Money Gram transfer to a friend to prove I have funds??

Tranq · Joined: 15 Oct 2009 Posts: 2

Hi,
I'm new to gum tree, so hi Smile

I'm looking to move to London from Manchester as I have a new job starting next month.
I found an advert, which prompty got taken down after I emailed them showing intrest to arrange a viewing, for a (I think too good to be true) massive appartment near Kings Cross, £120 all bills included. Though, thought I'd email and see if I can see it and go from there.
In response to my email I was asked to do a money gram transfer of a months rent + deposit - to a friend not him - and to send a copy of the recipet to him so he can confirm I have the money.
Ringing him up to ask if driving manchester to London (£50 petrol, hours driving) was good enough proof that I'd have the money, he said no and was pursistant about the doing the transfer (and that he would pay back the cost of the transfer).
I have a bad feeling about this, never having heard, let along used money gram untill today (and seeing alot of bad experience on here and google) I am weary and wanting some confirmation either that it's safe and it happens all the time, or if I am right in thinking I'll never see the £1000 again...

A copy of the email I recieved from: ascdgftry@gmail.com - even the email seems suspect

Tranq · Joined: 15 Oct 2009 Posts: 2

Just noticed I got moved to a different forum after registering and logging in, sorry this was meant to be in accomodation - if someone can move it that would be apprichiated. Can't see a way of deleting Sad

montyzuma · Community Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 7555

if you send money by moneygram or western union you will never see it again

anyone who want you to use it is a scammer

Bluey · Community Moderator Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643

Any money transferred by Western Union or Moneygram can vanish literally without trace...

Most frequently targeting flat rental sites, the victim is asked to prove that they have access to sufficient funds to cover a period of rental by transferring the amount NOT TO THE SCAMMER BUT TO A FRIEND/RELATIVE. The scammer explains that this is perfectly safe as they have no access to the funds but only require a fax copy of the receipt to be assured that the renter can afford the rent. Victims are reassured because the transfer is to a relative or friend.

Unfortunately, the details on the receipt are sufficient to get a remote Western Union office to release the funds with only a (false) signature required! At one time it was thought that such low level of proof was only for sums below £500 but recently sums in excess of £1000 have been taken in this way.

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