Rental Scam Warning

I received an email this week from a James Spooner replying to a so called inquiry I had about an apartment he had advertised (Gumtree not Asia Expat) in Wan Chai. A few questions were raised about whether I had even inquired about his apartment, but his email and apartment sounded very convincing, very cheap and very good location (address included). Almost too good to be true!

He told the story of his father dying and leaving the flat to him. He is living in Madrid and so just wanted to rent the flat out to someone who would take very good care of the apartment as his father had done. Photos of a very lovely apartment attached which match the age of the outside of the building. On closer inspection of photos, there was central heating panel on the wall in the living room and 2 bathrooms, one including a bidet.

He tells the story of not having keys here in HK but he would have to send them over. He would not be part of signing a lease in front of a lawyer or sending keys to a reliable source here. He was only too willing to send passport details. He included a form requiring lots of personal details and a passport photo. That information was never to be sent without further investigation into this.

An internet search of Real Estate scammers brought up his name and someone else in HK who had recently received the exact same email that I did. Someone else had received the same email but from a different sender.

Be warned! Scroll to the bottom to read the HK incidents

http://parishousingscamwatch.wordpress.com/an-unfortunate-story/

I have had the exact same experience with Mr Spooner, except that this was for a wonderful-looking flat in Happy Valley.

The sob story is the same, the willingness to send a photocopy of his passport and even the photos sound similar!

There's isn't much information on him, but what I have is the following:

Nationality: British

Passport No: 761283983

DoB: 03 Apr 1965

Address: Calle de Fuencarral, 135, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Most of the above is probably fake or stolen, but assuming that some of it must be real for him to be able to pick up the $$ at a Western Union branch in Madrid, beware!

The clincher was when he told me he'd sent the keys via DHL but couldn't give me the tracking number due to a 'systems failure' at their branch. He didn't take into account that you can call DHL and give them the recipient name / adress to check on a package.

If anyone knows who / how to report this kind of thing to an authority of some sort, please do so or let me know.

I am going to post this again. THESE GUYS ARE EVIL. The guy even provided me with fake passports of him and his wife! stay away

Another one Donald John Turner turner.dj1947@yahoo.com


I have checked his IP: 41.138.179.161 and this is based in Lagos.


He asked for a copy of my passport which I have unfortunately sent.. is there anything I need to be worried about?


Good to read from you on your interest on my apartment. The apartment is still very much available for rent. Just to give you a little low down about the apartment and myself. My Wife and I are Australian citizens, in our 60's and very responsible with impeccable references. I inherited the flat from my late father. He was actually residing there alone. He just recently passed away in an hospital with diabetes. This is why i decided to put up the property for lease. My wife and i recently relocated from Australia to Madrid, Spain on a working visa. We have been in the country for just over 5 months. Due to my new job offer at the Hospital Universitario La Paz here in Madrid.


The whole flat is up for a total of 8000HKD per month. Which i also think is fair enough considering the location. I just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to occupy the apartment and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for now.


The flat comprises of one bedroom. Excellent condition inside. Good sized lounge, with a sofa. Can sleep a max of 4, and ideal for family, couple and friends. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils.


Just to let you know, the keys are right here with me. But there wouldn't be any problem with that. As it can be posted to you, after all necessary agreement has be reached and signed into lease. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really an issue here , but your absolute maintenance of the apartment, because it is good to keep the property in good condition, just for the memories of my father. Who committed so much putting those facilities in place, so i wouldn't want an violation of my property if finally rented by you.


Address: Medal Court, 6th floor, 38 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong Island, Sheung Wan. 5-minute walk to MTR and close access to Hollywood Road and SOHO restaurants and shops. The building has life access. And please note, Monthly Rent is only inclusive of of management fee. As for the utility bills, there are not included on the rent, and also no outstanding bills. So you be paying the bills and starting the lease with a clean slate. The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 2 years with a possibility of extension.


