Gumtree tenancy scam

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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:30 am

Hi,

I nearly got scammed when I was searching for a shared flat in London. Some "girl" made me an awesome offer, send me a copy of "her passport" and made me sign a tenancy agreement for my security. Then she asked me to send her a deposit via western union to proof that I'm seriously interested.
Even though I didn't send her anything, I'm really pissed! I was for a time truly believing that I found an amazing place to stay together with a nice girl in my age. I therefore rejected all other real offers. And now that I found out that I was wasting my time, time for me to find something new is running short.

I also feel very sorry for the girl on the passport. She has a quite exceptional name, so it wasn't hard to find and contact her on facebook. Her passport got stolen some time ago and since then she keeps being confronted with embarrassing questions.

That's why I really feel like having a revenge.

I opened a fake email-account and posted another (rather naive und unspecific) ad on gumtree (young foreign girl searching for shared flat in london). This one attracted A LOT of scammers!! I already made five of them send me "their passports", two of them send me "photos" of them (which were obviously cut out from a catalogue or fashion magazine), with some I had a nice chat on their and my personality for days, a "girl form brazil" kindly (and badly) translated a portuguese song, another one was practicing her german skills and I'm having a hot flirt with a 24years old doctor that owns a house in central london.
I also think, it might be a good idea to sign them to any kind of porn or gambling newsletter available. I'd love to understand chinese to make the experience more multicultural for them.

But I'm somehow still not satisfied. The problem is, that this scam is not about a big amount of money, it's just about 500-1000 Pounds, which makes the scammers less willing to do a lot of efforts.

Does anybody have another idea how to annoy them?
Is anybody interested in joining the gumtree fun and maybe in talking to the scammer that nearly got me?

Cheers.
Lilly

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:14 pm

Here's the email addresses of some quite entertaining gumtree-scammers. Just contact them with something like: "Sorry for my late reply. Is the appartment still available?". They won't care too much about the fact, that they never send you the offer you're refering to.

xxx[email protected]
Was the one everything started with. Send me a stolen passport of a nice American Girl and was acting quite clever.
I'm really pissed at this one and would be very thankful if somebody's interested to bait him.

xxx[email protected]
Send me a (authentic) photo, no passport. Open for a personal chat on anything. Wants me to send money via western union to her stepdad with the cheerful name Osa Martins Ohihie. His address: 42 Jimoh Street, Ajangbadi, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria.

xxx[email protected]
Send me a really funny catalogue picture of which he claimed, it would show him.No passport. Extremely rude and stupid.

xxx[email protected]
One of my favourites. Send me a German passport with a Brazilian name on it which of course was a great opener for some chats on culture and origin. I also made her write me in very bad German and translate a Portuguese song. Good girl.
Asked her for more pictures and she suddenly turned from black to blond.

xxx[email protected]
Amazingly stupid! The passport I got is a British one of a girl named “Louise Heather Bailey”. But the scammer mixed up sur- and forname and calls himself Bailey Louise Heather. He’s quite likely to do and believe anything.

xxx[email protected]
Really wanted to skype. I didn’t.

xxx[email protected]
Send me a Danish passport and is likely to have a random conversation.

x'd out email addies, please see my post below --luckey

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

Hi Lili and welcome to Eater. We don't specialize in rental scams partly for the reasons you mentioned. However, they are certainly prevalent and can be quite damaging to victims.

One rule we like to adhere to is that when dealing with scammers -- don't educate them. If they seem ridiculous or give you amazingly bad IDs, encourage them! This will make it all the more likely that the next potential victim down the line is able to spot the inconsistencies and not fall prey.

Please look around Eater and read up. Hope you stick around.

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:07 pm

Hi Lili, welcome here.

I'm glad you spotted the scam and managed to avoid losing money.

I x'd out the email addresses you posted in keeping with the forum guidelines:

The Guidelines wrote:

Do not post email addresses or phone numbers without sourcing them to a scam mail or fake site. The potential for abuse of non-scammers is too great. We're not saying that you would point other baiters towards an ex-significant whatever, cheating spouse, or that neighbor who never returned your power tools. We are saying that in the past, others have. Moderators reserve the right to remove unsourced phone numbers or email addresses, or just delete that particular post entirely.

If you can post scam emails that substantiate those as scammer addies, please feel free to restore them.

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:36 pm

Thanks for your reply and sorry for revealing the email addresses without proof that they belong to scammers.

Here's the mail that made me finally realize, that the person I was talking to wanted to steel my money:

Quote:

From: [email protected]
Subject: Fw: Assured_Shorthold_Tenancy_Agreement_xxxxxxxx
To: [email protected]

Hello Roomie
This is the contract duly prepared by my lawyer( In English).Attached at the bottom.....Read carefully and sign where required as long as you are ok with the terms and conditions of living in the apartment then get back to me....Actually,your first month rent starts at the day you eventually move in and the rent is inclusive of every bill......It would be possible for you to move into the room as soon as we have concluded all necessary arrangements here....The agreement will be blank with date so you will have to fill your dates in it your self...Its for the whole period........I really appreciate and i want you to know that you are free to ask questions...

