[misssj]

I know there are a few posts of this sort throughout the forum, but I think they need to be kept to the top of the page.

I have in the past four days had 6 different people reply to my advert on looking for a 1-2 bed in SW London. And every single one of them are trying the same thing.

BE AWARE...

Con artist will act in the following way...

Respond to your advert claiming to have a property that you might be interested in. They DO NOT really have the property.

They will offer you a place that will sound too good to be true. All bills included, half the price in the rent and show you pictures of amazing properties.

They will then give you some kind of story of where they are. Moved to Italy, visiting sick nan's in Manchester, working in Liverpool etc. All reasons why if you decide you want to view the property they wont be able to come down to show you the flat unless they are certain that you have the money and are not wasting their time.

This is where the SCAM comes in. They will ask you to transfer money to a friend/family member via a WESTERN UNION transfer or MONEY GRAM. Then scan the receipt for them so that they can see you have the money. Of course they will then go and have the money released and you will never hear from them again.

Here are a few e-mails that I have had. I have looked at the posts from other people and they all read almost exactly the same as mine, except from people with different names!

They also ask you to ring them on 0703 & 0704numbers which are FAKE and PREMIUM RATE.

THE EMAILS....
hi Sara,
I only receive money after viewing and that is only when you have the
keys and sign the agreement and i am ready to come down for i want you
to see what you are paying for.I just need proof that the agreed rent
and deposit is available and i will meet up with you when ever you want.I
discussed with my colleague about the idea on how i will be so sure
that i will not be coming down to London on a futile exercise and she
advised that we can work out something via Western Union Transfer.
She made me to understand that she has used it a couple of times for
renting out her flat if she is not around .She said that western union
can actually hold the money as an evidence and surely that her tenant
will pay her at least for the first month and deposit.these is my
suggestion for the safety and interest of the both of us because i
don't want to regret coming down and i can't tell you to pay for a
property you've not viewed.You send the security deposit and a month
rent to your friends,family,partner or anybody's details (NOT ME) in
uk through any western union agent or money gram around you and scan
the receipts for me on here to check it.Immediately i will happily come
down and arrange for the view if possible tomorrow because with
these,i am convinced that you are capable of meeting my demands for i
know you will like the property....After the view the receiver or you
will go and collect the money from the western union or money gram
agent,sign the rental agreement form if possible or later and get the
keys to the property before paying me in cash in the presence of my
lawyer or pay me anytime since i am 100%assured that you are capable.
I believe you understand why it is done this way which is for the
safety and security of the both of us..concerning the transfer
charges,it will be refund back to you on the spot of view or deducted
from the first month rent you are paying me in cash because i know and
i can bet you will like the property.
Thanks and i hope to read from you soon.
PLS DO NOT MAKE PAYMENT TO ME FOR I ONLY NEED THE RECEIPTS AS
PROOF

ANOTHER...
I will want you to read this and understand me better, just to let you know this am not asking you to send me any money before showing you my property but i just need a proof through western union receipt, I want you to know that there are so many people who have sent me fake bank statement and reference for a proof but it's all fake, and moreover i don't like interfering with other people's privacy so i will not like to see any reference from anywhere or bank statement, (am sorry for sounding rude) but as you know i need to tell you my feelings and what is pitching me.
You can find Agent Location western union Office in you city using your post code here: http://www2.ukmoneytransfer.com/agentsearch.asp
You must make the payment cash to your friend name , mother , sister , brother in Uk and you send me the paper scanned westernunion, attach e-mail, i check to westernunion office and after they told me you have the money available in account i stop the transactions with all the other customers and i keep the flat for you.I make the contract with you and after that we go together back from the westernunion Office and you pick up the money and pay me ,and i will give you back cash the westernunion transfer fees.
I expect your decision about this if you want rent my flat because i have more people interested in rented apartment.

Thank you for your time !

There are more but they are along those lines.

Here are some of the e-mails they are using.

sarah72sophia@live.com - Sarah Sophia (Although I have seen that she also goes by the name of Tina with another email address. So be aware of her way of talking)

snclmn06@gmail.com - Sean Coleman (the worst of the lot, tried to get me to ring the premium rate after he realised I knew what he was up to)

vagas_karla98@yahoo.co.uk - Karlla Martel(Who actually had the cheek to mail me the same thing twice without realising it was the same person they were talking to)

lindikiksmukikx@live.com -L.M (Initials only)

oliver.pascal72@live.com - Oliver Pascal

richard.willms202@yahoo.com - Richard Willmsen

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BE CAREFUL

Thankfully I am very aware of what is going on and there is no way I will be getting caught out in the scam. Unfortunately, a lot of people already have! Don't be one of them!

