On Jun 20, 2014, at 8:12 AM, David Lawrence <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello,
Thank you for your email. First ,let me give you some info about my apartment.
The apartment is still available.
It’s fully furnished and recently renovated, as you could see from the photos.
You can either use my furniture or put it in the cellar and use yours.
The place is fitted with air conditioning, dishwasher, cooker, refrigerator, washing machine, LED TV, vacuum cleaner etc.I bought this apartment for my son during his studies practice in Puerto Rico, but now he’s back in England permanently, so I’m renting it out for unlimited period.
The minimum contract period is 1 month and maximum is unlimited.
Now, a little bit about myself: My name is David Lawrence and I’m a 52 year old Doctor from London, England
Unfortunately, my job doesn’t allow me to do any travel for the next few months, so I will not be able to come and meet you personally for a while.
However, I hope this issues won’t affect the rental at all. I can make arrangements to rent the apartment from London (on my expense of course).
I hope the email wasn’t too long, I just like to be as thorough as possible.
I will wait your reply .
All the best from United Kingdom!
From: David Lawrence <[email protected]>
Date: June 21, 2014 at 7:54:44 AM EDT
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: Re: condo
Hi,
After analyzing all the applications together with my wife, we decided that you would be suitable to rent our apartment. You seem to be a reliable person and i will be glad to have you in my apartment.
I want to inform you that DHL Property will hold your payment until you will confirm to them that you like the apt and rent it. If you don't like it, the DHL Property agent will return your payment upfront.
I will explain to you step by step how this will work:
1 - To start this transaction i will need to know your full shipping information, full name, full shipping address to proceed with this deal .
2 - I will go to the DHL Property Company office to drop off the keys and documents of the house, along with the rental contract.
3 - DHL Property will check the documents to make sure I am the actual owner of the flat, then, they will send you the invoice agreement where you will find all the details about our mutual agreement (via e-mail).
4 - After the rental company will send you the invoice, you’ll have to transfer the payment for the first month and the security month to DHL Property, according to the instructions from the invoice. This will be a guarantee that our agreement is mutual and legal. The deposit will be just a formality, and it will not commit you to renting the apartment.
The payment will remain in the custody of DHL Property until you have checked the flat and move in into my apartment.After you will pay the deposit, and send them the details, DHL Property will send an agent to your country in the next 24-48 hours (Monday to Friday) and will deliver you the keys at your house door and then you will go to my apartment to inspect it.
You can also decide which date and time will fit your schedule best for the inspection.
5 – If you will be satisfied with the flat, you will sign a copy of the contract. However, if you are not pleased with the apartment for any reason, the DHL Property agent will give you the payment back on the spot, and I will get my keys and documents back.
I will pay for the services of the agency, so there will be no extra costs for you.
Also, in case you have another apartment right now, and you cannot move out immediately, we can make the deal as I explained it now, and consider it only an inspection and reservation.
If you want to begin, please give me the details which I requested above, so I can make the arrangements.
I am waiting for your quick response, because there are several others interested in the apartment, and I need to know if I can count on a deal with you.
Thank you,
This person asks for a deposit payment via Western Union or MoneyGram to an escrow company with a promise that he will send the keys through a courier company.
Sounds safe. It's not!
The emails claiming to be from the company are fake.
At other times, he will ask for proof that you are able to pay the deposit and rent due to a string of time wasters.
This proof is in the form of a Western Union or MoneyGram payment to a lawyer,a friend or family member.
In either case, if payment is made and you give this person the details, they will collect the money.
You will not hear from them again.
All the details such as names, addresses, pictures etc. that the scammer uses in order to back up his story, are stolen from elsewhere.
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 Craigslist, Gumtree or similar listing sites. If you receive any requests from 'Landlords' asking for some kind of payment 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.
