[anonyy]

hi i posted an ad on here to attract offers of somewhere to live

a few days ago 2 people with similar email address in the way the first name and surname have been created, how they write sounds foreign they both had the same mobile number which starts in 07024 i called them but even before i did i had suspicions this is a funny code originally both of these people removed the first 0 from the code

[the_tidy_kiwi]

Hi guys,

Make sure you report these to us by using the links you get on the emails that are sent through the Gumtree system, or via the 'Stay Safe' pages below.

[MANGO2512]

HI, I TOO RECIEVED EMAILS FROM A PERSON CALLED RICHARD REF A FLAT!! I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THE TELEPHONE NUMBER BUT KEPT IN TOUCH VIA EMAIL!! ONCE HE MENTIONED WESTERN UNION AND THE PRICE OF THE APARTMENY/HOUSE(ONLY 410 INC BILLS) VERY LOW FOR THE AREA I KNEW IT WAS PROBERBLY A SCAM. I EMAILED HIM BACK SAYING I KNEW I WAS CAPABLE OF PAYING THE RENT AND FOUND IT A VERY STRANGE WAY TO ARRANGE A VIEWING ON A PROPERY!! AND LOW AND BEHOLD I HAVE NOT RECIEVED ANYTHING ELSE FROM HIM. PLEASE BEWARE OF THIS.

[anonyy]

how can people report these people they contacted ME through the site, it would be better if people post on the FORUMS instead os that ip's can be logged, as some people allow their email address to be shown on the website.

[barnett683]

anything to do with western union is a SCAM!!!!!!!

get it!

[anonyy]

i didn't get that far they didn't say anything about western union but they didn't want me to deposit money. i just said i am not happy to do a transaction to VIEW the property and they kept coming back at me saying they had their property broken into and siad their solicitor recommended charging people.

what i cant understand is why the police don't want to do anything about it, i forwarded the emails to trading standards people as the police told me to contact them

[bs2tb]

this scam is running in oxford at thye moment. I have had 2 people answer my add for a place in the last week both using this scam.

Is there no way a warning could be displayed on the oxford site to make people aware?

[anonyy]

i think gumtree has a certain responsibility with the aspect of INFORMING the public what is currently going on with scams. it isnt immediately visible i think at the top of every page there should be warnings about what not to do and what to look out for if peopel email you asking you to call them etc, and i think there should be rules when people reply to your ad saying they should not offer a telephone straight away in whatever circumstances etc.

[montyzuma]

sorry but i think there is, might be wrong, but stone me , you cant lead people by the hand. it's a big ruff world out there

[FunkyT]

If anyonee wants to report a dodgy ad, please do so by the link in the bottom right hand corner of the ad, which say "Report this to Gumtree Admin".

If you get a dodgy reply to your ad and again want to report it, please do so via the help pages on the homepage, http://www.gumtree.com/help/stay_safe#item85

There is also a link called SCAM WATCH, which is in the Help section as well. This gives you info on different scams http://www.gumtree.com/help/stay_safe#item76

[dbnpoizn]

[franfran]

Hey the scammers are very much still about. I have been receiving emails from someone going by the name of Linda Brown (Too English a name for the poor grammer this hoaxer is using!) after posting an ad myself- looking for a 3-bed property. These hoaxers are gettin more and more skilled by the day, by sending photos and providing a streetname (Clapham High Street and a postcode) to make them seem genuine! THEY ARE NOT!!!

I have pasted in a couple of emails that 'Linda' sent-I knew it was a hoax as it was too good an offer to believe but as soon as they mentioned Western Union I knew for definite. Here they are. WE MUST BE VIGILANT AGAINST THESE NASTY VICIOUS AND DECEIVING TWA*S!!!!!