As regards payment,i figured out a means a of payment after speaking with my lawyer...It is through Western Union Money Transfer...Its a safe,fast and reliable means of make money transfer..Go to www.westernunion.com to find and agent location close to you..You should not make the payment online..Find an agent location with the website and go there and make the payment in person cause a receipt will be issued to you that way..You will also need to bring the receipt along with you so i would verify..I will have to confirm the payment with my International ID.....Here is the information you will make the payment to..

Name:Sandra Aflorei
Post code:W1U 6LJ
City:London
Country:England

As soon as you are through with the transfer,get back to me with Information on the receipt needed are Senders name,receivers name,amount sent,MTCN (10 digit number)..You can as well scan the receipt and have it sent to me immediately...

Waiting to read from you
Sandra

Not a funny one, though. But I think this scammer is finding a lot of victims since he's very talkative and avoids beeing too pushy.

So please entertain him a bit!!!

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:02 pm

Here's my conversation with Dr. Fedric Cole who offered me an awesome appartment via Gumtree:

http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1175752#1175752

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Lilli,

Thank you so much for making this post. I feel SO angry reading your post because I have spent much of the afternoon sending emails to "Mia Lavsen" ([email protected]) under the impression that I was going to be renting a cool pad in Marylebone in London.

I thought it was a bit strange that she wanted to know my: "full" name, address, and have a photo of me in order to consider me as a housemate.

She has told me that she is going to send me a copy of her passport so I know who i'm sharing with. No doubt, the next email will be the one which asks to pay money by Western Union.

Having read your forum post the only thing stopping me from writing an email to her is that I might be able to help some other poor girl who has had her passport stolen (assuming she's using a different one to the one she sent you).

I agree we should get her back...but how?

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

By the way, I have pasted the email she sent me below. Hopefully other people may recognise it:

Quote:

Hello,
Thanks for respond to my rent ad and your interest in my flat it is a 2 double bedroom flat.
Below is the detail of the flat.
Postcode: W1U 4PF
Street:Marylebone High Street London
A luxury 2 bedroom flat apartment benefiting from full glass external walls offering stunning views. Immaculately presented with high spec decor and stylish furnishings
avalaible to share with you
Term: Rental
Rent pcm: £250
Security/Damage Fee(Refundable):£450
Type: Flat
Beds: 2
Baths: 2
Status: Available
Area
Marylebone
Transport / Amenities
(tube): 6 mins
House amenities: Furnished, Linen supplied, Air conditioning, Private
bath, Hardwood floor, Phone jack, TV, Cable jack, Closet.
FEATURES::Central Heating,# Fully-equipped kitchen,# Washer/dryer in unit
# Broadband internet connection
# Air conditioning
# Fireplace/select units
Full Description: A luxury 2 bedroom flat apartment benefiting from full glass external
walls offering stunning parking lot. Immaculately presented with high spec decor and stylish
furnishings.
About me.....
Am an easygoing,down to earth young girl from DENMARK very clean and tidy,20 yrs old,love cooking,shopping,going to the cinema and meeting new people.
Will needed in preparing to you the rental agreement below.
1..Your name in full
2..Your address
3..Your Move in date and move out date
As a lot of people are interested and alot have wasted my
time in the past before and will want you to reply back.
So get back to me with the required informations so that we can proceed.i will really
appreciate it if you can tell me the specific date you want to move in to my Flat.
Cheerios
MIA

The website that "Mia" has placed her ad is here:

http://www.studentbunk.com/Student-Roomshare/London/5-13-rooms-available/933-flatshare-in-london.html

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:02 pm

One of my Gumtree baiting characters just got a VERY SUSPICIOUS email. I don't have a clue, what the sender is up to (ok, probably it's stealing money - but how?). Does anybody have an idea? And do you think it's baitable? Why does this lad know about the (fake) transfers I've made without being aware of the fact, that they were fake?

Quote:

Subject: ATTENTTION!!!
From: $$$$$$$ <[email protected]>
To: Mara
Date: 09.07.08 11:45:41 AM

ATTN:
THIS MESSAGE SHOULD COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SURROUND IT. WE ARE SORRY TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE AWARE THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A TRANSACTION RECENTLY REGARDING SECURING AN ACCOMMODATION. THIS HAS LED YOU INTO SENDING SOME MONEY TO A PARTICULAR GROUP SUSPECTED TO FRAUDSTERS. THEY HAVE THEIR NETWORK WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE UNIVERSE ESPECIALLY AFRICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. THEY HAVE MANY ADVERTS PLACED ON DIFFERENT ADVERTISEMENT WEBSITES CLAIMING THEY HAVE ACCOMMODATION TO OFFER WHICH AT THE END YOU WON'T GET ANYTHING FROM THEM INCLUDING YOUR, ALL WILL BE GONE.

