fraud number: (00229) 99 90 64 44
Take care.
Last edited by Mary Al on Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:25 pm, edited 4 times in total.