[misssj]

ANOTHER ONE...

she is the same person called Sarah Sophia who e-mailed me yesterday.

emmie.joseph@hotmail.com - Emmie Joseph

Getting a bit ridiculous now.

[montyzuma]

as soon as they mention western union, it's a scam.

[misssj]

I am so used to it now that I know even before they mention the words western union. Purely because they are that stupid they copy and paste the same email from different addresses.

What is with people not earning money an honest way. Pathetic!

[montyzuma]

90% are punters in nigeria /romania with no other way to make money.

works bothe ways people selling things get hit with the cheque overpayment scam too.

[misssj]

I do feel for people who struggle and find it hard to earn money, but this is a disgraceful way of making it.

If I had of fallen under that scam I would have no money at all to get a genuine place. Would take me ages to get it together again.

I heard about the cheque and pay pal scam too. Thankfully I don't use them.

[misssj]

They are getting more clever now.

One person today actually sent me a very thought out document of which they completely faked.

They used Haart Lettings Agency logos, font type and copy and pasted copyright information. They made it look completely legit. I knew the lady was trying to scam me far before I got this. I just played along to see what they would ask me to do.

Its getting bad now, because if it is not enough that people fall for it alone, but with documents that look completely real. Well...

Going to go on forever really isn't it!

[montyzuma]

fraid so

no matter how well its looks tho the giveaway is that they always want paid by western union or moneygram

[misssj]

predavies@googlemail.com - Precious Davis

[rwillmsen]

One of the identities they are using is mine, cos I was stupid enough to email a scan of my old passport a couple of years ago. I get countless emails via facebook but thankfully nobody has been daft enough to pay them any money yet. Thanks to whoever it was who posted this!

[kevs]

I have also seen this scam using Money Gram but researched it so was luckily not caught out. I saw an advert that seemed too good to be true for a rental property. After emailing some initial questions I had doubts straight away when a money transfer was mentioned. However, as it is suggested that you transfer money to a relative/partner I am sure many people will see this as safe and be conned. I was also suscipious with the language used. This person seemed to have a weak grasp of english as they are living abroad but then occasionally used some complex words. It makes me think they are based in the UK prentending to be foreign.

The email used was: hugodenard@yahoo.fr

[AlAl]

maria_isabel001@live.co.uk - Maria Isabel

Here is another moron, offering a flat on Oxford Street for 80 pounds per week!

[misssj]

Disgusting how they are not just taking peoples money, but their identity too. Really makes me mad!

[ozinlondon]

What is going on Gumtree? You rely only on the users of your accomodation site to inform you of supposed realtors that are using Gumtree to scam money through Western Union transfers. This is totally unsatisfactory when with a little more organisation on your front you could overcome this problem. All you need to do is provide a phone vetting service for private rental realtors and company details from commercial realtors. I realise that this might require some investment in staffing but at the moment your website is a total sham. I replied to over 30 adds looking for a one bedroom flat and 25 of them were Western Union scams! This part of your website for rental options is a complete waste of time and for the unenlightened/educated a serious risk. A far better option for anyone looking for housing in the UK is to go to www.zapp.com At least their adds are up to date, the comercial suppliers contact you and there are no scammers! Get your act together Gumtree. P.S. You don't even plaster banners on your accomodation adds warning against this so they would be clearly visible/understandable to all users.

[misssj]

I totally agree with that. The only warning they have on the page is really tiny red writing that is hardly noticeable. It needs to be big and bold so that people see it BEFORE they look for a place, rather than seeing it after they have been scammed. Its ridiculous.

Here is another one anyway people...

LaJohnymon@aol.com - John Laymon

[ozinlondon]

Just to let you all know (If you actually get to read this) I did not cite zapp.com in my previous post. I cited http://www.zap .com/ So if Gumtree are prepared to undertake that level of subterfuge what else are they capable of particularly as far as sscamming people is concerned? A forum is meant for open and unedited discussion. The moderator has the right to delete post but not edit. With this kind of behaviour it really asks major questions of the integrity of this website. AND I have not even mentioned that there are bicycles advertised on Gumtree from guys that will even steal to order for you once you reply to one of their adds!!!! There is no way in the world that I would recommend this site and you wont catch me using it in any way shape or form anymore, it is way too dodgy. P.S. I hope you get to read this post!!