FIRST EMAIL: Hello> > I saw your adv on GUMTREE and was wondering if you are still> looking for apartment,if so do no hesitate to get back to me for more> details on my personal email> > lindbrown00@gmail.com>

SECOND EMAIL:

Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:00:11 -0800From:
lindbrown00@gmail.com To*******Subject:

Hello Thanks for getting back to me. My name is Linda and i presently study in Newcastle.Here are the following details about my 2bedroom apartment.. The apartment is located at Clapham High St, London, SW4 7TB and it comprises lovely dining lounge with large widescreen digital TV and> broadband internet DVD CD Radio and guidebooks movies,apartment is well equipped,furnished and with internet wireless andcommunications access,the equipment such as electronics,cooker,drier,anger ,refrigerator,so fans,chairs,gas cooker,internet, windows. Am sending to you with this mail the pictures of the apartment..Hope you like them? The fitted kitchen has all appliances inc washer drier fridge freezer microwave and is self catering with complimentary tea coffee. The have freshly laundered linen towels included and an iron hairdrier are provided also. The bathroom has abath and shower as well.The monthly rent for the apartment including the Bills and utility Cost is 750pounds and a security Deposit of> 900pounds which is refundable if you do not damage any of my properties in my Flat, while your stay there.because if you do make any damages the money of the damages will be deducted from the security deposit while the rest will be refunded back to you and if you do not make any damages then the whole amount of the money will berefunded back to you.There is also garage> for your car park and garden..Get back to me so that we can proceed with> other necessaryarrangement. Looking forward to hearing from you.Thanks

THIRD EMAIL: (THIS IS WHERE THE PENNY DROPPED!!)

Linda Brown (lindbrown00@gmail.com)
Sent: 12 February 2008 22:05:58
To: *********

Hello Francesca You can rent the apartment for a period of 13months as that will be myperiod of study..i will be visiting my cousins during the period of myholidays..thanks for your interest in my apartment.I have seen peoplewho promise to rent the apartment but after meeting with them but atthe end of the day,they do not have the money for the apartment. However I may not be able to assure you of a viewing of theapartment until I have seen a proof of your ability to rent theapartment. I need to see that you have the Money to pay for myapartment and also take care of it while you are there.It would notbe necessary for you to send me your Bank Statement. What you needto do is for you to locate a Western Union Outlet and Send 1MonthRent and the Security Deposit to your friend or any of your familymember within the UK and get back to me with the Western UnionReceipt. I only need to see the Western Union Receipt to confirmthe money was really transfered and I will arrange for a viewingfor you thereafter, who so ever you might have sent the Money towould go to Western Union to collect the Money to pay me in cash inmy apartment. You would not be sharing the apartment with anyone,You would be renting the whole property. but if you don't wantto rent the whole property, I can make an arrangement for that. ButI need to see the Western Union Receipt to confirm you have theMoney before going aheadBest Regards

I hope that this helps someone out! They cannot get away with it!!

[leonardopie]

"poor grammer" - LOL!! I love it!

[lukewoolfson]

ok just got taken for a ride....I thought it was to good to be true...and well it was. Pah, lucky I didn't lose any money. I had put a wanted ad up for a flat in North London and got sent a email from a 'Carolyna A Bay' a doctor who owns a property in St John's wood...and wanted to rent it for £175 pw inc bills...mmm a little suspect. After a few emails back and forth the killer western union transfer came up with a suspect number....along with all the bad English all the way through.

Here are the emails I got sent below and I've reported the email address (carolyna.drbay@yahoo.com) to yahoo so hopefully they will kill it.


email 1:

I was notify by gumtree this morning as a landlord in london that you are one of the flat seeker,s if still looking kindly get back to me with the

Regards
Dr Carolyna

email 2:

Hello
Thanks for your mail. I am a very young comfortable surgical doctor,45 who works in almost in every part of the united kingdom and also own my hospital in ediburgh and manchester.I would like to rent out 2 double bedroom Garden house with Broad Band Internet to a very easy going person at 175 per week including all bills.available now for you to occupy for a long time
My apartment is very comfortable fully furnished House on ground floor of brand duplex flat.
Located in quiet residential area is fully furnished with large fitted wardrobes, offering heaps of storage space. Large fully equipped kitchen, toilets and unlimited wireless internet.
I dont want any problem for myself.., i need to know the person that will occupy my apartment that is, the person that willl take care of my apartment like theirs because am letting the flat out because am presently in portmounths attending to patience and as well as going through a forum. It is not compulsory that i rent out the flat but if i can get a reliable and tidy person that will take care of my flat for me i can let it out.so i need to know them better i.e what you and your partner are into.
Waiting to read from you.
Regards
Carolyn A. Bay , MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics

email 3:

The apartment is located in Allitsen Rd,St. Johns Wood,
London,NW8

[Attached some pictures of a great flat...with dodgy file names like 1.jpg 111.jpg 11(2).jpg]

email 4:

Hello ,
Thanks so much for the reply and interest in my Flat. 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.I am renting this flat on a long time basis but if you want to stay for just few months no problem.
But the issue is that i have been having problems with time wasters with regards to making the payment for the Flat and this was really a wasted time because i am presently in portsmouth on a seminar as well as attending to some surgical patient,but have my Laptop here to reply to emails.
However,how am i going to be sure that i will not be disappointed when i come around to show you the flat?Please understand that i am NOT asking you to pay for what you have not seen.People have told me that they will pay upon us meeting if they are satisfied but they all don't have the money to pay,everyone of them is looking for a free or cheaper Flat to rent despite the fact that i have made the rent Cheap.
Pls,i need you suggestion here because you can't pay for what you have not seen,it is not advisable.
However,i am also discussing with my Colleague here as regards idea on what i can do.I will get back to you or you suggest on what to do so that we can arrange a meeting and the viewing of the flat.Thanks while i will be waiting read from you.
Do not hesitate to ask any question. feel free to ask me any question.
waiting to read from you.
Carolyn A. Bay , MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
N.B:
Do you have the money to pay me if you like the Flat after viewing?
How many are you to occupy the Flat?.

email 5:

The rent is very low just because i need someone to take better care of the house not the house rent aspect.The money is not the most important?The most important is how you want to take care of the house?and also how responsible you are?When i asked my colleague here in portsmounth, she said i should call my lawyer then i did.My lawyer suggested that for both of us to be on a safer side,he said that we can both do it this way that for you to show that you have the cash to pay for my rent and deposit and you will not disappoint me when i come down from portsmounth to sort the viewing, the best you can give me as a proof is to show that you have the cash in hand to pay.
Is that you should go to any western union money transfer outlet close to you, to send the rent for one month + refundable deposit 400pounds in any of your friends name to your own name in your present address...all i need is the scanned copy of the transfer receipt for confirmation on the westen union customer care line if the money is real there for you to pick up for me or you tell any of your friend to send the money to you. when i come around to sort things with you,we will both go and pick up the money together then you pay me up.moreover, you are not sending the money to me, which i can do to person and i can never accept it. You are in custody of your money all i just needed is to see it that you truly have the cash to pay me when i come down.and i will refund the transfer charges back to you when i come over to hand over the house keys to you.Call my lawyer for more infor 7031914342

Feel free to ask me any question.
waiting to read from you.
Carolyna A Bay

--

[kamillax]

Another example:

Dear Camilla,
Its wonderful reading from you regarding the flat.It is a beautifully styled and spacious three bedroomed duplex apartment, located on the first and second floors of this period conversion and boasting gorgeous wood floor throughout, eat-in kitchen and terrace. The property further comprises lovely reception room, kitchen with integrated appliances, three spacious bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with mosaic tiled bathrooms. I am using 1 of the rooms and want to rent out the remaining 2 rooms and hope thats fine with you to accept.Westbourne Park Road is located moments from Portobello Road with its vibrant market and trendy surrounding restaurants, shops and bars. Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith & City Line) is the nearest underground station.

