Saw an interesting ad for a flat to rent so e mailed off for more details - as soon as I read the first few lines of reply, more alarm bells went off than when the Titanic sank...

Hello,

Thanks very much for your Kind interest in my apartment, i am delighted to let you know that my apartment is presently available now even for long and short term periods.Presently,no one is occupying my apartment and it will be a great priviledge renting you my Nice apartment located at the city centre of Glasgow. My apartment is located at 107 Dowanhill Street, Glasgow G12 9EQ, Scotland , United Kingdom. You are free to go and view the apartment from the outside but as for the inside,you will not be able to have access to it because the keys are with me in London.I was transfered to London by my company and my apartment is very much vacant now and available for immediate rent and reservation.I will be more than willing to come over on time to view you my properties if you are ready to satisfy my criterias below.

Little introduction about myself.. I am Mr Patel Pratik whom originated from England, I work as a sales Manager in a Multinational company.. I studied at London College of Accountancy (LCA).Actually, I inherited the apartment from my Late father who died last year December.I was the only Son and Child of my father.I was transfer to London by my company.But don't worry yourself much about the viewing of the properties..I understand that you will love to have a clear look at my apartment inside before you make your final decision.Well,i am also willing and honoured to come over from London to view you my apartment as far as you are ready to rent it and you agree with my terms and conditions. DETAILS ABOUT MY APARTMENT..........

Address: 107 Dowanhill Street, Glasgow G12 9EQ, Scotland , United Kingdom

Nearest Metro / Subway: Hillhead - 300 Meters

Nearest Bus / Tramway: No. 44, Highburgh Road - 100 Meters

Nearest Airport: Glasgow - 10 Miles

Size of the Whole Apartment :85 m square

Number of bedrooms:2

Number of bathrooms:2

Max number of people:6

Floor:Ground floor.

Monthly rental price: 250pounds per room and 500pounds for the whole apartment including all bills

Security Deposit: 1000pounds

Pictures available:YES

AMENITIES AVAILABLE OUTSIDE

Barbecue Disabled Facilities Sauna

Balcony TerraceINSIDE

Kitchen,washing Machine,American Kitchen Fridge & Freezer Oven,Microwave Dish Washer Crockery & Utensils,Bath Shower Hair Dryer,TowelsExtra features

Internet Dial Up, Internet Broadband Cable/Satelite

TV,Stereo/Radio System DVD Player,DVD/Music Collection

Library Telephone Fax

Central Heating Air Conditioning

Pets Welcome

You will be confirming these upon our meeting to view the apartment together and signed up the contract.

TERMS IN THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS WHICH IN THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS.

1. The Tenant Will Pay a month Rent and Security Deposit in Advance to the Landlord Before Moving in to show a Good Sign of seriousness and the Security Deposit will be refunded back to the Tenant and the return of funds must be completed not later than 2 days of the termination of the Contract.

2.Due to the fact that the I am presently out of Dubai, I will love to tell you that i will only be available for the viewing of my apartment after we have both signed a contract documents and also confirm your deposit payment which is payable via western union money transfer.3.The Tenant's must agree that they and their respective invited visitors will not : i. Commit any act, which results in serious disruption of the rights of each to peacefully Occupy the premises

ii. Commit any act, which results in physical harm to the parties, a member of her household, visitors or neighbors

iii. Cause or allow invited visitors to cause a nuisance.

iv. Commit any form of harassment on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual

orientation, age or disability, which may interfere with the peace

and comfort of, or cause offense to, each other, a member of her household, visitors or

neighbors.

v.. Play or allow to be played any radio, television, record or tape recording or musical

instrument so loudly that it causes a nuisance or annoyance to the other party.

( Use of Premises: The Tenant agrees to use the premises for residential purposes and

not to operate a business at the premises nor to use the premises for any illegal

purposes. REASONS FOR THE DEPOSIT PAYMENT PRIOR VIEWING OF MY PROPERTIES.. I have really been hunted in the past by many fake tenants who will send me an email that they are really interested in my apartment and ask me to come over to view them my apartment..After coming over to view them my apartment,i discover that most of them are not really serious about renting my apartment but just there to waste my time.Since then ,i have been ordered by my husband and his lawyer to always be very sure of any tenants before coming over to view such tenant my apartment because i don't have any money and time to waste anymore because i have done that in the past by meeting tenant without confirming their seriousness, it was later i realised that they have no money ready for the rent, i felt badly since then i have been advised by my lawyer not to meet any tenant without confirming their deposit payment, so you have to bear this with me if you're really interested in renting my apartment and i'm assuring you that i will come down to meet you on time, so that you can be able to move in at your own wishes, so just trust me and i won't disappoint you SECURITY OF THE PAYMENT..

The deposit payment is refundable and highly secured since both parties will sign a legal documents before the deposit payment is being paid.Also,i will scan you a copy of my citizenship passport id for you to be assured that i am really the person i told you i am and also that i am not trying to rip you off.

MODE OF PAYMENT.

The deposit payment will be paid via western union money transfer..I would have prefer the payment to be made to my bank account,but my bank acount is presently overdrawn..I will not be able to confirm the payment if it is being made to my bank account..Besides,according to the legal Contract Documents which we will both sign,the deposit payment should be made via western union money transfer.So i urge you to please bear with me and accept my apologies and also i am sorry for any incoveniences this will cost you.

HOW TO PROCEED.

For any tenant who has agreed with the Terms and conditions listed above,he/she must feel out the spaces below because those are the details needed for the contract to be prepared. Number of Tenant (s)..

Full Name Of Tenant (s)..

Address of Each Tenant (s)..

Nationality of Each Tenant (s)...

Passport Id number of Each Tenant (s)...

Date of move in and out of Each Tenant (s)....

Phone number of Each Tenant (s)....

Gender of Each Tenant (s)...................Male or Female.

Also,each tenant should scan their passport id along with this details so that the landlord can have a better idea of his/her future landlord. Hope to read from you soonest.

Regards,

Pratik.

+447031931775

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I wonder if anyone has fallen for this crap?? I reported the ad and it has been removed from the site where I originally found it, and the posters details noted!!!!!

And yet there are still people that fall for these scams.

The first paragraph alone...Somewhere in Africa.

Why do they speak this weird version of English?

"Western Union." Nothing else to be said.

What's that saying about floating up the Clyde on a banana boat?

'My account is overdrawn, but I'll fly over to meet you, using 5 magic beans to buy my ticket.'

You're right - it's a scam... Who the hell has got 1000 pounds in Glasgow?

Probably comes furnished with some lovely, handwoven Arabian carpets.

but i am sure people fall for it every day

when readin his :"Little introduction about myself"

All bells and whisles should alarm the reader.

A new way of scaming for money

Wellbvelieve that last fool aint born yet