From: paul prince < [email protected] >
Date: 14 March 2010
To: Michelle
Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: Fully furnished 1 bed room flat
Hello,
Thanks for your mail.The property is located on Mason Way, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2EE and The rent per month is £400 all bils incl and the refundable deposit is £300 and i will need a proof that you are financially capable of renting my place because there is certainty and every possibility that you will view the flat but I am presently in London now because I moved in with my mother in order for me to check her medical condition,So I need to be sure that you are capable of renting the apartment before I can come to Birmingham ,imagine a girl ask me to come from London to Birmingham that she wanted to rent the apartment I left to meet her on getting there she told me that she wanted to rent the apartment but I should allow her to stay till the end of the month before she can pay me and the other was on dss ...after I had left London to Birmingham for the viewing and renting can you see how bad and unfair that was,I need to see a sign or proof that you are capable and you have the money to rent the flat before i can come for the viewing but am very sure that you will like the flat.I cant be stressing myself when am not sure that you are capable.The flat is available now and you can move in at anytime.
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.
