Rental scams are now being targeted at UK Rental agents Click Here

Rental Scams in Self Catering Holiday Home Lettings By Philip Suter

Since the middle of 2004 numerous owners of self catering holiday homes who advertise their properties on the Internet have been targeted on a rental scam.

The scam works by the enquirer sending a cheque far in excess of the requested sum, and then requesting a refund for the difference. After repaying this the property owner will find that original cheque has bounced or is bogus.

One person in France had the experience of receiving a Euro Draft that was actually twice the amount required. This was paid into their bank. A few days later they were bombarded with emails from the sender demanding the balance to be sent via a courier postal company immediately.

Fortunately their policy is not to send contracts before monies have been cleared and actually in their bank account. Their bank informed them that this would be fifteen days to clear the payment cheque. Well fifteen days passed and just as they were about to send the extra overpaid amount, they double checked with their bank only to find that the whole cheque was false.

A lot of people are initially taken in as the applicant makes a very attractive offer. They want to rent the property for several weeks in a quieter season when bookings are scarce. The offer of rent sounds good particularly if the owner of the property has a mortgage to cover.  

Naturally the applicant never appears as he/she only communicates by email. These emails do not always make too much sense as the property owner for example could have been advertising a four bedroom luxury villa and the email will say that they want to rent a room/apartment and even bring their own furniture.

Philip Suter is a Director of JML Property Services - http://www.jmlvillas.com a UK based company offering Insurance products on line and a holiday home advertising service and management training with in the uk. He is a very experienced property consultant with over 30 years work in the Residential letting business and served in the national council of ARLA. He is a Fellow of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and a Member of The association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Suter

©Philip Suter jml Property Services December 2005

Rental scams are now being targeted at UK Rental agents

The following email was sent an UK Rental agent on the 19th October 2006 Like the holiday home rental scams this one was using a yahoo email address.This person make out he is from Amsterdam, but has a very english sounding name.

Gooday, My name is T... l.... and i am from Amsterdam holand .I will like to rent your room for a period of 8 to 12 months starting from any time u are vacant, because i will be your location for a business proposal cause am an Information Technologist and i am about to sign a contract with an i.T firm,within the months that i which to chose from this year.I want you to email me your total rates for the months.I will make payment with a cashiers check/money order.Get back to me with the following needed information:

The very day i will be able to move in,

Cost of the room for the 1 month:

Full names {in which the check should be made out to}:

Complete Mailing Address:

Telephone number:

In addition,my sponsor will have the check sent to you for the payment as soon as i read from you with the required information. Hope to read fr om you soon. have a nice day, T... l....

Landlords and letting agents take great care

Return to Warning about rental scams in holiday homes

Back to Media

___________________________

Advertise your holiday vacation home property at - jmlvillas.com No Commission or booking fees for owners or renters

• Web site advertised in Holiday Magazines internationally 

• 6 photos per ad - change them whenever you like

• You load up your own details -including availability, prices & photos.

• You change your details and prices and availability whenever you want by using your own password.

• Live link to your personal website

• Excellent search facilities

• Main European and worldwide iholiday destinations covered.  If the country is not already listed - we will add it.

• Advice for property owners and renters on the site

• Payment accepted by secure credit card on line

• FREE ADVERTISING in addition on local sites when a property is located in England, France(English and French), Scotland, South of France and Wales

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS