Scam in progress

la_li_lu_le_lo · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Okay, so some one emailed me after I put an ad on gumtree. It sounded to good to be true so I delved a little deeper (thanks to google search and other posts here!). In short, someone expects me to pay deposit and first month rent before even meeting or seeing the accommodation! We have a meeting this week and of course I am not going ahead with it, but what should I do? Personally I don't think the police will be interested, but this person (or people) must have scammed a lot of others here.

Sanne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 156

Do you think you are even going to get a chance to meet the person? Usually something "comes up" at the last minute and they can't meet you, but still want you to send the money. Most of these scammers are overseas so there's nothing the police can do.

gums · Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 291

sanne you are 100 per right there

meaksticks · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I am also experiencing a raft of e-mails that seem immensely dodgy, mainly becasue they are too good to be true!
People keep e-mailing in broken English, wittering on about intentions and people letting them down and train fares etc. Some guy even said he could bring the keys....just needed to let him know! How on earth would we be able to voew the property with no keys.
Plus, they all bang on about deposits to secure the place and rent up front. I would never hand over any money until the move date!
You don't have to with agencies apart from their stupid vetting fee, so why would you with a private landlord!
I am beginning to loose hope of finding anywhere soon as I am becoming ove suspiscious and it is becoming exceedingly difficult to spot the genuine from the scammers!!!!!! String them up!!!

I am particularly suspiscious of a Naomi Bingham and Nick Stinson - does anyone else have any experience of these people?

Sanne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 156

The scammers usually don't use the same name twice, so once someone is burned and posts about the on this board, they have created 50 new email accounts with new names.

I ended up going with an agency in the end because every "private" landlord I contacted turned out to be either a scammer or an agency not listing themselves as such. Even on loot, it was the same situation. I have a friend who has found 2 places with private landlords on gumtree, one on her own and another when she decided to share with a friend, and both places were great. Unfortunately I didn't have that experience.

As an experiment I had posted a "flat wanted" ad and was contacted by 3 different spammers within the first 24 hours alone. All of them were out of town/country, sick of time wasters, needed proof of fund, etc, etc, etc

bigblueeyes · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 68

i too, have been contacted by several ridiculous scammers. your right sanne as soon as you post or re-post they're there ready to jump. i put up a post a while ago stating very clearly on it that i was only willing to hear from genuine people and not to even bother with the western union/ moneygram thing, i got a shocking amount of replies - a big fat 0!!!!

But i too am sick of the scammers, general con artists who target the stupidly rich and greedy i have no problem with (they're no likely to get me any time soon) but these scammers really get under my skin they're purposely targeting people who aren't in financial positions to lose that amount of money and are probably desperate for somewhere to live.

the bad grammar and use of the english language alone proves that they don't speak english as a first language and i would guess that its probably not even the second or third!

before anyone digs at my grammar, i am perfectly aware that it is an area i have always struggled with and i apologise but at least the majority of my speeling iz rite!!!

Cov · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 2170 Location: London

bigblueeyes ... I wud say dont worrie too much about granma spehling mistakes, they hapen to everyone of us sooner or laterz.

So pelease spend you time on gumtre relaxed and have foot massage too.

Live is too shoort to worrie, you knew ?

reilly · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

i just posted the same thing! i have had emails from loads of 'different' properties that are too good to be true!

I thought about whether the police cared or not too, if anyone has actually fallen for this then they should!!

bigblueeyes · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 68

bigblueeyes · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 68

reilly, from what i can gather there are few people who have been conned this way and as i said before i find it totally sick.
only advice i can give is to keep your wits about you and generally if the places sound too good to be true - they probably are!

Nutt3r · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

smithjchris · Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

Got a Nick Stinson here from a wanted ad....

Stinky points:

* Engineer in Scotland (I'm an engineer - we proudly say "electronics" or "mechanical" not just "engineer").
* Moving to Italy.
* Has "just inherited" the property.
* Lawyer instead of solicitor mentioned.
* Wants deposit up from as guarantee for Scotland travel costs.
* I have a photographic memory, know the area really well and the house's postcode is of a different type of building to what has been specified.
* Poor English.
* One of the photos sent has a hotel card lock on the door (looks like resort property - think butlins stock photos).
* Photos are all carefully resized and scaled etc and have EXIF information headers which have been blanked rather than were never present.
* Photos are definitely not permanent accomodation.
* Unrealistically low deposit for type of property -> 4/5 of the monthly rent.
* Mentioned hair dryer as part of the fittings and fixtures?!?
* Apartment, not flat, not house.
* Gmail account nstin122@googlemail.com - these are v.easy to obtain.

You got to be really thick to fall for these guys.

Can anyone tell me where your scammer properties were supposedly located so we can track where they are targetting?

Mine was in Twickenham, SW London.

Sanne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 156

When I was looking, there was one place supposedly on Regents Park Road, and another on "Knight Bridge" as he called Knightsbridge

smithjchris · Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

Oh and the guy's phone didn't work and he would call us from a pay phone. Tut tut.

midgetlucy · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I've had 3 people contacting me with really good properties and really good prices including bills. Has anyone had someone called peter jerry or John Timber? How can i report these people? As i really am in need of somewhere to live and they are just wastig my time

Mr_X · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 102

NadaMucho · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

The person using Nick Stinson [mailto:xnick122@googlemail.com] as a name is definitely a scammer. Below is the exact email he sent an out of town friend of mine who had posted an ad on Gumtree looking for a flat in Hammersmith.

Hopefully others will also find this post through a quick web search before they get duped.

Aaron

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I also have another three bedroom apartment in W6 0LS.The rent goes for 1200GBP(council tax and bills inclusive),deposit 1000GBP.
It was nice reading from you.
I work as an Engineer,currently supervising the building construction of an hotel in Edinburgh which would be finishing soon before i leave for Italy where i start my new job.
For this reason,i wont be living in the apartment,i only inherited it and haven't lived in it for too long.I wouldn't like to leave it dirty and unkept so i need clean and responsible tenant.
Apartment amenities include. Central Heating,Refrigerator,Ironing Board,Good wireless internet Connection,Washing machine,Dishwasher,Microwave Oven,Television with Built-in DVD Player,Coffee Maker,Double Sofabed in Sitting Room,Dining Area,Hairdryer just to mention a few.
Unfortunately my phone is bad and wouldn't be able to receive phone calls at the moment,so communication via email would be better at the moment,probably i could give you a call later when i get on a pay phone as am not thinking of buying a new phone here as am leaving in few weeks.
As regards the viewing,i think we could fix a date i come down for the viewing and we reach an agreement.Have been very busy with work lately so its hard for me to spare time,i would like to be more certain about your intentions before booking my plane tickets for this.
I would be staying in Italy for more than 4 years so its up to you to decide how long you want the apartment for.
Please let me know what are the things you have in mind...how many people would be occupying the apartment and for how long you want the contract to last for.
Also let me know when you intend to move in and more other details you feel necessary for me to know.
Whereabouts do you live in currently?
Pls find attached pictures of the apartment.
Waiting to read from you.
Nick Stinson.
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