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Follow up e-mail
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.
2010/2/16 Vanessa Gallagher < [email protected] >
Hello,
Thanks for the interest you have in my flat. My flat is still available for rent and I can make a reservation forr the said period,you can stay in my flat as long as you pay your rent at when due. Here are the necessary things you need to know about the rent and deposit.
Apartment address:45 Rathmore Road,Cambridge
CB1 7AB,England...
The apartments in Rathmore Road are 7 minutes walk from local shops and restaurants and Closest to Cambridge University and University of East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin University...
The beautiful Christ Church Meadows and river walks are only 10 minutes walk away where you can relax, picnic and punt on the river.
A stroll to the city centre takes fifteen minutes..Surroundings:Urban, Near Shops, Near Restaurants, Near Public Transports, Walk To Campus, Reserved Parking
Rent : £ 150.00 pw
Minimum Stay :1 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
However, At this stage that you want to rent my flat, i need to know some few question about you. Can you take care of my flat as it is? How many months do you intend to rent and pay for?
Kindly reply for further information and i would like to know where you are coming from to stay in my flat and let me know if you'll like to book reservation of my flat for the said period...
.
Regards
Vanessa.
Follow up e-mail
From: Vanessa Gallagher < [email protected] >
Date: 2010/2/16
Subject: RE: One Stunning Bedroom Apartment located in Cambridge!!?
To: Michelle
Hello,
Thanks your keen interest in my flat, Coming to this stage that you want to view my flat.
I Need to know some few questions about you. How many of you are coming to live in my flat? Can you take care of my flat as it is? Can i have alook at of your identity? How many months do you intend to rent and pay for? Do you have references in Cambridge?
It is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting people to come and view my flat without any form of confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled,has brought about great loss to me. I have traveled all the way from Ireland to Cambridge to take some interested candidates round my flat because i work with clerwood construction limited and Imagine a lady contact me last week and while i was in Ireland and asked me to show up then i left my duty at work and kept them on hold hoping that she will rent my place and pay me upfront.Although she likes the flat but she got me upset when she was pleading i should allow her stay in the flat till the end of the month before she can pay me.
Henceforth my lawyer and i have decided to carry out a simple test on financial ability to pay for my rent before coming for viewing. I would not ask you to send your bank statement as it may be used illegally, but if you are able to transfer money to your friend or partner's custody in uk, which my lawyer would make confirmation if truly you have transfer the money to your friend,partner's or your husband custody,then we can arrange viewing and we can proceed.
After confirmation has been made,i'll tell you to inform your friend or partner to pick up the money. I will be responsible for the cost of transfer, as soon as you arrive to my flat for view.
At least a month rent and security deposit, would be required from you to transfer to your friend's custody, that shows how reliable your finance is to rent a flat. You can make the transfer to your close friend in Uk but outside Cambridge, through western union agent in any post office or money shop around you,because western union might not allow you to transfer money with same city... that if you will be willing to do this. Once you have done this, you can scan copy of the receipt to me for my lawyer to verify, after verification, your friend can pick up your money back and we'll proceed with view and also refund back to you the cost of transfer.
And i will also appreciate a clean and tidy fellow in my flat as it has just undergone renovation in and out. Also you will be responsible for any form of damages in the building.
Regards..
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.
