is this a scam? Rental of service apartment.

Hi everyone...
recently i try to find service apartment for rent in malaysia(short term rental). While searching for it in through
the web. i just email nearly all possible rental service apartment which i cross in the searching. The next day mostly all i email get back to me either by phone or email. Yeah they say for short term rental was nearly impossible unless they have available one. Mostly the tenure will be 1 year contract.
I also received 1 email which said i can rent the apartment for RM1200 per month. because of the apartment was in the middle of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, if we can rent with that kind of rate per month, it can be great because the apartment was fully furniture. but right now i m still asking myself is this true or not....
Maybe somebody can advice me 'ABOUT THIS'.... Please read the email i received from the owner. Is it true or is it just Scamming to get money.

1st email:
Thank you for your interest.As you can see I have available the apartment located in A-31-5 Hamsphire Residences No 2A, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, with 2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom, 985 sq.ft., because I moved with my job in United Kingdom, Sheffield and I need money to pay the rent here.Hampshire Place is a luxurious residential residing within the KLCC vicinity along Persiaran Hampshire.It is situated facing Megan Avenue and Menara Asia Life, and between 2 Hampshire and Hampshire Park.I purchased this nice apartment during a business trip to Malaysia with the intention of renovating it to a luxury state, then reselling it, but due to the market blockage and the international crisis, it is impossible for me to sell it right now, so I've decided to rent it.I would be happy to rent it to somebody who likes keeping it clean and tidy.I can rent you the flat for 5 years, and, if after the five years you would like to stay more, then we can renew the contract.I can also rent it for short periods (2 months minimum).The rent for 1 month is 1200RM including all utilities (cold/hot water, electricity, wireless Internet, digital TV, 1 parking spot ,air conditioning, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine).You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I `m the only person who have the keys but I hope that we will find a compromise.
Thank you for your interest and I will look forward to hearing from you soon.
Good luck,


Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:49:18 +0000
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: For Rent: 2 Hampshire, KLCC


azhari is interested in this property. az could be reached @ XXXXXX


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2nd Email:

Hi,

Thank you for your reply but the matter is that I'm in Sheffield already. Like I have inform you before, the price you shall pay for one month of rent will be 1200RM, with no extra taxes to pay. The money, I want to revive it monthly to my bank account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money to my bank account. The apartment is ready for you, you will need only to receive the keys and the contract to check it, and see if you like it.
Obviously we need a way to complete this deal, that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after. In order of that I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days, if you move fast as well. The solution is provided by a company called TNT which is similar to FedEx, DHL or UPS, which will handle both payment and delivery of the Keys.
I have found a procedure that will allow you to pay for the rent of the apt only after you will receive the keys of it and through this way you will see it and decide if you will stay in the apt or not before I receive my payment.Please click on the link bellow to the TNT website to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained: http://www.tnt.com/express/en_gb/site/h ... ivery.html
Let me know if you are interested please because I really need to take care of this matter by the end of this week or the beginning of the next one.

3rd email:

Hi ,

I want to inform you that TNT will hold the money until you will confirm to them that you like the apt and keep the keys. If you don't like it, you only have to return the keys to them after they will refund the money to you and they will deliver the keys back to me on my expense.
I will need to inform you the steps about how this service works and how we can make it happen. You will only have to deposit to TNT Service 1 month of rent + 1 month of warranty ( 1200RM + 1200RM = 2400RM ) ! ( but that month of warranty you will receive back after you finish the contract) - so they can proceed with the shipping, and you can receive the keys and the contract.
Like I said, I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the Keys and the contract signed by me right away. I will explain to you step by step how this will work:
1 - Ton, full name, full shipping addre start this transaction i will need to know your full shipping informatioss to proceed with this deal .
2 - I go to the TNT Office and leave the Keys and the contract in your name as the intended receiver.
3 - TNT will check the envelope to see if everything is OK with it and also the legal papers that will come along with the Keys.
4 - TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody, in which you will be told that they have the Keys and that they checked it.
5 - At this point you will have to go to a WesternUnion Agent Location and make a money transfer deposit on the TNT agent name assigned with this transaction for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit is 2400RM.
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the infos about the money deposit to TNT (Reference Number, sender's name and address)
7 - TNT will verify the payment informations and if everything is in order they will deliver the Keys and the contract to you .
8 - After you receive the package, You will go and check the apt and in 2 days you must contact them and tell them if you keep the apt or not, if everything is in order you will instruct TNT to release the funds to me.
If you don't like the apt they will send your money back and you will send them the keys and the contract to them to return the package back to me on my expense.

