I found a really great apt.in Museum Park (downtown Chicago), turns out it was too good to be true. Below are emails that were sent to me. I caught on when the scammer was not answering any of my questions about the apt.
If anyone asks you to send the first month's rent to TNT in exchange for keys and the contract, its probably a scam — let them know that you don't trust TNT and would rather use a reputable escrow service like escrow.com.
From: Stephanie Peterson
Subject: Re: Apartment Listing
Hello,
Thank you for your interest. I have available the apartment located at: 233 E. 13th Street, Chicago, Illinois. Gorgeous 2 bedroom condo in the highly desirable Museum Park Neighborhood in the South Loop. This is a BEAUTIFUL condo with cherry hardwood floors, granite counter tops in the kitchen and both bathrooms and a huge living area
I moved to London, in United Kingdom about six months ago. New job, new responsibilities I have to be here until everything will settle down. I kept my apartment because I wanted to have a comfortable and familiar place to stay when I come visit my family. I had a lot of work done in the apartment while I was gone, and when I recently returned to stay there I feel in love with the place all over again. I will not sell it. I will just rent while I'm London. It may take up to 5 years. I want someone to stay in the apartment because I don't want it empty when I'm not there. You can have the apt for the period of time suitable for you of course.
I don't have a lot of personal things in the apartment, but it's fully furnished and ready to move in. There are a lot of empty bookshelves so hopefully you can fill them up with whatever you want.
I'm only asking for $1,100.00 a month because I own the apartment and it's paid off.
I'm being selective so please send a description of what you do and why I should rent the apartment, and anything else that might give you the upper hand. Of course I would need a deposit as well, one month rent, which you would get back when you move it or whenever I feel like I can completely trust you.
The rent for 1 month is $1,100.00 including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning). You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I 'm the only person who have the keys but I hope that we will find a compromise.
Above all things, this is a great place and opportunity for someone. Hope to hear back from you soon!
Best Regards,
Stephanie Peterson
PS: This is a cat and dog-friendly building. Other pets are allowed with monthly pet rent*. (Maximum 4 pets per apartment.)
*PET RENT: $10 Cats, $30 for dogs over 45lbs; $15 for all other dogs.
From: Stephanie Peterson
Subject: Re: Apartment Listing
Hello again,
Thank you for the information's that you have provided about yourself. A little about my self: I have recently finished law school at Queen's University and will beginning my Articles to become a lawyer at Jenner & Block LLP. I was born and raised in Chicago, however, I have been away at school for the past 7 years. Now I'm working at one of the biggest law firms here in London. I live here with my parents, my husband and my 2 years old daughter.
Gorgeous 2 bedroom condo in the highly desirable Museum Park Neighborhood in the South Loop. This is a BEAUTIFUL condo with cherry hardwood floors, granite counter tops in the kitchen and both bathrooms and a huge living area.
Includes:
-Stainless Steel Appliances (Dual Ovens, Gas cook top, Dishwasher, etc.)
-Stand-up Shower and Dual Sinks in Master Bath
-Brand new carpet in both bedrooms
-Floor-ceiling windows in every room with views of Lake Michigan, Soldier Field (it feels like you're inside of it!) and the Field Museum.
-1600 Square Feet of living space
-Walk-in closet in master bedroom
-Huge coat closet and extra closet in guest bedroom
-Balcony accessible by both bedrooms and kitchen/living area
-Kitchen is open to living room and has a breakfast bar
-Stacked Washer/Dryer
A 2 car tandem parking space is available. Community includes a beautiful swimming pool, fitness center, game room and doorman.
Like I have informed you before, the price you have to pay for one month of rent will be $1,100.00 with no extra fees you will have access to all facilities provide by the building fitness center, pool and all the other building facilities. The utility bills are paid directly from my bank account. The price will not increase monthly; it will remain the same for the whole period that the contact will be signed for. We can start with a basic 1 year contract with the possibility of renewing it or with the period of time suitable for you.
About the payment, I would like to receive it monthly into my bank account and I hope there will be no problem for you to wire the money to it. The apartment is ready for you, you only need to receive the keys and the contract so you could check it out, and see if you like it.
Since I'm London we need a way to complete this deal that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are asking for. I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days. 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 allows you to pay for the rent of the apt only after you will receive the keys, and through this way you will see it and decide if you like it or not, before sending the payment. Please click on the link bellow to the TNT web site to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the web site of the company where this procedure is explained:
http://www.tnt.com/country/en_generic/services/special_services/timecritical.html
Let me know if you are interested, because I really need to take care of this matter by the end of next week.
Kindly,
Stephanie
P.S.: When I will be in town I will stay in hotel.
From: Stephanie Peterson
Subject: Re: Apartment Listing
Hello,
If you are ready to proceed with this transaction I will need to inform you with the steps on how this service works and how we can make it happen. You will only have to deposit to TNT Service the first month of rent $ 1,100.00 so they can proceed with the shipping, and you can receive the keys and the contract. We will make the contract this of prod of time that you will need the place for. The payment will be made monthly in to my bank account.
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 you step by step how this will work.
1 - To start this transaction I will need to know your full shipping information, full name, full shipping address to proceed with this deal.
2 - I will go to the TNT Office and leave the Keys and the contract in 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, in which you will be told that they have the Keys and that they checked it.
5 - At this point you will have to go to a Money Gram office Location and make a money deposit on the TNT payment agent name for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit is for the first month of rent.
6 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the info about the money deposit to TNT (Reference Number, sender's name and address)
7 - TNT will verify the payment information's and if everything is in order they will deliver the Keys and the contract to you.
8 - 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.
I will pay the TNT Service for the shipping and you will pay Money Gram for the Money Transfer fee.
Let me know if we can do this, and email me all your full shipping information so we can proceed with this shipping.
My Best Wishes
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