[AEN1298]

I'm interested with a flat rental ad posted in Gumtree. After several communications with the landlord, I've decided to take a look of the offered property.

However the landlord doesn't live in London, therefore, she has engaged "Gumtree Rent Safe" system to initiate the viewing & etc.

I received an email from Gumtree on "Gumtree Rent Safe" policy for this rental after I've provided my full name to the landlord.
I was told by Gumtree to transfer £1,000(advance payment + security deposit) via Western Union in order to initiate the viewing arrangement.

I'm worried this might be another housing scam as the tactic used is a bit similar to those scam cases.

And the Gumtree logo being used in the email from Gumtree is also quite different. It's a normal Gumtree logo but with a "RS" next to "Gumtree" word. Here's the image of the logo.
[URL=http://img269.imageshack.us/i/logogumtree.png/][IMG]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/208/logogumtree.png[/IMG][/URL]

Would very much appreciated if someone could advise me if this is genuine.

Thank you very much.

Cheers,
AEN1298

Here's the email from Gumtree:-

Gumtree Rent Safe transaction #XXXXXXX (I've remove the ad# for privacy purposes)
Transaction's details:

Landlord: XXX (I've remove the name for privacy purposes)
Tenant: XXX (I've remove the name for privacy purposes)
Address of property: XXX (I've remove the address for privacy purposes)
Term: XXX
The amount of the rent per month: £508 PCM.
The amount of the security deposit to be paid: £500.
Total amount to be paid upfront: £1008.

This email explains the Gumtree policy and provides the complete instructions regarding this rental transaction, procedure of payment and the security measures developed for this transaction trough Gumtree Rent Safe. We recommend you to read carefully and follow our instructions step by step in order to close this transaction safe and fast. The property will be reserved for you only after all the steps requested will be completed.

Rights and engagements regarding this rental transaction:

The Tenant has rights and engagements according to the policy of Gumtree Rent Safe, as indicated below. The Tenant must respect the Gumtree policy and correctly follow the process, as indicated. We will present you all the stages necessary to rent this property without paying any fee to an agency or to any Landlord. The Landlord who initiate the transaction must be a Gumtree member and must guarantee this transaction with an escrow bank account of minimum £2.000,00. The transaction with this Landlord is ensured by this escrow bank account against any errors of description and any possible hidden problems of this property. This system can be used by Landlord only after he follows an adequate checking and after he deposits a minimum sum of £2.000,00 in an escrow bank account, called Protection Account. The Gumtree Protection Account is an effective solution against any fraud. The Landlord doesn't have the right to conclude this transaction using other payment system than the one requested by Gumtree. In this case the transaction will be suspended and his escrow bank account of £2.000,00 will be lost. This conditions must be respected and once the Landlord receives our confirmation will begin arrangements for the meeting with the Tenant within 24 hours.

How to reserve, inspect and rent the property:

Because the Landlord doesn't live in the same city where is located his property for rent, Gumtree requests a warranty deposit to be made by Tenant, as a proof of good will and committment to rent the property and have the necessary funds available. Gumtree Rent Safe is acting as a third party in this transaction, insuring Tenant's advance payment until the tenancy agreement is signed and the Tenant moves in. If the Tenant will consider that the property's state is not as described by the Landlord and as presented in the pictures, or by any other reason he will not agree to rent the property, he can withdraw the warranty deposit after he will notify Gumtree by email about this situation. Also the Tenant can withdraw the deposit if the Landlord will not set an appointment within 48 hours after this warranty deposit is confirmed by Gumtree. As part of the Housing Act 2004 the Government is introducing tenancy deposit protection for all assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales where a deposit is taken. From April 6th 2007, all deposits paid under an AST have had to be protected within 5 days of receipt by the Landlord. The legislation covers virtually all new AST contracts through which private Landlords let property in England and Wales. The return of a security deposit at the end of a tenancy is by no means guaranteed. Gumtree estate agency will not charge the Tenant for it's services.

What is the warranty deposit:

This transaction uses Western Union as method of making a deposit. You will have to make a deposit equally with the sum of one monthly rent and the security deposit, before meeting the Landlord, inspect and rent the property. According to Gumtree's contract with the Landlord, the deposit will be made only trough Western Union, no other methods of payment being accepted. Because of the high volume of fraud complaint, Gumtree Rent Safe and Western Union are working together to build a safe environment for rental transactions trough Gumtree. Western Union is a fast and safe method to make this deposit which can be verified online anytime. To ensure a fast and reliable way for transferring the funds we are using only Western Union. This company has a very wide network of agencies, and the funds can be confirmed by our side in the shortest time. Actually, it is a matter of minutes.
Gumtree is proud to be an accredited member of the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) and the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme (TDPS), providing landlords, tenants, sellers and buyers with an assurance that they will receive the highest level of customer service.

Security notice ! By making the transfer through Western Union, you will not send the funds directly to an account. You are making a warranty deposit on receiver's name which can be picked up only with the details from the receipt. According to the Gumtree Rent Safe regulation, it is forbidden to send the money transfer details directly to the Landlord. If a Tenant sends the money transfer details directly to the Landlord, the contract with Gumtree will be declared void, and the ongoing transaction will be canceled. By sending us through fax or through email the scanned receipt from Western Union, the Tenant is not revealing those details to the Landlord, as we will never send any information to the Landlord until the transaction is not concluded, or until we are instructed by the Tenant to do so. After we will verify your payment, we will notify the Landlord that he must proceed to the next step of the Rental Transaction by schedualing a viewing of the property and to prepare the tenancy agreement. We will forward the details of the warranty deposit to the Landlord only after we will be notified by you that the tenancy agreement has been signed and you have moved in. The Landlord will NOT have the possibility to pick up the funds from Western Union before Gumtree will notify Western Union.

