To think this is suspicious...?

[Lifegoeson]

I'm looking to rent a flat, landlord is abroad and has experienced time wasters, so understand his predicament, I have received an email from him this morning requesting this...

Hello,
We could meet and maybe sign the tenancy agreement Sunday but you see these is due to previous predicament that I have gone through in the past trying to rent the property to some students,I have got to realize so many people are not really in need of an apartment all they do is secure a place in advance.

My last experience in trying to rent the property to a particular lady had got me topredicate on these,she made me believe she was willing and ready to get the apartment she even went to the extend of showing me her statement of account,which made me took her for the viewing but after taking her for the viewing,she saw the apartment and got to love it and never wanted to loose it,so she kept pleading i retain it for her because she is not financially composed at the moment,which i did but end up disastrously.

So basically for me to be sure of you been willing and ready to get the apartment I will employ you walk into any Post Office,look after a Money Gram agent and send the total bill cash £1440(two months rent and one month refundable deposit) to one of your friend's name, to whoever you want, whoever you trust (NOT to ME) with location of city.

All I need is for you to get back to me with the receipt issued to you after making the transaction so I can confirm it! When we will meet in person to sign the papers we will go together to Money Gram and you will withdraw the cash and pay me in hand or you can pay me on Monday by bank transfer! I just need to see that you do have the money available and you do have serious intentions in renting the flat!

If the Money Gram agent will ask you about the receiver you should tell him that is a relative of yours because the transfer fees will be cheaper! If you will tell them the reason they might consider this a commercial transaction and charge you more. Anyway I will pay for it either you take the flat or not! I will book the flight for Sunday as soon as I have your positive answer because I can come only in weekends!
I do apologise for that but as I told you last time when I arrived to Milton Keynes to show the flat to a person everything was a stupid joke and I hope you understand me because I don`t want to waste my time and money on plane tickets..
Regards

Flat is gorge and a bargain, but unsure about this set up...?

[Changing2011]

I smell a rat... dont go there.

[trixie123]

walk away. This is weird.Have no idea how this would work as a scam and sad to be so suspicious but really? Also, if the flat is really that good, why is it a bargain? No such thing usually.

[Thingumy]

I 've heard of this before-it's a scam.

here

[HecateQueenOfWitches]

are you going through a letting agency?

I don't know, it seems a bit odd to me.

[HecateQueenOfWitches]

have you actually been to visit the flat and walked round it?

[cantspel]

shame dont even touch with someone elses barge pole
He wants you to send the money order tranfer number to him and he can then just collect the cash.
It is a western union type scam and anyone with the tranfer number can pick up the money from anywhere in the world. It doesn't go by name just the number.

[taintedpaint]

That sounds really bizarre....I have enough concern to not want to do it myself, so I can't honestly recommend you doing it!

[TheVisitor]

Noooooo, don't do it! Money gram is western union styley. If they really had a flat to let, then they'd have an agent to deal with it. This is a known scam. forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic_f_29_t_385278_Money_Gram_Flat_Scam

[AliceWorld]

Anything that poorly written looks like a scam to me. Too many !!!!

[MrsTumbles]

IT'S A SCAM I can't remember exactly how it works but they can somehow get the money using the copy of the receipt you send them. Please do NOT do this regardless of how much you want the place!!!

[fivegomadindorset]

Scam, go look elsewhere.

[cantspel]

not shame SCAM

SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM

Please dont be a fool and send any money to anyone

[ginmakesitallok]

It's definitely a scam - don'y pay anything by moneygram (anyone can pick it up)

[JamieLeeCurtis]

We nearly got scammed in a similar way when buying a van on Gumtree. Don't do it.

[Theyremybiscuits]

We had this type of proposal when we were selling a piano.

Very similar proposal.

DON'T DO IT - IT'S A SCAM!!!!!!

Spoke to a police mate and he said to report the person and details to local police station.

[Pancakeflipper]

So he lives abroad but doesn't use an agency? Step away... This sounds bizarre. And even if it is ok - if anything goes wrong like heating breaking etc and he's abroad and no agency, it could be hell to sort out.

[Lifegoeson]

I knew it was too good to be true, gutted but oh well, at least I'm not robbed and gutted!

Thanks guys.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

It's a well known scam.

[lololizzy]

very very badly written and VERY VERY dodgy!!

[TheVisitor]

Gumtree has a real problem with scammers like this.

[Shamechanger]

They pretend to be the friend who is picking up the transfer. Have rented twice off landlords abroad - they have both had relatives / friends to show the flat.

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Sorry LifeGoesOn but this scam really is as old as you :( Lots of lovely people get sucked into it :(

Hope you find a genuine, fab place soon :)

[MavisGrind]

I seem to remember a similar thread to this last year and as I appear to glean all my knowledge from MN these days I say - Scam. Walk away.

[ratspeaker]

Scam scam scam

Google the name the landlord used to see if it turns up anywhere
Google the email address

have a look through here
scamwarners.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=39

[AuntieMaggie]

Definitely scam - please report to the police any details you have so they can try to stop them doing it to anyone else.