Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:31:49 +0100
> Subject: Re: Reply to your ad: A lovely and spacious one bedroom flat in Reading
> From: [email protected]
> To: Michelle
>
> Thanks for your reply and the sincere interest you have in my flat.
> I spoke to my lawyer concerning your stay in my flat and we both agree
> to have you in my flat as long as you will take care of my flat as how
> it is. It is unfortunate that my past bitter experience of inviting
> people to come and view or reserve 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 take some interested candidates round my
> flat because that's where I work with M. Gould (Scunthorpe) Ltd.
> Some outside tenants do not have the money to pay the rent and yet
> they disturb the landlord to arrange a viewing with their friend or
> relative who are in Reading, also some do not meet up with the
> appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in
> office by there employees.
> 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. At least 1 month rent
> and security deposit which is £500 which is refundable after your
> first week stay in my flat, these would be required from you to
> transfer through Western Union Money transfer Agent. You can make the
> transfer with your name as a sender and your partner’s name or friend
> in UK premises as a receiver.
> Once you have done this, Scan the receipt to me and if you do not
> have scanner, you may write out the details on the receipt as I will
> send it to my lawyer to verify if it's truly genuine and available in
> your friend's custody, after verification, then we can proceed for the
> viewing and you can as well tell your friend or partner to pick up the
> money and also, I will refund back to you the cost of transfer when we
> meet.
> I look forward to reading from you soon
> Regards
> Mr/Mrs Smith
> (+447035976685)


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.
[email protected] ::

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Michelle
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Location: Room to let: fake checks accepted