[montyzuma]

hi oz

thank you for your input but please do not spam the forums

also where do you get this stuff?????

? A forum is meant for open and unedited discussion
The moderator has the right to delete post but not edit

where does it say the above??????

if you prefer i can delete your posts if they are against tyhe rules


forum rules state
5. No SPAM, commercial advertisement or links to promote other websites – this includes using a company name as your username or having a commercial link in your signature.

theres no subterfuge about it it was me,



which is why your link was removed the alternative being to detelte your post

please do not start on conspiracy theories theres enough of that elsewhere

your input is appreciated but ive been on here for a while and change takes time, you might want to take your time and have a shufti about before making random accusations.

http://netcred.co.uk/security/western-union-fraud.html

[misssj]

http://www.gumtree.com/cgi-bin/list_postings.pl?search_terms=42309299&posting_cat=2477

This is a fake advert!

[montyzuma]

been deleted

[misssj]

thomasg938@hotmail.com - T G
This is also the same person as the one who pretended to be two different women to me. Funnily enough they must have drawn enough people into that advert as it has gone now.

I didnt even ask anything about the flat in the first place. I just made a comment saying '£115 a week for a flat in chelsea???' and they replied with blah blah blah I am in Italy, you can have the flat for 3 years. All the usual bull.

Thanks for deleting that other post if you did

[netsafer]

HOT NEWS!

The fake ID used in the Western Union/MoneyGram 'wire-a-friend' fraud is now openly advertised on Gumtree!!

http://forums.gumtree.com/about371896.html

http://forums.gumtree.com/about371903.html

Montyzuma - The Gumtree mods are doing nothing. Can you help to get these posts taken down AND REPORTED TO THE POLICE

[**Pika**]

[misssj]

richardwillmsen777777@gmail.com - Richard something or other

This guy uses several email addresses all with richardwillmsen in it somewhere.

To be honest, I really am not amused by this any more. I placed an advert because I am looking for a place with my friend. In it I wrote, please don't contact me if you require western union transfers because we are not interested. And gumtree did not post it. I guess purely for that line because I re-wrote it without that sentence and it has been published. Mickey take! What is wrong with saying I am not interested!? Cos now when I go in my inbox today I already have someone trying to con me. Ridiculous!!!

[karinkleen]

hl63.olivia@gmail.com

olivia hl

#42693826: 2 bedrooms in Leconfield Road, Islington, N5 630/month

Thanks for the email and nice to read from you,i can assure you of the viewing but i will like to discuss some thing with you, as you know am in Liverpool currently and before i can come down to London for the viewing i will like to see a proof of your financial capacity and to know how serious you are in need of the property because i have been fooled so many times and i will not let that to happen to me again, Been fooled by several tenant telling me to come from Liverpool to London to show them my property but when i got there for the viewing they will never show up and when i called there phone they will keep on banging the phone on me so it has been a very sad and disappointing occasion for me and i waste alot of money also for transport when coming for the viewing, so i don't want that to happen to me anymore,that is why my solicitor advice me that any tenant that want me to come for a viewing or want me to reserve my property down for him/she will have to show me a proof of there seriousness in the property,well this is what you will have to do for me before i can come down for the viewing, You will pay 3 months rent cash (£1890) to any of your friend, family,after you've made the transfer finish you will be given a receipt from the western union agent,you will have to scan and email me the receipt to make the confirmation from western union if you made any transaction from them or not, immediately i made the confirmation from them and i confirm that you have made the transfer through them i must to meet for the viewing, I will want you to read this and understand me better, just to let you know this am not asking you to send me any money before showing you my property but i just need a proof through western union receipt, I want you to know that there are so many people who have sent me fake bank statement and reference for a proof but it's all fake, and moreover i don't like interfering with other people's privacy so i will not like to see any reference from anywhere or bank statement, (am sorry for sounding rude) but as you know i need to tell you my feelings and what is pitching me.
You can view the property next day after you prove the payment or when you have time.

[misssj]

Same person I had twice under different female names.