Fake Escrow Service - [email protected]

Below is an example email from a scammer who claims to be using Realtor.com as an escrow service for property keys.

Realtor.com do not work this way!
They do not offer this service!

They do not have agents who accept payments via Western Union or any other cash transfer.
In fact, Realtor.com do not accept payments at all.

If you were to follow the instructions of this person, you money will be stolen.

From: REALTOR.com Customer Care <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Feb 15, 2015 at 6:37 PM
Subject: Welcome to REALTOR.com - Invoice ID: #KMM12907183I15977L0HG

Invoice ID #KMM12907183I15977L0HG - Pending

nvoice ID: #KMM12907183I15977L0HG
Transaction Date: Sunday, February 15, 2015
Contract Duration: 1 year

Home Owner's Details:

Full name
Brian D. Reynolds
Address
123-125, Ladbroke Road
City
London
Postal Code
W11 3PU
Country
United Kingdom



Prospective Tenant's Details:

Full name
Michelle Banks

419 Ruse De la Remarks

*****************************************************************
Service:
Handled by:
Realtor.com - Online

DHL Express Shipping
Guaranteed delivery:
24 hours after Payment Confirmation
Description of Goods:
Apartment and Interphone/Digiphone Keys, Viewing Permit,
Additional Services:
None
Inspection:
Guaranteed by Realtors International

Delivery:
$ 0.00
* *Note: Delivery expenses are covered by the home owner.
*****************************************************************
Service Information:
Tracking Number: Pending
back to homepage
Package Information:
Property keys and rental contract verified by Realtor.and signed by Brian D. Reynolds, Owner of property in question, located at this address:

3621 Newark Street NW #201 , Washington , DC 20016 United States

Declared Monthly Rent Value: $ 950.00
Warranty Value to PAY : $ 950.00
Total Amount To Pay: 1.900.00 - Representing Rent Payment For 1 Month + Bond
Delivery Costs: $ 0.00
*****************************************************************

Payment Information and Instructions
How to make the payment to our agent?
Western Union
You can pay with cash at any Western Union Office and have payment sent to the Realtor.com Agent. That frees the seller to confidently send you the keys and documents - saving you days of waiting

It's Easy:
Visit any one of Western Union nearly 45,000 Agent locations and fill out the appropriate Western Union form to send your payment in cash.
Your payment is typically sent within minutes . usually faster than paying with Money Orders or COD.

It's Convenient:
There are nearly 45,000 Western Union Agent locations nationwide. Many are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Several IDs and utility bills are required before the funds are paid. Therefore, no one else only the agent Realtor.com can pick up the money. Your payments cannot be lost in the mail, like money orders or check

Make the payment using money transfer to our Realtor.com Agent name listed below and send the total amount of $950.00

Full name
Willie Chan Kimble
Address
28 Lansdowne Ln
City
London
Postal Code
SE7 8TJ
Country
United Kingdom

E-mail us the transfer details for the verification with the following information from the Western Union receipt by replying to this message:

* 10 digit, MTCN number
* Sender's, full name and address
* Receiver's full name
* The total amount you've sent
* Total amount received in pounds ( GBP)


* *We strongly recommend that you confirm the payment by both e-mail and fax.

Once you've completed the payment, please send us the payment details for verification as soon as possible to email address: http://[email protected]

Note: To avoid Western Union fees you will have to declare at the Western Union office that the money will be sent for a relative or friend (the transfer commission will be smaller 3~5%). For online payments, you could pay 10~12% transfer commission. The payment must be made at a Western Union Agency, in person,with cash by the Tenant. We can't confirm any payments made online.
*****************************************************************
Important notice:
Once the payment is done and the verification is complete, we will proceed with the delivery of the package.We will inform the Home Owner that the payment was sent and that the package was delivered as soon as we get the payment confirmation. Just follow the instructions above.
Realtor.com goal is for every online transaction to go as planned safely and without surprises. We have verified the Landlord’s identity, financial stability, and ability to honor their rent terms and conditions.
If the Landlord does not meet the terms of transaction, you will get a full refund. Guaranteed. Best of all, the Realtor.com. Service is completely free to you. The refund is sent to your bank account, or by check or money order. The way you receive the refund is your choice. Refund requests are processed within 24 hours .
The Landlord delivers the package to Realtor.com for full evaluation of content. Realtor.com offer you a 3 days inspection period, so if by the reason you refuse the property, Realtor.com will return the money to you.
The payment details are confidential and will not be released under any circumstances.

Help
If you have an additional question about this transaction, email us at Customer Support or just reply to this email.

* Keep this email for your records

Sincerely,
Willie Chan Kimble
Customer Care Representative
REALTOR.com Customer Care