Hello from Sydney, Australia!
I was searching for an apartment to rent on domain.com.au (legit site by the way) when I came across this absolutely gorgeous place in the city at an unbelievably low price! I mean wow! I had a feeling that the ad was too good to be true, but emailed the agent anyway. I received a response from the 'owner' of the apartment within a day. The apartment owner stated that she would be in Milan for 3 years for work, and that she would have to find some way to deliver the keys to me for inspection. At that point alarm bells started to ring in my head! However, being the mischievous soul that I am, I decided to have a little fun. Here is the exchange:
Quote:
FROM: Elizabeth Thomas
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Hello,
Thank you for your interest. The apartment is available, but now I'm in Milano, Italy with my job . I will stay here for 3 years, so this is the reason why i offer the apartment for rent . I'm the owner of the apartment and it looks exactly like in the pictures. The rent for 1 month is AUD $1000 including all utilities (water, electricity, internet,cable, parking). You can move in the apartment in the same day you receive the keys. I must inform you that the keys from the apartment are with me and I hope that we will find a way to make this happen.
Thanks.
Quote:
FROM: Me
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Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for your reply. I am very interested in the place. Can you tell me a bit more about it, ie. which building it is in, etc? Unfortunately I can't seem to find the listing on domain.com.au anymore. Can you please forward me the link? Thank you.
Andrew
Quote:
FROM: Elizabeth Thomas
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Obviously we need a way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after. I have found a way for us to complete the deal safe and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days, if you move fast as well. The solution is provided by a company called TNT which is similar to Fedex, DHL or UPS, which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys.
I have found a procedure that will allow us to make a fast and safe deal and through this way you will see it and decide if you will stay in the apt or not before I receive my payment. Please click on the link bellow to the TNT website to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained:
http://www.tnt.com/express/en_gb/site/h ... vices.html Let me know if you are interested please because I really need to take care of this matter by the end of the next week.
Regards,
Elizabeth Thomas
Executive Personal Recruitment:
Gianfranco Ferre
Note how in the last email 'she' uses her position as Executive Personal Recruitment Officer at Gianfranco Ferre as her signature! Gianfranco Ferre is a fashion company, and I highly doubt that they have an Executive Personal Recruitment division! I have to admit, I was taken in by the opportunity to get this wonderful apartment, at least until I read that third email. She even included pictures in her third email to entice me to continue with the exchange. However, by then I was 100% certain that this was a scam. Warning signs: Urgency (Act Fast!), 100% email exchange, person overseas, oh my!
Quote:
FROM: Me
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Hi Elizabeth,
I would be happy to follow whatever procedure you like. If the keys are sent to me via TNT, would I then remit payment to you via bank transfer to an Australian account? Also, would you also send a rental agreement etc. along with the keys?
If you need it, I can provide a rental reference from Meriton, where I currently stay.
Please email me your phone number and a time which will suit you for me to call (Italy time), and we can discuss this on the phone. Thanks.
Andrew
Quote:
FROM: Elizabeth Thomas
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Like I said, I will pay for a 2 days delivery so you will receive the Keys and the contract signed by me right away.I will explain to you step by step how this will work .
1) First you will have to send me your full name and address. I will need them for the shipping.
2) I go to the TNT store and leave the Keys and the contract onto your name as the intended receiver.
3) TNT will check the envelope to see if everything is OK with it and also the legal papers that will come along with the Keys.
4) TNT will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody.
5) At this point you will have to go to a Western Union Agent
Location and make a money deposit on the TNT payment agent name for the amount we agreed (first month + 1000 bond deposit) .
6) After you make the deposit you will have to send the info about the money deposit to TNT (MTCN, sender's name and address)
7) TNT will verify the payment informations and if everything is in order they will deliver the Keys and the contract to you .
After you receive the package , You will go and check the apt and in 2 days you must contact them and tell them if you keep the apt or not, if all is in order you will instruct TNT to send me the information about the money deposit and I will be able to receive the funds . If you don`t like the apt they will send your money back to you and you will send them the keys and the contract to them.
I will pay TNT for the shipping and you will pay Western Union for the Money Transfer fee .
Let me know if we can do this.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Thomas
Executive Personal Recruitment:
Gianfranco Ferre
Quote:
FROM: Me
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Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for those details. Please forward the envelope to my fiance's office. This is easiest for me as my work keeps me on the road, and I can't receive packages / calls easily. My fiance will then be able to organize the $2000 Western Union payment to the TNT agent.