I will pay TNT Service for the shipping and you will pay WesternUnion for the Money Transfer fees.

Now i must know for sure if you agree because here are a lot of peoples interested to have this apartment rented and i want to know for sure what i must tell them. If you agree what i suggested i will tell them that my apartment is already rented and i will keep it for you. If you agree then i must have all the shipping details so i will be able to make all the arrangements for the TNT delivery.

Thank you for your interest and wait news from you.

4th email:

Hi ,

I will make all the arrangements for the TNT transaction today.
TNT will notify you after that and you will have all the details of their cashier in the notification. You must complete and confirm the western union money transfer to their cashier as soon as you receive the notification. TNT will verify your transfer details and they will start the delivery to you if everything will be in order with it. You will receive the package in max 48 hours after that.
I will get back to you after the delivery will be arranged.
Thanks!

5th email - notification from TNT service




Welcome to TNT Global Air Express
Our company is the WORLD market leader in Global Air Express and international mail services.


14.09.2011

Third Party Service reduces risks associated with Internet transactions by acting as a licensed neutral third party for online transactions. The seller delivers the package to one of nearest TNT Global Air Express agents for the evaluation of contents. The package will remain in the company custody until the receiver will send the payment through a Money Order Service (WesternUnion Service). After verifying the funds, TNT Global Air Express is ready to ship the parcel to the designated address.

NOTE: We order to avoid the earlier pick up of the funds by the shipper based on fact that he is aware of the sent payment - we are thanking you for choosing our third party service for your transactions - which will be revealed to the shipper along with all the transaction details after the delivery and your clearance. Consider this security measure if you haven't bought from the seller before and you believe that this is in your best interest.


Address Information:

Ship To:

First name
xx
Last name
xx
Address
xxx
xxr
PostalCode
xx
Country
xx


Shipper:

First name
xx
Last name
xx
Address
xx
City/State
xx
PostalCode
xx
Country
xx




Shipment Information:

Service
TNT Global Air Express
Delivered By
2 days



Description of goods
Apartment Keys and rental contract verified signed by the Sender. Owner of the apartment in:
A-31-5 Hamsphire Residences No 2A, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.All the papers are double checked.
Declared Value
MYR 2400.00
Shipping Costs

MYR 0.00

NOTE: You will receive the Tracking Number after the payment is confirmed to us.


Package Information:

Apartment Keys and rental contract verified signed by the Sender. Owner of the apartment in: A-31-5 Hamsphire Residences No 2A, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.All the papers are double checked.

Insured Value Amount: MYR 2400.00



Payment Information:

Important!
Payment information: (How to pay)
Locate the nearest WesternUnion Office nearest you : (available here)
Make the payment using money transfer to our TNT Agent name listed below and send the total amount of : MYR 2400.00

First name
xx
Last name
xx
Address
xx
City/State
xx
PostalCode
xx
Country

xx

Pay for the transfer with cash at a local WesternUnion agent.
After the payment is made please Fax the WesternUnion payment receipt to the following fax number: 0044 11 4207 0388 or email us the following information`s:

* 10 digit, MTCN number
* Sender's, full name and address
* Receiver's full name
* The total amount you've sent
Once you sent payment, please email us the payment details. ( [email protected] )



Warning!!! The payment must be made using WesternUnion. We will not confirm any payments made online. The payment must be made at one of WesternUnion Agent Locations, in person by the Buyer.

Intellectual and other property rights to the information contained in this site are hold by TNT Global Air Express B.V. with all rights reserved © 2011

Please advice me..
is this a scam????

Welcome to Scamwarners.
It's a scam; no doubt about it.Sending imaginary keys via a courier service, while money is sent via Western Union is a common scam technique.
TNT deliver and as far as I know do not offer an escrow service. Certainly the web link quoted by the scammer does not offer one.

Hello azriena!

This is a scam! All I had to read was send the money via Western Union. Scammers do this because it is completely untraceable. Glad you got suspicious!

Thanks... really2 appreciate it.