Kind Regards,

Donald


Good to read from you on your interest on my apartment. The apartment is still very much available for rent. Just to give you a little low down about the apartment and myself. My Wife and I are Australian citizens, in our 60's and very responsible with impeccable references. I inherited the flat from my late father. He was actually residing there alone. He just recently passed away in an hospital with diabetes. This is why i decided to put up the property for lease. My wife and i recently relocated from Australia to Madrid, Spain on a working visa. We have been in the country for just over 5 months. Due to my new job offer at the Hospital Universitario La Paz here in Madrid.


The whole flat is up for a total of 8000HKD per month. Which i also think is fair enough considering the location. I just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to occupy the apartment and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for now.


The flat comprises of one bedroom. Excellent condition inside. Good sized lounge, with a sofa. Can sleep a max of 4, and ideal for family, couple and friends. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils.


Just to let you know, the keys are right here with me. But there wouldn't be any problem with that. As it can be posted to you, after all necessary agreement has be reached and signed into lease. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really an issue here , but your absolute maintenance of the apartment, because it is good to keep the property in good condition, just for the memories of my father. Who committed so much putting those facilities in place, so i wouldn't want an violation of my property if finally rented by you.


Address: Medal Court, 6th floor, 38 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong Island, Sheung Wan. 5-minute walk to MTR and close access to Hollywood Road and SOHO restaurants and shops. The building has life access. And please note, Monthly Rent is only inclusive of of management fee. As for the utility bills, there are not included on the rent, and also no outstanding bills. So you be paying the bills and starting the lease with a clean slate. The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 2 years with a possibility of extension.


Kind Regards,

Donald


Good to read from you on your interest on my apartment. The apartment is still very much available for rent. Just to give you a little low down about the apartment and myself. My Wife and I are Australian citizens, in our 60's and very responsible with impeccable references. I inherited the flat from my late father. He was actually residing there alone. He just recently passed away in an hospital with diabetes. This is why i decided to put up the property for lease. My wife and i recently relocated from Australia to Madrid, Spain on a working visa. We have been in the country for just over 5 months. Due to my new job offer at the Hospital Universitario La Paz here in Madrid.


The whole flat is up for a total of 8000HKD per month. Which i also think is fair enough considering the location. I just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to occupy the apartment and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for now.


The flat comprises of one bedroom. Excellent condition inside. Good sized lounge, with a sofa. Can sleep a max of 4, and ideal for family, couple and friends. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessary cooking utensils.


Just to let you know, the keys are right here with me. But there wouldn't be any problem with that. As it can be posted to you, after all necessary agreement has be reached and signed into lease. Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really an issue here , but your absolute maintenance of the apartment, because it is good to keep the property in good condition, just for the memories of my father. Who committed so much putting those facilities in place, so i wouldn't want an violation of my property if finally rented by you.


Address: Medal Court, 6th floor, 38 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong Island, Sheung Wan. 5-minute walk to MTR and close access to Hollywood Road and SOHO restaurants and shops. The building has life access. And please note, Monthly Rent is only inclusive of of management fee. As for the utility bills, there are not included on the rent, and also no outstanding bills. So you be paying the bills and starting the lease with a clean slate. The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 2 years with a possibility of extension.


Kind Regards,

Donald

Thanks for the heads up.

Beware:


Good to read from you on your interest on my apartment, which i am leasing out for rent


The apartment is still very much available for rent. Just to give you a little low down about the apartment and myself. I am a Russian citizen, i inherited the flat from my late father, as being is his child. He was actually residing there only, until his death. Which is why i am offering the flat for lease. I have being living in China, but have now relocated to Lisbon, Portugal to permanently live with my Husband. Due to my new job offer at the Hospital de Santa Maria here in Lisbon.


The rent rate is 8000HKD monthly. Which i also think is fair enough considering the location. I just need someone with an open heart, love and clean to occupy the apartment and put all my worries off concerning the maintenance of the apartment for now.