Donna Adney
Level 3
SPC
151-241 Goulburn St
Darlinghurst
2010
NSW
Australia
Telephone: 02 9265 4144
I am very excited to see the apartment. The pictures look beautiful, and I can't wait to move in!
Thanks
Andrew
The game is afoot! She has been kind enough to provide me with a step-by-step rundown of the payment / key delivery procedure. I have provided her with the delivery and telephone details of my "fiance" Donna Adney. Aye - here is the rub. Donna Adney is actually the Commanding Superintendent at the Surry Hills Police Station in Sydney. The telephone number is for the police station lol. Of course, I didn't expect 'Elizabeth' to make use of these details, but it was satisfying all the same sending them, knowing that 'Elizabeth' still thinks that I am still a fish on her hook!
Quote:
FROM: Elizabeth Thomas
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hello, i have delivered the keys to the company you should receive confirmation from them soon. Please complete the steps from their notification so we can conclude the deal. Please check your BULK/JUNK email folder maybe the confirmation arrives there as it arrived to me. Try to complete the payment Thursday or Friday so you can receive the package in weekend. Thanks and i look forward for your email
Elizabeth Thomas
Executive Personal Recruitment:
Gianfranco Ferre
The following email is from 'TNT' and includes details re: the delivery, how to remit payment, who to remit payment to etc. Spelling errors abound. Email formatting is terrible. The least these scammers can do is polish their act! Here are a few selected tid-bits:
Quote:
FROM:
tnt-customer-support@deliveryman.com--------------------------------------------
Service: TNT Global Air Express
Delivered By: 2 days
Shipment ID: B3390455G45
Description of goods: Apartment Keys and rental contract verified and signed by the Sender. Owner of the apartment in: 57 Liverpool st. , NSW, Syndey, 2000. All the papers are double checked.
Declared Value: AU $2000.00
Shipping Costs: $0.00
Ship To
___________________________________
First name Donna
Last name Adney
Address Level 3, SPC, 151-241 Goulburn St
City/State Darlinghurst NSW
PostalCode 2010
Country Australia
Agent's verified payment address
___________________________________
First name: Paulo
Last name: Vitelli
Address: Via Lazzaro Palazzi 18
City/State: Milano
PostalCode: 20144
Country: Italy
And the BEST part?
Quote:
Please send us the payment information at this email address :
tnt-customer-suppport@deliveryman.comsuppport? ROFL.
I proceeded to Western Union and sent the payment lol. Nah. I searched for a fake MCTN number online and sent the details to this scammer. At the very least I want to make him get up off his butt, physically go to a Western Union office and make a fool of himself.
Quote:
FROM: Me (To TNT)
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My fiance has sent $2000 AUD payment for a set of keys provided by Elizabeth Thomas in Milano. Our shipping notification number is B3390455G45.
Here are the details of the Western Union payment. Once the transfer has been completed, please release the package. Thanks.
MCTN: 7325948423
SENDER DETAILS:
First name: Donna
Last name: Adney
Address: Level 3, SPC, 151-241 Goulburn St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010
Country: Australia
RECEIVER DETAILS:
First name: Paulo
Last name: Vitelli
Address: Via Lazzaro Palazzi 18
City/State: Milano
PostalCode: 20144
Country: Italy
Amount: $2000 AUD
Quote:
FROM: Me (To Elizabeth)
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Hi Elizabeth,
I have sent the payment to the agent. Can't wait to get the keys! Thanks!
Andrew
Quote:
FROM: TNT
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Dear Customer,
The payment has bee successfully received and validated so as a result, the shipment is ready to start in about 2 hours. We will keep you updated with further details. The shipping time will be 24-36 hours maximum.
Thank you for choosing our services !
I also performed a TRACEROUTE on the originating IP - 71.235.123.112 - and I suspect that this person is actually in Bolton, Connecticut.
There is more to come! Stay tuned for the next instalment of this saga. Preview: email from Superintendent Donna Adney to Elizabeth highlighting cooperation between Bolton police and Australian police! Suggestions that video camera footage exists of scammer trying to obtain their funds! & much more! If this person really is in bolton he will pee his pants lol!