It is situated at 10, Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2BQ.The flat is available for rent now and you have to act fast to retain it.The monthly rent for the room is £400 and you have to let me know how many months you want it for so i can know the exact amount of months you will be staying there.You have your own privacy to your room and without anybody interfering in what you do.It is a well furnished flat with all taxes and utilities bills included in the rent.

In addition,you have to pay a refundable security deposit fee of £520 before you move into the apartment and i will send you the Contract after you have made payment of the £520 security deposit fee.The deposit will be refunded to you at the expiration of your stay at my flat and its needed to be paid upfront so i can have a guarantee that you are moving into the place and i can tell other interested persons that it is already booked.I hope you understand.

About myself,i am a patient,understanding and friendly lady.I dont smoke nor drink alcohol but if you smoke and drink,its ok with me as long as you keep the flat clean and not messy.I work as a Manager for a new branch of Walmart where i was posted to recently and i dont have pets but i like pets.I am a down toearth lady,like to have fun with friends,go out to parties once in a while to unwind and most times when am not at work,i relax at home.Also,send me your full names,your complete home address,date of birth{month,day,year}.

I am also emailing you the pictures of the flat and hope you will like it.It is in a peaceful and cordial environment as well.Here is my details to send the deposit to through western union money transfer:

NAME: DIANA JOHNSON

ADDRESS: 10, Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2BQ

In addition,you can send the 520 Pounds deposit through western union this way: USE YOUR OWN NAME AS THE SENDER OF THE MONEY AND USE YOUR FRIEND OR ANY FAMILY MEMBER'S NAME AS THE RECEIVER AND BY THIS WAY,I WONT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY,I WILL ONLY CALL WESTERN UNION AND CONFIRM IF THE MONEY IS THERE AND IF THEY SAY ITS THERE,I WILL THEN SEND YOU THE CONTRACT AND WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENT...I AM NOT AFTER YOUR MONEY AND ONLY NEED THIS AS A GUARANTEE BEFORE YOU CAN VIEW/MOVE INTO THE APARTMENT AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS....

As soon as you have sent the deposit through western union in my details or in your own details,email me the western union money transfer information as follows:

1, Sender's full name and Address

2, Receiver's full name and address

3, Amount sent

4, Money Transfer Control Number {mtcn}

Also,once i confirm the payment,i will forward you the contract so you can sign and return to me and thereafter we can make arrangement for when you will come around to view and move into the apartment and i will handover the keys to you.I am not after your money,so let your mind be at rest.God bless you as i wait to read from you soon with the western union money transfer details so i can confirm the money,send you the contract and we can finalise the remaining arrangements.Also,i have little speech problem,am a stammerer but i still get to communicate well,my contact phone number is 07031955932 and if you call,my husband edward will pick the phone and speak with you.Take care.By the way,you are beautiful.

Diana Johnson.

[abongobabe]

This thread confirmed my suspicions...

From: "james coore" <jamescoore@yahoo.com>

Hi MARGI,
Thanks for the continous replies. I would like to you to know that some tenants who came up for viewings in the past weeks had exercise a sign of unseriousness and time wasting towards getting the property. For both of us to be on a safer side and to avoid time wasting here i have decided to take these steps i.e knowing you are capable of paying for the rent before taking you for a view as i'm sure you would be in love with the flat as it looks exactly the way its in the picture. Since you wont be living in the flat alone, i would want you to calculate the rent for the six weeks (the deposit) and send it to someone close to you as i wont advise you sending money to me because you dont know me. Maybe the person you would be living with or your fiance or friend's account via moneygram or western union as bank transfer would waste time here(due to the verification process that takes up to 3 days) and after the transfer you email me the scanned receipt and once i confirm it available online i would arrange on how we meet for the viewing immediately. I promise to refund to you the moneygram charges when we meet up. With these steps i would be convinced as i know the cash would be ready and at hand at your disposal. I also want you to know i am serious about letting the property to you.
Thanks.
JAMES

This seems rather funny as I had not seen any pics of this flat at all!!

