Big Badger House (aka Noisy Lodger) HE'S GONE!

jamtart6

This paves the way for Lodger 5!!

Kenny4315

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Any suggestions on how to nip this in the bud? How do you teach "consideration for others" to a 28-yr-old businessman?

A red hot poker should do the trick ....

Suzy_M

Badger_Lady wrote: »

NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND: Could there be a Lodger4? I'm not sure whether it was mentioned in this thread or elsewhere, but 6 months ago a man from Mauritius contacted me about the third (much smaller) upstairs bedroom. We sent a lot of emails, texts and phonecalls and he sent his deposit via Western Union. Unfortunately, his Visa then fell through so his deposit was lost and I never heard from him again.

However, on Friday he got back in touch - he appealled the visa and won, so he's coming to the UK! I just spoke to Lodger2 and Lodger3, and they're OK with him moving in - although I've suggested that he might want to make it a short-term stopgap while he finds somewhere bigger (although the house is large enough, it's a small room and we're all sharing one bathroom).

Waiting to hear back from him again now...

Have just seen a BBC news item re: Western Union scams and I remembered your thread.

The gentleman from Mauritius could be perfectly innocent but in the back of my mind something is ringing alarm bells.

It's the opposite to the news report this morning but it's something about being paid deposits via Western Union and then apparent 'difficulties' obtaining visas and/or other delays together. All this whilst 'cultivating' the victim over quite some time.

If I remember or can trace the scam I'll post further but in the meantime someone else may recall this scam in more detail.

Badger_Lady

Hia Suzy,

Thanks for your concern! I've been pretty thorough though... Lodger4 did send his deposit several months ago, and I cashed it and spent it! He lost it when his visa fell through, not even asking for a refund.

The next interaction we'll have is when he arrives in person - there's no need for him to send me any more money, and I certainly won't be sending him any! There's a limited amount that can go wrong once he's in my house

I have emailed him offering the larger room, will see what he says

jimc_2

Suzy_M wrote: »

The gentleman from Mauritius could be perfectly innocent but in the back of my mind something is ringing alarm bells.
.............but in the meantime someone else may recall this scam in more detail.

Badger_lady, you may remember I looked into this for you when you first mentioned it in the other thread. It's true that the mere mention of Western Union normally means SCAM but in this case it was a payment for a deposit and not a request for payment. The risk was all on the side of the guy from Mauritius.

If it had been a CHEQUE payment (coupled with a request to refund an overpayment by Western Union) then it is the classic Criminal Overpayment scam. Not the case here though.

PasturesNew

Badger_Lady wrote: »

There's a limited amount that can go wrong once he's in my house

We'll bookmark this one. It could be gold!

I hope you're right.

neverdespairgirl

Badger_Lady wrote: »

There's a limited amount that can go wrong once he's in my house

Hmmm. Anyone else think this is like the bit in a horror film when someone says, "don't worry, we are perfectly safe here"....?

poppysarah

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Hmmm. Anyone else think this is like the bit in a horror film when someone says, "don't worry, we are perfectly safe here"....?

Yeah and let's split up and go and explore the cellar.

elona

"Don't answer the phone or go to the front door and trust nobody!"

We all know what they do next!!!!!

barrooo

Maybe it like the book/film Misery and the lodgers don't go anywhere....they just disappear.....cue lightning and thunder;)