Comments on: Rent scam on Gumtree

By: Ben

2008-10-02T09:04:13Z

Hi, I replied to two ads on the cambridge gumtree and both were scams similar to yours! It’s pretty clear from the photos, as in one of yours there are towels on the bed, as would be present in a hotel. I even found one of the pictures sent to me on google.

By: James Chong

2008-10-01T15:10:41Z

Thanks for sharing this. I was also facing the same “amazing offers” from gumtree. I was Googling if I could report this and found your website. Thanks for making this public and preventing the more gullible people from being scammed!

By: Megan

2008-10-01T13:12:22Z

Hello,

I have had the same experience. See my email from this fraudulent offer.

Hi,
Thanks for your details and I think you’re perfect for rent my flat and we can meet anytime and show
you the flat and after that you can move in….
As you already know, I live in Leicester and I have nobody in London that could show you the
appartment.I need to come personal to meet you and present it.
Three days ago I was in London to meet with a client but when I arrived in London he never respond
to my e`mails or calls.I don`t want to happend me again.
I work in a hospital and is very hard for me to come in London. I can’t take the risk to leave my
new job for days and when I arrive in London to see that I come for nothing. I want to be sure that
when I will come in London you will wait me and we will meet to show you the flat and MAYBE you will
rent the flat and we do the rent papers then i can come back in Leicester.
So i can be sure of that look how we can do:
You make the payment from your name and address to your best friend,partner name and address in UK
using MoneyGram for 1 month rent + security deposit and send me the scanned receipt.The money is
still within you. As soon as I see the scanned receipt that you have made the payment, I will come
in London and you will see the flat and maybe rent it. After that, we will go together at the
MoneyGram office and you will take the money back and pay me.So all you have to do is to find a
MoneyGram office and wire GBP 1280 from your name to your best friend ,partner name and send the
scanned receipt.I am asking you this to be sure that I do not come in London for nothing. Hope you
can understand my situations. You can find a MoneyGram office near to your location using this link:
http://www.moneygram.com/eFindUs/findUs.do?countryCode=US&languageCode=en and after that you put
your post code of your adress and you will find your nearest MoneyGram Office. ).When you will go to
the Money Gram office to wire the money sometimes they ask you why are you doing that and if you
tell them you want make the payment for rent a flat when pick up the money you must pay another fees
and for don’t pay another money you must tell to Money Gram you will send the money to a person how
need the money or you make it a gift (i think you don`t want pay more money for this).
P.S : As I told you,I have a lot of customers interested to rent the apartment. I will reserve the
apartment to the first one that provides me have money available in moneygram account.
The Money Gram transfer fee i will pay you back cash when we meet to show you the flat.As soon as I
have the confirmation from MoneyGram that the money are available on his name I stop the
transactions with all the other customers.
I COME IN LONDON OLY YOU HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABE IN MONEY GRAM ACCOUNT UNTIL AFTER SEE THE FLAT AND
DECIDE IF YOU RENT THIS.
I expect your decision about this if you want rent my flat because i have more people interested in
rented apartment.
I am sure that my flat is good hands if you want to rent.
Thank you for your time.

By: Elaine

2008-09-24T10:06:58Z

Glad I did a search on rent deposit scams and found this page. Its not Dr Emma but John Wilson who also has terrible grammar. He wants me to wire
£1500 to just to view his flat in Aberdeen. After repeated requests to tell me the street, he fell flat on his arse as he gave me the name of a street which has no flats on it whatsoever.
Arsehole!

By: Nikki

2008-09-21T07:32:14Z

Here are the emails I receieved….

1: Hello,

i have property is vacant. i want to rent it out to a good and clean
tenant, it does not matter if you have pet, i have pet too, good
recommendation from previous accommodation will be required. get back to
me if you will be interested in my property while i send you the pictures
and other details.

Thanks

Craig.

2: Hello,

Thanks for your reply, i have 3 bedroom House with receptions in Retford, well furnished and decorated (NOTE: it can be rented out unfurnished), broadband internet access, garden and parking available, kitchen utilities like gas, cooker, fridge etc. washing machine and toilet with shower available.

it is located on Grove Street, Retford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire DN22 6JR

Monthly rent fee is 400pounds bill inclusive

Refundable deposit fee 700pounds

Thanks

And the photos:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/nixxie1981/BEDDD.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/nixxie1981/BEDR.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/nixxie1981/BESD.jpg

By: Nikki

2008-09-21T07:27:41Z

I think I have experienced something similar. The house is huge and posh and the fella wants only £400pcm for it! The photos are similar to yours and his English is bad.

GGrrrrr. Thanks for posting this. Makes my decision to ignore him easier!

