Help please re renting, western union transfer?

tomout

Hi, I was hoping to rent a flat i found off an accomadation website, from the pictures it looks lovely but after asking to view on Monday I got this request and I'm not really knmowledgeable about renting to be honest. It's my first step to renting from living at parents, does this seem like a reasonable request, is it standard practice? I' ve copied and pasted below, thanks if u can advise:


Thanks for your interest my flat.Viewing is possible if you can meet up with my solicitors requirements.
My solicitor and i had some past bitter experience of booking a viewing and reserving accommodation for tenants without any form of confirmation of their financial ability and not keeping up to time as at when scheduled has made me loss time and money for traveling as I currently work and Live in Manchester

I will not collect any deposit from you not until i take you round my flat and you are satisfied with it, i just need to confirm your financial ability before i can come and i will also need to seek two days off from work because some tenants do not meet up with the appointments which has led to the dismissal of some landlords in office by their employees, I hope you understand this.

Therefore my Solicitor has acknowledge a protocol by which you can confirm your financial ability to me before i can make arrangement for my coming,In this case, a bank-statement wont be accepted as we have had wayward tenants tendering fake documents, also you don't need to pay any upfront or reservation yet, all we require is, You transferring at least 4 weeks rent payment(£400) and the security deposit(£600) to your friend,partner or family member living within the UK premises.

You re to make the transfer via western union to any relative or friend of yours been the receiver and you get back to me with scan copy of the receipt which will be given to you by western union agent and if you don't have scanner you may write out the details as it is stated on the receipt which am to forward to my solicitor to confirm it if truly the funds is in your receiver custody for pickup,After the verification been done,i will call you to have your receiver pick it up.Note,i will refund the transfer charges when we meet on viewing day after the the verifIcation been done i will make my plan to come over to the uk and we meet up for the viewing.This procedure is strictly meant for assurance you re really capable to rent my flat.


Kindly reply or feel free to call me if you have questions to ask.

Moneybagsss

It's a scam.

Werdnal

Screams SCAM at me. Run a mile in the opposite direction!

Do a quick Google on "western union renting scam" or similar and spend the rest of the evening reading all the evidence!

Wasn't on Gumtree by any chance was it?

Moneybagsss

tomout wrote: »

I currently work and Live in Manchester



i will make my plan to come over to the uk

Uh-huh.....

Pass him on to http://forum.419eater.com - they might be able to have some fun with him

tomout

Thanks, it was on brett ward off google which seemed legit and just sounded so good

But yeahh the manchester and then uk part was suspicious

MrRee_2

No-one can be so stupid as to think this is, in any tiny way at all, genuine ...........

Someone's trolling!

G_M

Gumtree right?


:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Werdnal

MrRee wrote: »

No-one can be so stupid as to think this is, in any tiny way at all, genuine ...........

Someone's trolling!

Well I did wonder, but it takes all sorts, so thought I'd give OP benefit of the doubt. From other forums I'm on, Saturday night often seems to be troll night, so maybe you are right.


OP if you are genuinely looking to rent, I assume by your naivity it could be your first property. If so, have a look at the sticky on the top of the forum "A tenant's guide to renting" which will give you a few pointers on the things to avoid and what to look for in a good rental/Landlord.

Moneybagsss

MrRee wrote: »

No-one can be so stupid as to think this is, in any tiny way at all, genuine ...........

Someone's trolling!

I disagree. Lots of people believe all sorts of things are 'genuine' - how else do our religious and political leaders keep getting away with it?

FraudBuster

Rental fraud happens when would-be tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property.


Report:

http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/fraud-az-rental-fraud

tomout

Alright I was naive no need to be calling me a troll an that it just sounded good and i really wanted it and if you really want something you are more susceptible to bein scammed/ taken advantage of... But I didn't do it, I thought about it, looked into it and asked so I can't be that stupid.

Thank you for the advice though,