The flat comprises of 2 Bedrooms, Nice Lounge, Well Fitted Kitchen, Excellent Decorative Order, Close to Local Amenities


Just to let you know, the keys are right here with me. But there wouldn't be any problem with that. As it can be posted to you, after all necessary agreement has be reached and signed into lease. If you are satisfied with the lease agreement. . Also i will like you to know that the rent charges is not really an issue here , but your absolute maintenance of the apartment, because it is good to keep the property in good condition, just for the memories of my father. Who committed so much putting those facilities in place, so i wouldn't want an violation of my property if finally rented by you.


Address: Medal Court, 5th floor, 38 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong Island, Sheung Wan. 5-minute walk to MTR and close access to Hollywood Road and SOHO restaurants and shops. The building has life access. The rent is only inclusive of the building management fee. As for the utility bills, there are not included on the rent, and also no outstanding bills. So you be paying the bills and starting the lease with a clean slate. The minimum lease term is 2 months, and a maximum of 2 years with a possibility of extension.


Kind Regards,

Irina

Hi, this sounds like a terrible example of taking advantage of people in the real estate industry. I read about something recently on http://www.spacious.hk that eluded to a epidemic of fake listings in the property and home to rent sector in hk. Something needs to be done about it.

I too received an email for a house avb on Holywood Road(ad on Kijiji). See Below


I got a contract job in an engineering company for a construction project as part of the structural engineers to build a high-rise building in Pretoria, South africa. I am a Building tech specialist, so my accommodation period in South Africa will be about 4 years, so that's the reason why i am renting out the unit. I do not intend to make profit out of it all i want is to find a good and clean person to take good care of the place. I`m the owner of the unit and it is furnished but if you want you can make use of your furniture's and help keep mine in the storage locker which is situated both in the unit and in the building and these does not attracts any funds.The monthly rent am requesting for includes all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, 1 parking spots, air conditioning, dishwasher, garbage disposal,microwave, refrigerator, stove, laundry in-suite, washer and dryer) the monthly rent you will be paying includes all this and they will be taken care of as soon as you pay your rent.Everything in this unit is functional and in good working conditions. Once you started staying in the unit and there is any case of any repairs which is as a result of normal faults like leakages, you will get in touch with me and i will get it fixed, i am in possession of the keys to the apartment which makes hard for you to view the unit. You can move into the unit when you receive the keys but the only problem is that am the only person who has the keys but i hope that we will be able to reach a compromise on this.

TERMS AND CONDITION:

~The lease is month to month , 6 month or 1 yr and can be renewed ~It can be rented furnished or unfurnished ~ You will have to take good care of my unit ~Utilities are included in the rent ~Pets Allowed Any further questions please contact and get back to me for the pics and address of the unit. Thank you for your interest and

i`m awaiting your response.


mail from: sowlambert@yahoo.com

I received the scammer email as follow , it just too good to be true !!!!!! Beware !!!!



Re : 17 Macdonnell Rd, Mid-level, Hong Kong‏‎




Musil Pavel

May,2,2014


So good to read from you regarding to my apartment for rent, which is still vacant before i left for Spain with my new job.


I & my Fiancé have decided to lease out the apartment because we need a good tenant who will take good care of the maintenance & cleanliness of the apartment while we are abroad. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the maintenance..


I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the apartment because we won't be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the flat but i just had a feeling that anyone who knows what it takes to put this kind of structure down, should know that maintaining an apartment is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the apartment and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the flat.


The apartment comprises of 2bedrooms with separate kitchen, All queen size bed in the bedrooms, All kinds of electronics are available in the apartment, including a PlayStation3 video Game. All kitchen utilities are available including washer & dryer.


The exact address of the apartment is 17 Macdonnell Rd, Mid-level, Hong Kong‏ and the rental is HK$8,900 monthly.


There is a parking space available. I await your response.


Regards