Note to Self: Potential Apartment Scam

Berlin Neukölln Apartment Scam.md

I received the following email about an apartment in Berlin that I did not attempt to contact. I am pretty sure it is a scam. Hopefully if anyone googles his email address or the address of the Wohnung (12055 Berlin Neukölln Karl-Marx strasse 223) they'll find this before getting scammed themselves.

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Hi david, You sound very interesting and i guess You Should Be a good person to be with.Sorry, i already disable the ad because have gotten too much mails.I would like to get to know people who are being Themselves and not giving a mere representative.Someone who is naturally his / herself and Independently oriented, and maybe we can get to know eachother better.All am looking for is a down to earth person to share flat with, who like to have something appreciable in all his / her endeavors, am a person with a lot of skills and trades, and far away from being lazy.I need a lively and jovial person to stay with. Am on vacation to my Dad's place in portugal now,i just went last 3 days and should be back in two weeks time but the room can be secured anytime and you can move in anytime you want as well.I have the pictures here and other info about it..have had so many request as well, but i should reserve it for the best and responsible applicant.

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2014 16:39:00 +0100 Subject: Re: Anfrage von David Pollack bei WG-Gesucht.de From:
To: larifurlarifur@hotmail.com

Lari,

I am sorry, but I do not have a record of responding to the ad for your room. Could you please email me the listing on wg-gesucht as well as my original message to you, so I can look at it again?

http://facebook.com/david.pollack.39

You can see pictures of me there.

Thanks, David

2014-11-03 16:17 GMT+01:00 lari fur larifurlarifur@hotmail.com: Good Day! Just to let you know that the room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy..I also have the best friend a person can have,and who thinks the world of me.So I'm loved where ever I go,lol. I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be occupied. 26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in 12055 Berlin Neukölln Karl-Marx strasse 223

price : € 300 charges/utilities:€ 50 deposit: € 500 Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself and family, if you are still interested. thanks.

In Heidelberg too...
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in 69121 Heidelberg Handschuhsheim Steubenstraße 4

price : € 300
charges/utilities:€ 100
deposit: € 500
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks.

I got the same email twice with two different places and the same sender, looked suspicious ;).

The scammer still seems to be active - I got a message about a flat share in Stuttgart which I didn't write to:

HELLO!
The room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy..I also have the best friend a person can have,and who thinks the world of me.So I'm loved where ever I go,lol. I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be occupied.
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in
70176 Stuttgart West
Silberburgstraße 90

price : € 300
charges/utilities:€ 100
deposit: € 500
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks.

Got the same by Janina Schlichting janisch2@gmx.de, today, in Bonn, so it's still there...

Hallo!
Just to let you know that the room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy.
I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be occupied.
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in
Maximilianstr. 24
53111 Bonn Zentrum
price : € 300
charges/utilities:€ 50
deposit: € 600
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks

The same "Girl" wanted to scam me today

Hallo!
Just to let you know that the room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy.
I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be occupied.
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in
Arthur-Hoffmann-Str. 71
04275 Leipzig Südvorstadt
price : € 300
charges/utilities:€ 50
deposit: € 600
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks

BEWARE!

Janina Schlichting
jani34sch3@gmx.de

Hallo!
Just to let you know that the room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy.
I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be occupied.
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in
Allee Der Kosmonauten 20
10315 Berlin Lichtenberg
price : € 300
charges/utilities:€ 100
deposit: € 600
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks

If you continue here is the next step (I ve said 600 is much)

would allow you to pay 500euro as deposit.
You sound very interesting and it seems have come to develop much interest in you than others.
You will see me and the apartment when am back on the 30th.
Am ok with you and am rest assured that you will be a responsible roommate to live with..As regard that, kindly give me your full names,Current full address and your exact move in date so that i can use it to prepare the contract and send it to you via email asap.
Thanks and hoping to hear from you
Regards
Janina

Same in Munich, but I tricked him to tell me his name by saying that my bank doest allow money transfer without name. The name is : Akeem Yinka, He is impersonating as "Janina", even has a copy of her Id.

The IBAN he used is of a Belgian Bank, But emails he sends are coming from an IP address in Nigeria.