By: Cristina

2008-09-19T22:00:17Z

I just lost 1000 euros in sending money to an account of this Shiraz El Saket.
I know how stuoid I have ben. As I didnt know how these things work I believed her id and passport copy and paid her money,
Now I am miserable and dont know what to do.But deserved it.I should have been smarter…

By: Shekar

2008-09-18T18:43:33Z

Heres from my side and even the phone number of the person asking for mone transfer.

Dear Shekar.

Thanks for the email and your interest in the flat. the flat is a whole flat share, but 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 you bring your identity passport when coming for viewing? How many months do you intend to rent and pay for? Do you have references in London? 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 lost my job some months ago because of taking people who cant even afford the rent. 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 as am presently in Pimlico right now, but i will like to come immediately u are able to follow my procedure, I would not ask you to send your bank statement as it may be used illegally sometimes, while some produce fake bank statements and pay slip, but if you are able to transfer money to your friend or partner’s custody via money gram post office, which my lawyer would make confirmation if truly you’ve transfered the money to your friend or partner’s custody, then we can arrange viewing and we can proceed. After confirmation has been made, you can tell 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. At least a month rent £600 and security deposit £500 total of (£1100) would be required from you to transfer to your friend’s custody, which will shows how reliable your finance is to rent a flat. You can make the transfer to your close friend. Your security deposit of 500£ will be return back to u after a week that u have been staying in my flat, u have to do the transfer through money gram post office, that is if you will be willing to do this. Once you have done this, you can scan the receipt to me or send the details of the receipt if you have no scanner, as I send it to my lawyer to verify, and after verification, then you can pick up your money back as we proceed to 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, if you eventually rent my flat. Also please do note that i do not accept any viewing after 8pm….here is me and my fiance cell # 07035934278

Best Regards
Mr & Mrs Jones.

— On Thu, 18/9/08, Shekar wrote:

From: Shekar
Subject: Re: FLAT DETAILS AND PICTURES
To: earlscourt08@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thursday, 18 September, 2008, 3:01 PM

Hello Jones,

Thanks for your response to my EMail.

I am actually looking for a house to rent for my entire family, we want to relocate to London area due my job requirement. From your advert, I got this feeling that you are moving out and might want to rent your home.
But after reading through your response, It seems like you are looking for a some one to house share with you.

I was not really looking for a house share.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Kind Regards
Shekar

—– Original Message —-
From: mr and mrs jones
To: shekar_chand@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 3:07:19 PM
Subject: FLAT DETAILS AND PICTURES

Hello there,

Thanks alot for showing interest to my advert, the flat is 66Sq.m available, the flat is well-arranged and furnished living room with incredible sectional sofa, huge flat screen T.V it has a good-sized, high-ceilinged bed/sitting room with a large window.You won,t be sharing the falt with anyone. There is a kitchen with machine wash and dryer and door to the communal garden. The bathroom is newly-fitted and tiled in limestone, with shower attachment to the bath. The apartment has good storage space, its extremely neat and clean includes water, garbage, and internet. The flat has a private Parking in an indoor garage, extremely neat and clean, the flat is only 1 year old, both Short and Long term lease options available for 150 pw including all bills.

The flat is located in:
Kempsford Gardens Earls Court London SW5 9LA

CAR TRAVEL:
Central London M25 Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport
0..7 miles 17 miles 34.8 miles 17.1 miles
3 mins 32 mins 58 mins 33 mins

We are couple and open to both a male or female tenant. If interested please get back to me in my mail.

Regards
Jones.

By: shit kicker

2008-09-16T14:02:06Z

thanks for this post the little bitch was trying it on me 2, iv been emailing 2 ppl but i think its the same scammer, just emailed them:

hey Judith, donna, paul, what ever the fuck u call ur self, iv got a question for you, why the fuck do u do this? do ppl really fall for it? iv been reading about people like u, trying to scam the people who r looking for the cheapest accommodation u r literally a queef, an a big one at that! u cant spell for shit 2,try spell checker dick!. an ill be adding my emails to the VAST list of others who have been in contact with fuckin dirrty scammers like yourself, try getting a real job arsehole!

By: tramy

2008-09-15T23:50:21Z

I wonder if anyone would come across my comment, oh well, I am hunting for flat and come across let see so far 3 lovely and caring landlords who had bad experiences ( one even got robbed when showing around her flat) and asking for Western Union receipt.
I sent out emails to them with headline: Assholes with nothing written down and one moron called me for my POINT OF VIEW (yes I gave out my mobile number T,T). He was MRS WARREN in the emails I received and MR AWKWARD INDIAN on the phone, cute eh.
I had to sent 3 insulting emails afterward and probably he GOT MY POINT OF VIEW now bless him.