WE HAVE SO MANY CASE AND COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS IN OUR CORRESPONDENT AUTHORITIES BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONAL. THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT IN CORROBORATION WITH THE CONCERNED PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT FALLEN VICTIMS TO THESE SCAM ARTIST HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FORM A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION TEAM TO STOP THESE FRAUDSTERS SO THEY WILL NOT
CAUSE FURTHER CALAMITY TO THE INNOCENT PEOPLE. IT IS GOOD FOR YOU TO COOPERATE WITH US FOR US TO HELP YOU RECOVER YOUR MONEY AND TO BRING THEM ALL TO JUSTICE. WE HAVE AGENTS AS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AND WE ARE WORKING HARD ON ANY RELIABLE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE DAILY FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU. ANY INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE FOR US WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

HERE IS WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU IN ORDER FOR US TO HELP YOU.

1. THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ALL OF THEM INVOLVED IN THE TRANSACTION LIKE THE LANDLORD/LANDLADY, THE AGENT, THE LAWYER AND THE PERSON YOU SEND MONEY TO...................................

2. ALL THE EMAIL ADDRESS USED AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS....................

3. AMOUNT OF MONEY SENT TO THEM WITH DATE SENT AND RECEIPT IF
POSSIBLE.............................

4. ALL THE AGREEMENT FORM GIVEN FORWARDED YOU TO FILL...................

5. ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP....................................

ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL REALLY HELP TO RECOVER YOUR MONEY AND TO GET THESE CULPRITS APPREHENDED IF YOU COOPERATE WITH US. THEY MAY PROMISE YOU HEAVEN AND EARTH THAT YOU WILL GET ACCOMMODATION OR EVEN ASK YOU TO PAY ANOTHER MONEY, WE ADVISE YOU TO STOP RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
YOU WILL NEVER GET EITHER ACCOMMODATION NOR YOUR BACK. YOU ARE ADVISE NOT TO INFORM THEM OF THIS GIANT STEP AS THEY MAY FLEE OR EVEN GO UNDERGROUND.

WE SHALL AWAIT FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY TO PROCEED.

REGARDS.
MICHAEL LESLIE SMITH.
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:11 pm

Hi 2 of you!
Welcome here!

It's quite good news that both of you didn't lost any money in those fake deals.
This forum is really useful don't you think? Wink

@Lilli: OH YES this last mail is also a scam.
It has nothing to do with the former ones you got.
It's just another lad (maybe the same, who knows...) using your baiting address.
The same happens regularly, Money Recovery Scams are becoming usuals.
You'll have to pay a fee to get your money back...
So the same way: delete it, or bait it Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:13 pm

That's a standard recovery scam. If you respond, they will ask you for fees to begin the investigation. You can bait it as you would any other scam. Very Happy

Edit: since Albator was faster, I'll throw in this link. It's a nice overview of recovery scams.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Hmmm, I actually think that this is a sophisticated ploy. My assumptions are the following:

1. That the fraudster is expecting money from you
2. Believes that the most transfers most probably have been initiated
3. Has a niggling suspicion that you *could* actually be withholding the correct money transfer information OR be baiting him

OK, here's my thinking....

One of the fraudsters your character is dealing with, is pretending to also be a private investigator (aren't these double lives quite exciting?).

By asking you for A RECEIPT with a date and an amount s\he is hoping to achieve one of three things (either retrieve "their" money from you OR confirm their suspicion that you're baiting them):

-obtain the MTMM (or whatever the abbreviation is) code which is required in order for Western Union to hand over the dough. This would presumably be stated on any transfer receipt.

-Use the 'receipt' as a way to get Western Union to trace the funds & eventually release them to the fraudster

-If it turns out that you respond to the private investigators email and admit that actually you have not sent any money across and that you are indeed baiting the person then it will validate the fraudster's suspicion and they will probably make a run for it (metaphorically speaking of course).

My suggestion:

Tell the "private investigator" that you have not actually come across any fraudsters but only legitimate professional landlords whom you have had no problems with.

Keep us posted!

N

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

^^^^

Nk -- interesting theory, but in reality, the recovery scam is set up to seem legitimate, so they ask you for all sorts of details on the loss you suffered. Then, magically, your loss registers with their database and luckily, they can help you recover your fees. They ask for the details because that's what a real investigator would do. If you, a victim, had lost the money, the MTCN number would be long-used up and of no moment to the scammer. Also, the recovery fraud artist is not usually connected to any prior scam. At times they are, but in this case, since the OP did not lose any money, it wouldn't make sense to be "recovering" it.

If you want to bait this guy, then you play along like you are a victim. Otherwise, just ignore him. If you respond as you suggested you're just going to encourage the lad to keep sending you things.