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Learn how to protect yourself from gumtree scams

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How the Gumtree Rent Scam works

I recently had someone email me regarding my article about the gumtree scam. He was wondering how it could be a scam if you never actually send any money to the advertisers, so I decided to use this post to detail how the scam works exactly.

1. The scam starts by the fraudsters taking pictures of either hotels or celebrity styled houses and then posting it on gumtree for rent.

2. The unsuspecting user is taken in by the pretty pictures, great location and most importantly of all, the cheap price for rent.

3. The user replies the fraudster asking about the flat.

4. The fraudster replies saying he/she is a doctor/engineer/lawyer (whatever) and is currently outside the country and needs to know you are serious before he/she comes down to show you the house.

5. The fraudster later says in order to know if you are serious and if you have the money, you should wire two months rent to a friend, partner or someone close to you and then scan the receipt and send it to him. Once he calls to confirm the funds are actually there, he will come down, show you the house and you can withdraw the money from western union and pay him.

Pay close attention to the fifth point as this forms the heart of the scam. If you decide to send the money to your friend and you scan and send him the receipt, forget about getting your money back. The receipt you would have sent him will have all the information necessary to withdraw all the money. Once he/she gets that, they will probably create a fake ID, go to the western union shop, pretend to be the recipient of the funds. Since they WILL have the reference numbers and any additional information needed from the receipt, they WILL be able to withdraw the funds, leaving you with no money and a pretty picture of the flat you just paid for.

Don't fall for this please.

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YouTube Scam related video

I added this video because it talks about scams extortion and fraud on ebay, while it is not the same as gumtree, most of these fraudsters tend to use the same sort of format across a variety of sites, So knowing more about scams and fraud will better prepare you to protect yourself against fraudsters this holiday season.

Ebay Feedback Extortion Scam Fraud Ring Exposed: by cappnonymous | video info

41 ratings | 8,495 views

curated content from YouTube

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Reply

AR May 27, 2012 @ 8:23 am | delete

This scam has just happend to me from a person called Sally McCarthy offering a cheap stuido in flat in Covent Garden

FIRST EMAIL 26-5-12
Thanks for the reply.I would love to meet you, get to know you and show you round the flat so that you can see what you are renting but I have been having problems with time wasters who could not keep to there end of deal.Its really time wasting because i am a very busy person and do not really have much time to waste. To me, every seconds count.because i am presently in the studio doing some live recording and icant make or recieve calls due to the nature of my job,but have my Laptop here to reply to emails.viewing will not be a problem, Anytime during the week in the evening would be a good date for our meeting.

The rent is still very Low considering the current economic climate in London..

Can you please answer the following questions?

-Are you really serious about the renting the flat?

How many are you to occupy the Flat?.

-If you love the flat when you see it, will you make the payment to hold it against your move in?

why I am asking these questions is basically because of my experience with my last tenant. Morgan moved into my flat in JUNE:2010,on commencing the tenancy, he paid a total sum of £537.50 in rent hoping that he would pay up the balance unknowingly he provided a fraudulent employers reference to convince me of having a stable job!

Although i served him with Section 8 and Section 21 Notices and obtained a Court Order for possession of the property, he was reluctant to move out or pay any of the rent arrears.County Court bailiffs got him evicted and his total debt to date is £1,263. (Quite much).

I will prepare all the necessary documentations i:e Contract Form:which we will both sign after being satisfied with the flat.

Payment will be made after signing the contracts and keys will be handed over to you once contract is made.

Please,understand that i am NOT asking you to pay me BEFORE you view the flat.The neighborhood is safe and i guess you have heard much about this area?it is a safe, clean area.

-Your rent begins on your move in date..

-Viewing is never a problem.

-Proof of ownership and Documentation will be shown upon viewings.

-There is no minimum or maximum stay.

- Rent include Council Tax,electricity,gas,internet, e.t.c

-Its 600pcm and 600 refundable deposit.

