housing ad scams on web

So I clicked on an ad for a flat on gumtree  to start getting some info and reactions, and I bumped into this reply...
shooshh... I had forgotten that we'll also have to deal with weeding out the money scams!
*that's why the price was too good to be true... and most of them do!

Dear Stacey,
   
  I got your message regarding my advert. I got a business contract in Hong kong ,that is the reason why the property is available for rent. Also i love cleanliness and i'll like my tenant to tidy my house always.Kindly let me know if you're interested . I have made up my mind to put up the apartment because i don't want it to be vacant without any one living there. So, try to maintain it like yours in my absent. Upon reply, i'll forward the rental form to you for filling.So that i can know how to send you the keys with the full description of the apartment, also how along do you want to lease?
 
 Regards,
 Clement

just out of curiosity, where's the scam?  I agree that anything can be a scam, including this and you always need to be careful, but I don't see the scam jumping out at me.  He didn't tell you to send him tons of money before anything, just asked about your interest in leasing terms and contact info.

Sounds quite straightforward: they guys leaving the country on business, but doesn't want to be paying dead money.  This way he can still make his mortgage payments, but not be money out.  I know if DH ever got a contract abroad from his work this is what would happen to our house (except his work acts as landlord for us).  Money scams are usually asking you for money upfront before signing anything or getting any info.

Is the guy letting it privately or is it through a letting agency?  I'm assuming its private since you found it on gumtree.  Seeing as they guy's going to be out of the country on business one thing you should probably ask him is who would sort out anything for him in his absence?  (ie. If the boiler breaks or problems arise with neighbours etc.)

Good luck with the house / flat hunting!

that's why I asked.  It seemed like exactly what I would do if I were going abroad for a business contract and returning later.  I didn't see that this sounded like a scam.  Some of the grammar wasn't the best, but I'm guessing since he is going to Hong Kong, he may just be from there and not be a native English-speaker.

Sorry, I'm with NYStacey. It sounds like the opening salvo to me. He's offering a little too much information on his personal situation for a first email, instead of just describing the flat and asking discerning questions about her intentions. It's remarkably similar to the "nigerian" emails that seek to make you feel comfortable at first, then hit you up for seemingly innocent info that puts them straight into your wallet.

Sorry, I'm with NYStacey. It sounds like the opening salvo to me. He's offering a little too much information on his personal situation for a first email, instead of just describing the flat and asking discerning questions about her intentions. It's remarkably similar to the "nigerian" emails that seek to make you feel comfortable at first, then hit you up for seemingly innocent info that puts them straight into your wallet.

That was my thought as well.  It may well be completely legit, I know plenty of folks in the same situation. 

BUT it just seemed a bit too informal and easy for my comfort zone.  Granted, the language issue may account for all of that, which makes me feel like a judgemental hag for making assumptions -- but still, under no circumstances would I rent a flat being advertised on gumtree or craigslist (or anywhere, really -- too much can go wrong) without viewing it myself or having a trusted friend on site to see the flat, meet the landlord and size up the situation.

Well if I read the message correctly...She/He sounds as tho they could have very broken English...which would possibly suggest the "Hong Kong" angle.

I rented from a Vietnamese woman for years and years and the first thing she said to me was that she was a clean person and did I mind maintaining her bamboo garden.    All being said tho..she was a fab woman..and it was a stress free rent. I did however get the chance to meet her first to agree the lease and visit the house...and I knew she was down the road if anything went wrong.

I can understand why you would be weary of this advert...It would ring alarm bells to me.  Mainly because it has not been put through a agency ( which I would have thought would be as the owner is out of the country ) and if anything went wrong with the apartment..who do you turn to if you need a quick response?  I would avoid.

They/He dont make it overly obvious on the first email...  but if you use craigslist enough you learn to spot them.

Second email is asking to fill out the app.   "The keys and the receipt of bond  including the full description of the house will be send to you via Dhl to your present address."   So very shortly I would have had to send him the money to receive the keys.   

I got no further info/details on flat, and I gave no personal info, yet he's ready to proceed...
Its just like buying a Range Rover for £10K because he suddenly had to leave the country for work...   For some things, you just have to deal in person, or see the actual product itself!

okay, I see better now.  I would never commit or give too much personal detail without reassurance, meetings and contracts.  I did notice the comments about sending keys out, but I'd assume there would be more correspondence before that actually happened and would be wary otherwise as well.

Especially if you're not living in the UK I totally wouldn't go through a private rent agreement or sale.  I would only use an estate agent, but that's just me.

Better luck with the home hunting!   

Especially if you're not living in the UK I totally wouldn't go through a private rent agreement or sale.  I would only use an estate agent, but that's just me.

I agree. It is best to use a website like rightmove.com to find properties and then go through the estate agent. I noticed a lot of places on there recently that were advertising no agent fees.

you're right.. i may do that... but I wouldnt want to pay more than �100 in fees...

you're right.. i may do that... but I wouldnt want to pay more than �200 in fees...

I've never had to pay that much. I think I paid about £80.

Anything that looks like that is likely to be a scam, I've got more scam emails then I know what to do with, if you keep talking with them they'll eventually ask for a payment by western union in "good faith" that's where the scammy bit is.
Or they'll sell any details you put on the "rental form" for identity theft.
After you've been through it a couple of times you start to spot them at the advert level, although I do occasionally reply to scammy ones when they're copies of real ads and look plausible.
Also be careful of some of the agents out there who have great looking flats, I think flatlands is one,  they have great flats but you have to either pay money to get on their "list" or turn up to their office where they pressure you into giving them a payment to see flats and then show you some rubbish ones, and all the nice ones don't exist or if you do get somewhere with them there's issues with deposits and moving in dates etc.

http://www.flatland-london.com/our-service.php
^ scammy.

http://www.black-katz.com/
^rubbish.

nystacey, if you need any help let me know been doing loads of research on this subject.