Another instance of this scammer being active
Janina Schlichting jani34sch3@gmx.de
Be careful people!
Here is what I received today:

Hallo!
Its my pleasure hearing from you about my one room flat and i guess You Should Be a good person to have as an occupier.The Flat is still available and I would like to get to know people who are being Themselves and not giving a mere representative.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.
Size: 27m² Rent: 550 € 1-Zimmer-Wohnung
Address
Savignystraße 33
60325 Frankfurt am Main Westend-Süd
27m² 1-Zimmer-Wohnung
Available from: Now
Price
Rent: 450 €
Utility Costs: 100 €
Deposit/Bond: 800 €
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks.

Does someone have contacted the police already?

I've got the same, but also she/he shared with me a phone number (+4915171697715). Here the mails:

Hi jose,
You sound very great and i think you will be a better person to stay with, as regard this, have attached the pictures here and also other information about myself and the room.
I just finished studying and my research is in the biology. I am fun-loving, straightforward, spontaneous and open to joint activities. Living in a WG is very positive and enjoyable experience for me. I am an independent, reasonable and respectful person with a good sense of humor. I like to cook, share food and socialize with my housemates When we all have the time. And I do like to keep the place clean.
Am also an outgoing person and try to be happy at all times.I like to go out and take coffee with my roommates when am less busy.
Rooms:
Looking for tenant soonest cos the room has been available since And Fully Furnished.
Description: monthly rent EUR 350,charges/utilities 100EUR and deposit oF 700 EUR, - (incl. electricity), about 26 sqm. room for rent in beautiful Great Schöneberg apartment - in a new 3-WG in the rear building. Apartment has been newly renovated, Complete! The house is a typical Schöneberg building - fully restored. Thus, the boards were abgzogen, primed the walls, installed new bathroom with tub and separate shower. The apartment is equipped with a fully fitted kitchen with internet.
I value a nice tenants of the house and also in the WG.
Location:
Directly at the Kurfürstendamm, the center of West Berlin, next to the KaDeWe.
The great location with the beautiful view to the famous KaDeWe shopping center characatarizes the appartment in a charming way.
The apartment is centrally located in walking distance to the Wittenbergplatz (2 Minute drive) the beautiful view directly to the KaDeWe contribute to the special charm of this apartment.
whatsapp +4915171697715
Sure you can move in anytime you want because i will be sending or bringing you the keys after completing the contract process,if you intend moving in asap.
I would like to get to know people who are being Themselves and not giving a mere representative.Someone who is naturally his / herself and Independently oriented, and maybe we can get to know eachother better.All am looking for is a down to earth person to share flat with, who like to have something appreciable in all his / her endeavors, am a person with a lot of skills and trades, and far away from being lazy.I need a lively and jovial person to stay with. Am on vacation to my Dad's place in ireland now,i just went last 3 days and should be back in two weeks time but the room can be secured anytime and you can move in anytime you want as well.I have the pictures here and other info about it..have had so many request as well, but i should reserve it for the best and responsible applicant.
Miscellaneous:
The WG is newly renovated - and i value a certain constancy and not too many changes to the roommate. Therefore, the minimum rental period is 2 months. Demonstrate how the room will be paid for: eg scholarships, student loans, employment or parent -note that the first 2months payment with deposit must be paid before moving in.
Thanks and let me know if you are ok with it.
Janina

Gesendet: Dienstag, 02. Januar 2018 um 17:20 Uhr
Von: "José Escobedo" joseescobedo00@gmail.com
An: "Janina Schlichting" jani34sch2@gmx.de
Betreff: Re: Aw: José Escobedos Anfrage zu Ihrem WG-Angebot bei WG-Gesucht.de

Hi Janina!

As I said in the description, I'm 25 years old, from Spain, and I'm a pedagogue. I like almost everything related with culture, and also like doing sport and meeting people. I speak Spanish as mothertongue, and I'm able to communicate in German and English. Probably I'm quite easy going as a flat mate.

Right now I'm in Valencia (Spain) and I will come at 10th January. It wouldn't be a problem for me to pay the whole month. The only thing I'm not going to do is to transfer in advance anything, due to the hight rate of fraud in Berlin (I had already got 4 fraudulent answers from 4 fake flats).

