Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: SPACIOUS AND ASTONISHING ONE BEDROOM FLAT IN NORWICH CITY CENTRE.ALL BILLS INCLUSIVE.
To: Michelle
Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is available for short and long term rent and it's fully furnished in and out, i can make a reservation for you for the said date. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit.
Rent : £ 100.00 pw All Bills Inclusive,
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet) Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm.
Minimum Stay : 2 weeks Security Deposit: £ 500.00 (Returnable at the end of a week stay in my flat)
Utility bills inclusive ( water, gas, council tax, TV license and wireless Internet) Utility Cost : £ 0.00 pcm.
Further more Can you take care of my flat as it is?
Where are you coming from you when do you want to move in ? cos it is still available for today and you can move in ASAP.
I would like to make this known to you that if you are serious and willing to view the flat i must be sure if you are FINANCIALLY CAPABLE to rent the flat!!!.
This issue of financier capability has been the serious and effective part of my rental activity because i have had bitter experience in the past about tenants that will come for viewing and and they end up not having funds to rent the flat i main not financially and morally capable to rent my flat and apparently making me waste my time and losing all other capable tenant cos i reside and work in the Ireland so i will have to buy my ticket and book a flight to come down and show tenants around the flat, so this has not been encouraging that is why me and my (Solicitor) lawyer reach a compromise of the protocol for all those willing to make a viewing of the flat so which is how all landlords does to be sure about any tenant seriousness and mostly their financier capability.
So reply me if you are interested in going through the protocol for me to know if you are financially capable and serious for me to security retain the flat for you.
Awaiting your responds ASAP so that i could let you know the protocol.
Kindest regards.
Donald Williams.
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.