How to make the warranty deposit:

1. You must find a Western Union location to make this deposit (wire transfer). To find the nearest Western Union location click here. If there is no Western Union location in your city, you will be able to make the wire transfer from another city, without additional costs. You must go there with cash to make this wire transfer.

2. Fill the form. Fill the form “to send money” with the following information:
sender: your name and address (like they appear on your identity card).
receiver: XXX
Amount: £1008.

3. Identify yourself and pay. Give the form, the funds and your identity card to the clerk. Don't forget ! Western Union is a service made to make transfers to relatives and friends, so you must indicate to clerk that you are sending money to a friend or relative in order to complete the transfer.

4. Send us the details of transfer. After you have made the deposit, you must send us the details of transfer and the copy of the receipt by fax at 00442071978022 or you can reply at this email. According to our security policy, you will not have the right to send the details of the transfer directly to Landlord, therefore the Landlord will not be able to receive your payment.

Once we receive the details of your transfer, we will check them and we will announce the Landlord to prepare the tenancy agreement and set an appointment with you within 24 hours. It is necessary to keep the receipt ! We will need a copy of the receipt in case you will discover hidden problems with the property after you will move in and you will request for a refunding. We will conclude your request within 24~48 hour without additional costs. We will be able to refund you trough Western Union or bank transfer. We recommend you to begin this procedure as soon as possible because the property will be reserved for you only 24 hours since you received this email.

Thank you for using Gumtree!
Gumtree Rent Safe Team




[/img]

[ChillyAutumn]

By any chance this flat was not a studio flat in Pimlico was it? And the rent was £127 a week inclusive of bills? As I noticed that the rent came to £508 in the email and the woman I have been speaking to about a Pimlico flat lives in Glasgow and the rent also come to £508. I haven't got as far as being asked to send money yet but she has mentioned Gumtree rent safe. I am gutted if this is a scam as I thought I'd found somewhere to live!!!

Laura.

[AEN1298]

Hi Laura,

I think we're talking about the same person. What's the name of the landlord? Is it Sandra? She said there's another interested tenant on waiting list, could it be you? I'm too skeptical to accept the offer. Well, the offer is just too good to be true and there're just too many suspicious points. I'm going to put off the offer.

Cheers ...

[ChillyAutumn]

Indeed it is Sandra. As I said before she just mentioned using Rent Safe but hadn't mentioned Western Union yet. If she does I will refuse to use it and simply demand to view the flat before any money is transfered, if she refuses I will try and report 'her' some how? I don't know we'll see... I thought it was too good to be true and I'm gutted that it is!

[lizwilding123]

I've also been in contact with Sandra Fordham. It is a scam. No one will ever ask you to send money before seeing a flat...

I suppose if something seems too good to be true it probably is, but i havent had one response on Gumtree that hasnt been a scam yet. Its making me lose faith in people and gumtree entirely!

[lizwilding123]

By the way this is the response i got from them after telling them i knew it was a scam.

Sandra Fordhamsorry for the late reply. the flat is still available. are you still interest...
Jun 17 (2 days ago)

liz wildingHi Sandra Yes, I'm still very interested in renting! Regards
Jun 17 (2 days ago)

Sandra FordhamHi, I am the only owner. The rent is £127 pw, with all the bills and council ...
Jun 17 (2 days ago)

liz wildingHi Sandra, This sounds great. I understand you are based in Glasgow but I wil...
Jun 17 (2 days ago)

Sandra FordhamHi Liz, I am really looking forward to meet you and to get to know you better...
11:57 PM (9 hours ago)

Reply |Sandra Fordham to me
show details 9:50 AM (3 minutes ago) Reply



You are a piece of shit with voma.. cock sucking bastardo !

Nice!!!

[lizwilding123]

Oh and another, as if that last one wasnt enough LOL.

Sandra Fordham to me
show details 10:30 AM (24 minutes ago) Reply



Put this also : Liz Wilding is a stupid hole, she sucks cocks for free ans she likes to lick shit and voma.

[montyzuma]

it'll be a scam then


as soon as western union is mentioned

ignore it

[AEN1298]

I have rejected her offer 1 day ago and I don't hear from her until now. I nearly became a scam victim! Thank you all who has provided your best advice! This case has been reported to Gumtree Support.

Cheers

[sbitaly]

The same happened to me. Apartment next to piccadilly, 274 pound per week. As soon as they sent me the gumtree safe rent e-mail, I forwarded it to gumtree and they answered to me it was scam. The mail i received was the same you posted above! Unbelievable! However, the landlord name was ANNA STEVENSON and she said to me she was in Glasgow! Be careful!

[l3g3nd]

Gutted but glad I found this forum posting. I've just been in touch with someone about a flat as well but not from Gumtree, from Craigslist. It seems that they are getting everywhere.

Mum always told me, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

This one was £175 in Farringdon! I'm about to mail Gumtree to check though!

[montyzuma]

neither gumtree or criagslist operate any kind of vetting procedure

anyone mentioning western union for payment is a scammer

[l3g3nd]

Just glad that a quick search of 'Google Rent Safe' came up with this posting!

[montyzuma]

yep, it's a jungle out there

read some of the posts on accomodation and you will get the picture