[abongobabe]

A response to a flat wanted in Derbyshire from "Jennie Jennie" <flat.jennie_2@yahoo.com>

Email 1

A furnished 1 bedroom flat is available. Are you still looking for an interesting flat to rent if Yes , i have a good , decent and a better flat to rent out to a Tenant at Codnor Area Derby England, its not a shared Flat but a sole occupant to my property,if you have an interest in it.The flat will be rented out for(400pcm) utilities,security and bills all inclusive. A refundable deposit of (600pcm) is required.
best regards
Jennie


Email 2 (some description!)

Hello
thanks for your mail and also you need not to be sorry because you really need to know and have clue of what you want to used your money for ,so i will like you to know that if you are looking for a suitable flat , then my property will seems to be nice to you and also even if you want to share with someone with your self but as for me to let you know that no one is sharing property with you from my own side i mean no one is because my husband and i with the kids have relocate to Spain , has i have already informed you before ....so i will like you to have the hole details of the flat
The house is well-furnished with light, neutral decor and real wooden floorboards and double glazing throughout.Berlin Maisonette 80 Sqm Apartment on the floors + 50 Sqm Private Garden.Total space: 130 Sqm (1400 square feet)The bedroom is 18ft x 11ft with one wall of built in wardrobes and could be made into two rooms as other people have done it and it looks good.Separate toilet and bathroom with power shower over bath.There are windows in all rooms, the bedroom windows are wall to wall and let in lots of natural light.Lounge 18ft x 11ft, door at each end and big floor to ceiling window at one end with French doors that open onto a fully enclosed patio'd garden, approx 25ft x 15ft, and a small long window the other end.Kitchen/diner 18ft x 11ft with floor to ceiling .
Apartment features :
1 double bedrooms with plenty of storage and cupboard space; a living room; a dining room with glass doors leading onto the garden; fully-fitted kitchen, (also with door leading onto the garden); very large upstairs bathroom with power-shower; lovely garden (which is half patio ed and has table and chairs for al fresco dining); and off-street parking.Off street parking for at least 5 cars! Garage
The twin-bedded double room, living room with dining table+chairs, sofa-bed & 2 armchairs. Cable TV, VCR, DVD, Cassette/CD Radio, Broadband internet free, Telephone . Patio with furniture. Shower over bath, Kitchen, Microwave, Dishwasher, Washing m/c, Electricity & Full Central gas heating included and double glazed.There is a big square outside the back of the house where the children can play in safety.The flat will be rented out for(400pcm) utilities,security and bills all inclusive. A refundable deposit of (600pcm) is required. Cleaned and linen change every Fridays.
Location details.
In quiet residential area , with numerous shops, bars, restaurants & amenities close by.To the train station numerous buses to the City.
Note this :
No one is sharing the flat with you . i was just been messed up by some silly tenant so i want someone who is really ready and also someone who will handle the property like it own ...i need to be sure if you are ready to be committed to these property .

Email 3

can make up with that if i can have 100% assurance that you are really serious about my Flat ..that is if you can convince me with an significant prove of payment that you are willing and committed to rent the flat.so if you can show me a evidence of payment which will convinced me, in you have the money at hand. More so i am not asking you to make the payment to me No but to yourself through someone you trust and guess that shouldn't be a problem for you to do if you really want to secure the property, i will surely arrange the time of yours

[imavip]

If anyone falls for this scam then they deserved to be ripped off.

Its a scam with a mirror at the other side.

[mjm]

[Dirty Mom]

[imavip]

Why would any idiot part with cash crazy!!!

[JennyD]

i have just had 2 replys to my accomodation wanted ad. both requested that i transfer money through the western union before even viewing the property. people like this really get on my nerves. who do they think they are. is there somewhere they can be reported other than gumtree?

