by Michelle
Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:03 am
From: Martins S < [email protected] >
Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
To: Michelle
Hello,
Thanks so much for the interest in my Apartment,Am an engineer, Presently am in West africa to make some research and i will be needing a room mate who will take care of the apartment while am away and when i need to come in i can also have a place to stay, i am looking for a responsible and clean room mate that will take good care of my apartment.
Below is the address of the apartment so that you van go and check out the exterior, get back to me as soon as you check out the place and let me know if you wish to proceed in renting my room so that i can send the interior pics to you and the application form .
Location : 90 Sciarappa St, Cambridge, MA 02141
Hope to read from you soon
Have a wonderful day
Best regards
From: Martins S < [email protected] >
Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 4:38 PM
To: Michelle
Hello ,
How are you doing ? Nice to read from you .. The rent is available for long and short term rent ... As you can read from my previous mail am not available to show you the interior in person .The rent is $500 per month including the utilities fee while the deposit is $300 which is refundable at the end of the rent .High Speed Internet Access .. WiFi and cable is there .. Its two bedrooms apartment but am letting out just a room . I tried to look for an agent that I could give the document & the keys before I left but could not find any as a matter of urgency. And I don't want home misused in my absence that is why I took the keys and documents along with me. So I hope you will promise me to take very good care of the apartment always.
Attached are the interior pictures for you to have an idea how beautiful and spacious the inside looks, I will like you to get back to me with your final decision after viewing the interior pictures and let me know if you are interested in proceeding with the rental so that I can forward the application form to you.
I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.
Regards
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 (by Western Union) money 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.
