Room for Rent and other rental scams
#28090 by Michelle Thu May 06, 2010 3:27 pm
> On Wed, May 5, 2010 6:59 pm, Joana Marques wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> My name is Joana Marques and i am from Sweden.
>> Thanks for showing interest in the apartment,the apartment is still
>> very much available. I had an aunt in London and after her death she
>> left me her apartment from London a few years ago. Till last mounth the
>> apartment was rent by some stutdents from Germany and now they left and
>> the apartment is available again for rent again. The property has huge
>> bedrooms for double beds,huge living room,one bathroom and
>> toilet,kitchen with dish washer/dryer and modern fittings,washing
>> machine,cable tv,wired internet connection,parking space
>> available(included in the rent price). If you are really interested i
>> advise you arrange for reservation and viewing of the apartment at your
>> earliest convenient time but i could came to London only in the weekend.
>> The rent is 175 per week(bills and
>> parking included) and the refundable security deposit is 700GBP and the
>> flat is near the tube station,few min walks. If you want i will send
>> you more pictures of the flat and the lease to make your decision. My
>> question is how many persons will stay in the apartment,you will stay
>> alone or you will have a flatmate? I will wait for your reply,


On Thu, May 6, 2010 10:28 am, Joana Marques wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Good to read again from you and for expressing your genuine interest in
> renting my flat. Flat is fully furnished and as i said bills and parking
> spot are included. The location of the flat is 4 Sloane Court East ,
> Chelsea ( LONDON ).
> We could arrange a view of the flat only in the weekend because i work in
> the week days. I could buy a fly ticket for the first saturday and i will
> be in London to meet you first saturday or sunday. Before i came to
> London to meet you i wanna to be sure you are a fair person because 2
> weeks ago a person from Liverpool told me he is really interested and he
> asked me to meet him in London to sign the rent contract and when i went
> there nobody showed up to rent my place and i lost time and money for
> nothing,everything was a stupid joke and i do not want that to happen
> again. So,before i came i want to be sure you have the money and you will
> be in London . Also,note that i do not required any money in
> advance,money will be paid in person after we sign the contract. I have
> attached you the photos and the lease.
> Thanks and Best Regards,


Subject: FLAT
From: "Joana Marques" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, May 6, 2010 4:31 pm
To: Michelle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mail.
Price is 700 per month for the whole flat not per person.
If you accept lease terms and you like the flat we could arrange a view
on first sunday to meet,i will need your confirmation for the day when we
will meet so i could look for a fly ticket and make a reservation.
Before i came i already told you in my last e-mail i want to be sure you
have the money and you will be in London to meet me.
For my guarantee i want you to go to a western union office and send
funds 1400 GBP to your flatmate name as receiver and London/England as
location.
After i see the scan paper of the Western Union transfer i will be sure
you have the money and your flatmate will be in London to receive your
money and meet me.
After i see scan paper i will buy the fly ticket for the day you confirm
me is ok to meet.

I will wait for your reply to confirm if we have a deal.


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.

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