[montyzuma]

abuse@yahoo.com or whoever they have the email address with

[SammyMo]

Ok, I know this sounds stupid, especially given all that is written above, but we just fell for this scam.
Neither me or my flatmate have ever used Gumtree to find a flat - I've always gone through an Agent, he's always lived with friends.

We responded to and ad on Gumtree on 20th June 2008, advertising a 3 bed in Pimlico for £300 a week. We quickly received a reply from the 'landlady in Sweden', "Christer Gosta", who said her Aunt had died and left the London flat, and that there were 2 german students living there, and they just moved out. She said that someone had been interested in the flat, but when Christer came over from Sweden to sign the contracts, the person never showed up.
Thus, for insurance and before she booked her flights, she wanted us to prove we had the money before we could view the flat. We needed to transfer the money from one flatmate to the other, and she would refund us the fee - £75 for that amount of money. She provided us with beautiful photos of the flat, a rental contract (pdf, unsigned) and a couple of telephone numbers.

Believe me, I am the most cautious person with fraud/money scams, and I only ever use PayPal to pay for things online, in case my card is cloned etc etc... I thought, well why don't we just buy her flights and then if it's a scam we'll get out money back. I dictated an e-mail to my flatmate, explaining to Christer that in this country you don't pay any money before you view a flat, it's just not the way it is done. I initially refused to stump up the money to make the transfer, but my flatmates had it available and went ahead.

So anyway, they transferred £1700 from one flatmate to the other, then collected the money immediately. We sent her the receipt, only to get the reply that "the money wasn't available" when she checked, thus defeating the object of the transfer. We should have guessed then - but her English was so bad, we thought she had just not explained herself properly.
She assured us she would refund the transfer fees - now totalling £145.

So, after getting into a bit of a panic that we were going to lose the flat, I transferred £1800 - the original requested amount - through Western Union to my flatmate, and e-mailed her the MTC Number.

Having not heard from her in several days, we found another ad on Gumtree and e-mailed for information. The reply came back that this person's Aunt died a couple of years ago, leaving them the flat, and that there were currently 2 german students living there. Exactly what Christer had said.
So now the dramatic bit: my flatmate attempted to withdraw the money from Western Union, only to find the money gone.
We are in contact with Western Union and the Police Fraud team to resolve the matter. Western Union are not accepting any responsibilty, despite the fact that they accepted fake ID from someone.
I just had a shouting match with the Western Union fraud department as he literally called me stupid on the phone: "You were stupid in giving the Money Control Number to anyone other than the receiver, it's the same as giving your PIN to someone in the street". I pointed out that the ID provided for the collection was fake, he told me that not even the Police can tell fake IDs sometimes, let alone a Western Union agent. I then asked if he was denying all responsibility, as a Western Union representative, and he basically said yes.
The Police, on the other hand, have been ridiculously helpful and have assigned an officer to the case.

I am aware NOW, after the fact, that there is a large thread about this on Gumtree, but I'm afraid we fell for the scam - it all seemed so convincing, she had a back story etc etc. We even did the transfer twice! Just think, if we'd read this thread in between transfers we would've been safe.

I know it all sounds obvious: Don't pay ANYTHING to ANYONE before you view a flat. We thought we were safe by transferring from one friend to another - indeed, we almost were - but ID is not difficult to fake. We were convinced the 'landlady' was in Sweden, and it took me several minutes to realise that she didn't exist. The money was withdrawn from Wandsworth, South London - what a surprise, crime based in South London.

So there's our sorry tale, and I'm now £1875 out of pocket, with no hope of getting it back. Please please please don't use Western Union for any payment to anyone - give yourself some protection.

And now for the onslaught of postings about our stupidity...

[weeowen]

Well, Western Union does say on their site not to give the MCTN number out to anyone you don't want to have the cash.

They are right, it is like giving someone your pin number, or credit-card (and the number on the back) details.