Is this a scam
Discussion
Not sure where I should put this, but could it be left here for a while please mods as I need to move quite quickly on it!
Simply put the OH and I are looking for a new place to live and I stumbled across a gem on Gumtree this morning. At £750pm it is extremely cheap for a one bedroom flat (esp considering the decor) as the location is Belgravia.
As I saw a few places this morning on Gumtree I sent variouos emails and forgot to bookmark the ads. This particular ad now seems to be taken down and, upon reading the email I have received in reply I am a little bit cagey about even going to see the place:
Simply put the OH and I are looking for a new place to live and I stumbled across a gem on Gumtree this morning. At £750pm it is extremely cheap for a one bedroom flat (esp considering the decor) as the location is Belgravia.
As I saw a few places this morning on Gumtree I sent variouos emails and forgot to bookmark the ads. This particular ad now seems to be taken down and, upon reading the email I have received in reply I am a little bit cagey about even going to see the place:
Potential Scamster said:
Hi,
Thanks for your response and Enquiry, the flat is still available to rent.
My name is Michael and i am a private landlord.although i own the flat,i do not live in it because i actually had to move with my job in Ireland. However,i will be willing to meet you,get to know you and show you round the flat so that you can see what you are renting.
The flat is a fully furnished.
- Toilet and Bathroom with Shower
- Kitchen with modern fittings
- Dish washer/Dryer
- Washing Machine
- Cable TV
- Wired Internet connection
- Street Parking space available
- Tube station five minutes
The price i am looking for is £750 per month including bills(gas, water, electricity and council tax).
Meanwhile, Below are the lease terms:
Will you be able to take good care of my Flat like your own?
Do you have the money to pay me if you like the Flat after viewing?
Waiting to read from you.
Michael
Does anybody know of any scams going on using properties as bait at present?Thanks for your response and Enquiry, the flat is still available to rent.
My name is Michael and i am a private landlord.although i own the flat,i do not live in it because i actually had to move with my job in Ireland. However,i will be willing to meet you,get to know you and show you round the flat so that you can see what you are renting.
The flat is a fully furnished.
- Toilet and Bathroom with Shower
- Kitchen with modern fittings
- Dish washer/Dryer
- Washing Machine
- Cable TV
- Wired Internet connection
- Street Parking space available
- Tube station five minutes
The price i am looking for is £750 per month including bills(gas, water, electricity and council tax).
Meanwhile, Below are the lease terms:
- An advance payment of the one month rent and 1 month deposit shall be paid.
- The Rent shall be paid on Monthly.
- If you will need to vacate the flat, notice shall be given a month prior to intended day of moving.
Will you be able to take good care of my Flat like your own?
Do you have the money to pay me if you like the Flat after viewing?
Waiting to read from you.
Michael
Apart from the old, "fetch the deposit with you so we can mug you" deal the main one at the moment consists of spinning you a tale along the lines of:
I've been messed about before so I want you to prove you have the money before I meet you for a viewing. What I want you to do is send the value of the deposit via moneygram/western union to someone you trust, such as your partner, family or a close friend. I then want you to send me a photograph of the receipt so that I can see that you have the funds available.
The sting in the tail is that with the details on the receipt and a hastily made up fake ID they head straight down to the wire transfer office and withdraw the cash before your "trusted person" can get there.
I've been messed about before so I want you to prove you have the money before I meet you for a viewing. What I want you to do is send the value of the deposit via moneygram/western union to someone you trust, such as your partner, family or a close friend. I then want you to send me a photograph of the receipt so that I can see that you have the funds available.
The sting in the tail is that with the details on the receipt and a hastily made up fake ID they head straight down to the wire transfer office and withdraw the cash before your "trusted person" can get there.
BrabusMog said:
Just had the exact same email regarding another property!
That'll scare a 6'6" Nigerian BrabusMog said:
f
k OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
k OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
KingRichard said:
BrabusMog said:
Just had the exact same email regarding another property!
That'll scare a 6'6" Nigerian BrabusMog said:
fk OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
k OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
BrabusMog said:
KingRichard said:
BrabusMog said:
Just had the exact same email regarding another property!
That'll scare a 6'6" Nigerian BrabusMog said:
fk OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
k OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
I can't believe you actually typed 'pwned'.
Yes, I do. This is typical of a scam where a landlord purports to be away from the property, typical like in your email in Ireland. They would show you all internal photos (which may not even be thato fthe property) and even give you the address of the property.
You would be baited to view the property. The landlord would say in his email that he wants to be sure that you have the money and that you are seriously interested in the property. Oh here is the catch or scam. He would request that you transfer a sum say, £1400 to a friend or relative of yours using "Western Union Transfer". He would point out eagerly that the transfer is your friend and not him, so your are safe. He would also request that once the transfer is done, you need to scan the copy of the transfer receipt and email it to him. Wait 20 mins, then your friend or relative can withdraw the monies. Oh, he will also eagerly point out that he will repay the "Western Union Transfer" charges to you as well.
Once you follow his instructions and email him a copy of the transfer chit, you would not see that money ever again.
It is a very common scam.
You would be baited to view the property. The landlord would say in his email that he wants to be sure that you have the money and that you are seriously interested in the property. Oh here is the catch or scam. He would request that you transfer a sum say, £1400 to a friend or relative of yours using "Western Union Transfer". He would point out eagerly that the transfer is your friend and not him, so your are safe. He would also request that once the transfer is done, you need to scan the copy of the transfer receipt and email it to him. Wait 20 mins, then your friend or relative can withdraw the monies. Oh, he will also eagerly point out that he will repay the "Western Union Transfer" charges to you as well.
Once you follow his instructions and email him a copy of the transfer chit, you would not see that money ever again.
It is a very common scam.
BrabusMog said:
KingRichard said:
BrabusMog said:
Just had the exact same email regarding another property!
That'll scare a 6'6" Nigerian BrabusMog said:
fk OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
k OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
On the scam issue, if it looks too good to be true, it IS!
s3fella said:
BrabusMog said:
KingRichard said:
BrabusMog said:
Just had the exact same email regarding another property!
That'll scare a 6'6" Nigerian BrabusMog said:
fk OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.
k OFF YOU SCAMMING , I HAVE FORWARDED ALL COMMUNICATION ON TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. PS - YOU SENT ME THE SAME EMAIL TWICE, DO YOU HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES? PWNED.On the scam issue, if it looks too good to be true, it IS!
I guessed these places were too good to be true but thought what have I got to lose! If I was gullible, quite a lot it would seem
loafer123 said:
Can anyone come up with a cogent argument for not shutting down Western Union?
It's legitimate use is that it is very handy for sending money between countries, for example to family back home while working abroad.It is the equivalent to sending cash though, so pretty much untraceable, and this is why it should only ever be used to send money to people you know and trust.
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