From: mark jones < [email protected] >
Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: wanted : 1 bedroom flat furnished
To: Michelle
Hello
Thanks for your response and interest on my property, is located on
THE LION BREWERY ST THOMAS STREET, OXFORD, OXFORDSHIRE, OX1 1JE
meanwhile i want to inform you that am letting out the property base
on the fact that am out of Oxford at present. Am handling a contract
presently outside Oxford and i don't want my property to get spoil
for lack of use as am planning to relocate from Oxford as well. Am
ready to let it out for you for as long as you want it provided you
keep my place clean, tidy and never fail the payment day.
However, concerning viewing the property, i had a very bad experience
with some future tenant..... It might interest you to know that
someone called me down to Oxford base on the fact that he wanted to
view my property and make payment by cash base on our agreement. As he
has shown me a bank statement and regular record of payment on pay
slip but to my surprise after the viewing he presented me with a post
dated cheque which will take at least five working days to clear from
the bank. I asked him the reason for this as we have concluded on
payment by cash after viewing; his response was that he has used the
money for some urgent and pressing need. I was disappointed for this
happening picture yourself in my shoes on a very tight schedule, how
will you feel? i have to leave without letting out the property.
Although he apologize to me but am just too busy to waste my time on
speculations. Similar cases happen to me recently.
Therefore to prevent such happening, I concluded that anybody viewing
my property of which Am 99% sure that if you view it you will not be
able to say no to it. You have to show me an evidence that you can
pay me in cash after the viewing since I don’t want to accept any
payment till after the viewing. such an evidence must be an evidence
that I can confirm not just something on paper like bank statement or
pay slip I need an evidence that I can confirm I suggest using
western union or Money gram because I can confirm any transaction you
transact with them.
Therefore locate any western union agent close to you and transfer the
security deposit and the first month rent to anybody you trust within
UK. This transaction as to remain in western union or money gram until
after the viewing as I don’t want a situation of money being spent on
pressing need again like the previous tenant complained. So, the
transaction has to remain in western union until after the viewing
preferably we walk down there together the receiver will cash the
money and you pay me in cash .I understand there will be transfer
charges in western union I want to assure you that I will be
responsible for the transfer charges. You will deduct it from the cash
before paying or I pay it back to you in cash as soon as you get it
done in western union get a scanner and scan me the receipt given to
you at western union or money gram. Send it along with the date and
time you want us to meet for the viewing and I will make my plan
towards it. Remember am not asking you to send me money.
Mean while after the viewing am sure you will be okay with the
property then will sign the lease agreement then you pay me in cash I
will issue you receipt but the subsequent payment will be to my bank
account ....be rest assured that am dealing with you alone because it
will cost me to refund back to you the transfer fee so I don’t want to
deal with two tenants at a time i hope to read from you as soon as
possible....and if you are not interested please kindly mail me back
so I can attend to another tenant..
Thanks
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.
