Unusual Request from Prospective Landlord

[China Doll]

Evening All,

I'm not really sure whether to put this in Law or Finance so please bear with me.

Basically I am looking for a flat to rent at the moment and I have one that looks promising in central London. I emailed the landlord to say I was interested and gave them my mobile number to contact me to arrange a viewing. I've had an email back this evening from the landlord who is in Manchester because of their job (hence why they're looking to rent the flat) and in order to prove that I'm not a time time waster they have asked me to have someone I trust transfer the money (�1100 in total, deposit and months rent) to a Western Union with me as the receiver (thus, I'd apparently be the only one who could claim the money back so I lose nothing) and then send them a scan of the receit to show I've done this. They say it's because they've had time wasters in the past and because they have to take a day off work to come down and show the flat they want to be sure that should I like the flat I am able to give the money.

It just sounds a little unusual to me, I've never had to do this before and I have absolutely no idea how Western Union places work anyway. What do you think? If I go ahead with this, am I setting myself up to be scamed or does this sound like a legitimate way for them to ensure I'm not wasting their time?

Cheers
China

[CheekyChops]

That is a well known fraud - DO NOT TRANSFER ANY MONEY!!!!

You send some money, send a scan of the receipt and they send someone in to collect your money and disappear. Western Union is not at all secure and anyone can go in and collect the funds, especially with a fax of the receipt. Western Union is always the payment method of chice from fraudsters, due to the lack of security ond the ease with which they can claim the money and run off!

[ladyalex]

It's a scam. DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY.

Bet the flat was a cracker too, with a very reasonable rent.

My son nearly fell for this one too, but fortunately didn't.


I

[CheekyChops]

See here for how it works: http://forums.gumtree.com/topic204429.html

or here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=1133547

[China Doll]

Thank you Cheeky! I've just emailed the whole thing to my friend too and he says the same thing. It didn't sit right with me at all but although it didn't sound right I couldn't see how they could get their paws on my money if I was the receiver. But then I don't know much about Western Union!

Thanks again for your reply, I think we'll file that flat in 'hell, no!' section.

[ChuckFickens]

NO DO NOT DO IT!!!!!

I have rented soo many places legitimately and have never been asked to do that!!!

It screams scam scam scam at me!!!!

[China Doll]

Lord I must seem a right mug! Thanks all again... I swear in matters non finacial my IQ generally stretches in to the double figures!

[jen78]

Think the above post said it all hon.

Going on one month's rent and similar or higher deposit, it sounds very suspiciously reasonable for a decent place in central London from when I was looking round there a few years back.

I used to look after 4 rental properties and around 13 tenants and would never have asked for something like this.

I was going to say tell them a mate of yours who is a solicitor in Manchester ( ie moi) would be willing to meet them and sort some things and see how they react.

Do you have their details? Maybe worth reporting them.

If you need any more help then give me a shout, not on my old e.mail address as too much spam but people like Boo and Julie are on my fb where my e.mail addy is xxx

[China Doll]

Cheers Jen, I've already told them that I will not be doing that and I've reported the email address too so hopefully anyone else who had replied won't be able to be contacted by them again.