Kindly get back to me about an idea on what we can do so that we can arrange a meeting for viewing.

Thanks while hoping to read from you.

Regards
sallymcthy@yahoo.com

SECOND EMAIL 27-05-12

I really appreciate your response but i do not want to stand on peoples promise of paying me cash or cheque when we meet again because i have met with time wasters who will only want to view and do not keep to there end of deal as regards payment if they are satisfied but will only want to look at all the beautiful flats around London. I am not ready to wait till a months time before any payment.

I was discussing with my colleague about the idea on how i will be so sure that i will not be disappointed this time around and she advised that we can work out something via Western Union.I have never used Western Union before but a bit familiar with it. She explained that it is a very fast way of sending and receiving money as she has used it a couple of times for renting out her flat. She said that western union can actually hold the money as an evidence and surety that her tenant will pay her at least for the first month and deposit. that you should go to any western union outlet close to you, to send one month rent of 600 +refundable deposit 600 pounds in your name to your friend's name in your present address or you tell your friend to send the money to you..

I WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU:

PROCEDURE...

1) Transfer the money, a month rent 600 + refundable deposit of 600 (Senders name = friend or partner's name)

to your name (Receiver) in London.

2) Scan & Send a copy of the Western Union transaction receipt as a proof of the transaction for confirmation on the western union customer care line if the money is really available for any of you to pick up when i arrive in london.If you do not have access to a Scanner,you can aswell send me details to confirm on

(https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global)

3) When we meet,i will meet you and take you to the flat for proper viewing

4)If you decide to take it both of us will go to any local Western Union office close to my flat & you'll pick up your money to pay me.

5)Keys will be handed over to you after signing the contracts.

In order for me to be on a good side,you can go ahead and make the transaction since you have the money ready,let me know immediately you do the transaction.

I am pretty sure that the transaction at WU office will require some charges,i will definitely refund the transaction charges back to you upon viewing whether you decide to rent or not.

But,i will only rely on your honesty that you have made the transaction before making my way down for proper viewing.

Please,understand that i am NOT asking you to pay me BEFORE you view the flat as payment is done AFTER viewing and Signing of contracts. I only want to be sure that i am not going to waste my time this time around and i think with this conditions,both of us can be sure we are not wasting our times.Let me know if you are okay with this so that we can proceed.Thanks so much while i will be waiting to read from you.Looking forward to meet you and be great friends eventually.

Does that sound reasonable? other months rent will be paid directly into my bank account.

PS:I am sorry for the lengthy mail.I only want to explain myself better.

Waiting to read back from you.

Reply

Marie May 21, 2012 @ 12:54 pm | delete

Thank goodness I just read this. i had been having a conversation with a (very nice seeming) lady - a fashion designer in Birmingham no less so of course she couldn't come down to London and waste her time unless she knows we're serious. Was very excited about the flat and almost ignored my instincts that it all sounded a bit too good to be true. The email text is basically word for word what others have posted here - the PROCEDURE was identical. My emails came from Yanice Vanalez yanicevanalez@yahoo.co.uk 07572313367 which I see is the same number that other people have been sent albeit under other names. Thanks for highlighting this scam - you've just saved me a lot of money!

Reply

jack May 17, 2012 @ 5:51 pm | delete

I read this article too late...I lost 800£ ... same procedure... I don't know what i can do now.. I just know the place where she withdray the money.. and i think I will find only his or her fake id ..

Reply

jack May 17, 2012 @ 5:51 pm | delete

I read this article too late...I lost 800£ ... same procedure... I don't know what i can do now.. I just know the place where she withdray the money.. and i think I will find only his or her fake id ..

Reply

Alexandra May 8, 2012 @ 5:19 am | delete

Great that I found this site and big thks for posting this info. I now realise that a scammer contacted me regarding renting a flat in the Feltham area. Same email and mobile no below but her name is Edna Maciej and her email address is edna.maciej@yahoo.co.uk thank goodness i was suspicious enough not to funds via Western Union.
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