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Woodburygooner
Posts: 12 Forumite
Hi guys,
I'm in discussion with a chap who claims to live in Denmark but owns a property in Exeter that he is looking to rent out. He hasn't yet given me the full address, and the photos look almost too good to be true. Now i have read a bit about people claiming to live overseas asking for money to be transferred in advance of viewing, but this guy has not asked this.
He has said as proof i have money available I need to arrange for a friend / family member to pay money into a MoneyGram cash pickup service, and after I sign the tenancy agreement we go and pick up the cash. I'm a little hesitant, i don't get why i can't just have the cash in hand.
As he won't tell me the exact address I cannot check land registry, I can't find any information online regarding the chap as he is overseas (allegedly), so I am feeling like this may be a scam.
What are your thoughts, have you heard of people doing this before legit?
I'm in discussion with a chap who claims to live in Denmark but owns a property in Exeter that he is looking to rent out. He hasn't yet given me the full address, and the photos look almost too good to be true. Now i have read a bit about people claiming to live overseas asking for money to be transferred in advance of viewing, but this guy has not asked this.
He has said as proof i have money available I need to arrange for a friend / family member to pay money into a MoneyGram cash pickup service, and after I sign the tenancy agreement we go and pick up the cash. I'm a little hesitant, i don't get why i can't just have the cash in hand.
As he won't tell me the exact address I cannot check land registry, I can't find any information online regarding the chap as he is overseas (allegedly), so I am feeling like this may be a scam.
What are your thoughts, have you heard of people doing this before legit?
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Comments
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Run away. Run away fast.
Anyone who asks for any sort of money transfer before you've even seen the place is up to no good.
Why pay out money before you've even seen it?0 -
You haven't seen the house - why are you even discussing money...0
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Sounds like a scam to me. A proper landlord wouldn't ask you to use MoneyGram. Also if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.0
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SPRINT, don't run, don't walk, AWAYWoodburygooner wrote: »He has said as proof i have money available I need to arrange for a friend / family member to pay money into a MoneyGram cash pickup service, and after I sign the tenancy agreement we go and pick up the cash. I'm a little hesitant, i don't get why i can't just have the cash in hand.
that is a classic part of exactly the scam you are thinking of
no legitimate LL ever has any reason whatsoever to ask for money via such an arrangement.
(and BTW, if you do ever have to deal with a legitimate overseas LL make sure he has given you written proof he is registered with HMRC under the "non resident landlord scheme" otherwise you are legally liable for paying over 20% of the rent direct to HMRC yourself as "his" tax deduction. If you don't make such a payment for an unregistered LL then HMRC can chase you for the tax instead of him)0 -
Yeah I am thinking that, it just seems odd that he doesn't want me to transfer money to him but to me.0
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I'm not though, that's my point - he wants to see a receipt that shows i have the money in the MoneyGram account, then, when I have viewed the flat and signed the paperwork we go get the money.
I agree it sounds dodgy but to be clear I would not part with any money until I've seen it!!0 -
What happens is you send the proof of the transfer which will have a transfer number.
He walks into money gram in Nigeria and withdraws the money using the transfer number.
There was a piece on this sort of thing a few years back on Rip off Britain, I'm guessing you saw the add on gumtree?0 -
Woodburygooner wrote: »I'm not though, that's my point - he wants to see a receipt that shows i have the money in the MoneyGram account, then, when I have viewed the flat and signed the paperwork we go get the money.
I agree it sounds dodgy but to be clear I would not part with any money until I've seen it!!
Why would you not just transfer it after the viewing.......0 -
What happens is you send the proof of the transfer which will have a transfer number.
He walks into money gram in Nigeria and withdraws the money using the transfer number.
There was a piece on this sort of thing a few years back on Rip off Britain, I'm guessing you saw the add on gumtree?
Yeah i did as it goes.
Thanks everyone, I will give it a wide berth, appreciate your input.0 -
How were you put in contact with this LL....via a LA,private add,friends and family....???frugal October...£41.82 of £40 food shopping spend for the 2 of us!
2017 toiletries challenge 179 out 145 in ...£18.64 spend0
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