I will be happy to get an answer from you,

happy new year,

José.

El 02/01/18 a las 10:30, Janina Schlichting escribió:

Hallo!
Just to let you know that the room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy.
I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be  occupied.
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in
10789 Berlin Schöneberg
Ansbacher Str. 35
price  : € 350
charges/utilities:€ 100
deposit: € 700
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks

Same case here !

Name of the person : Janina Schlichting

Hallo!
Its my pleasure hearing from you about my one room flat and i guess You Should Be a good person to have as an occupier.The Flat is still available and I would like to get to know people who are being Themselves and not giving a mere representative.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.
Size: 27m² Rent: 550 € 1-Zimmer-Wohnung
Address
Sierichstraße 13
22299 Hamburg Winterhude
27m² 1-Zimmer-Wohnung
Available from: Now
Price
Rent: 450 €
Utility Costs: 100 €
Deposit/Bond: 800 €
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks.

Just be careful to this guy!!

Hallo!
Just to let you know that the room is still available.Am a Person who believes in being honest,It is the best policy anyway. I don't play games and I dislike deceit. I listen very well, and I have been told that I am very considerate.I'm a very outgoing person who is down to earth and easy to be with.I like to listen to music,watch movies.Just basically have a good time hanging out when am less busy.
I have a beautiful 3 bedroom flat to share,am staying in one room and have 2 other rooms yet to be occupied.
26m² Zimmer in 3er WG in
An der Verbindungsbahn 6,
20146 Hamburg Rotherbaum
price : € 350
charges/utilities:€ 100
deposit: € 700
Where are you now presently?I mean your present location.When do you intend moving in?
Email me back with your picture,other information about yourself, if you are still interested.
thanks

Hi
You sound very great and i think you will be a better person to stay with, as regard this, have attached the pictures here and also other information about myself and the room.
I am fun-loving, straightforward, spontaneous and open to joint activities. Living in a WG is a very positive and enjoyable experience for me. I am an independent, reasonable and respectful person with a good sense of humor. I like to cook, share food and socialize with my housemates when we all have the time. And I do like to keep the place clean.
Am also an outgoing person and try to be happy at all times.I like to go out and take coffee with my roommates when am less busy.
Rooms:
Looking for tenant soonest because the room is readily available And Fully Furnished, but no problem if you have your own furniture.
Description: monthly rent EUR 350,charges/utilities 100EUR and deposit oF 700 EUR, - (incl. Water,Electricity,washing machine,TV,Kabel +Tel+Internet-Flat,all included), about 26 sqm. room for rent in beautiful Great Hamburg apartment - in a new 3-WG in the rear building. Apartment has been newly renovated, Complete! The house is a typical Hamburg building - fully restored. Installed new bathroom with tub and separate shower. The apartment is equipped with a fully fitted kitchen with internet.
I value a nice tenants of the house and also in the WG.
whatsapp +4915171697715
The keys are with me and Sure you can move in anytime you want because i will be sending or bringing you the keys after completing the contract process,if you intend moving in asap.
I would like to get to know people who are being Themselves and not giving a mere representative.Someone who is naturally his / herself and Independently oriented, and maybe we can get to know eachother better.All am looking for is a down to earth person to share flat with, who like to have something appreciable in all his / her endeavors, am a person with a lot of skills and trades, and far away from being lazy.I need a lively and jovial person to stay with.
I just finished my masters and am 34years. How about you?
Am on vacation to my Dad's place in belgium now,i just went last 3 days and should be back in two weeks time but the room can be secured anytime and you can move in anytime you want as well.I have the pictures here and other info about it..have had so many request as well, but i should reserve it for the best and responsible applicant.
Miscellaneous:
The WG is newly renovated - and i value a certain constancy and not too many changes to the roommate. Therefore, the minimum rental period is 2 months. additional collateral must be verified before Mietgebinn: - Demonstrate how the room will be paid for: eg scholarships, student loans, proof of income through employment odee a guarantee. -note that the first 2months payment with deposit must be paid before moving in.
Thanks and let me know if you are ok with it.
Regards
Janina

Just fell into a similar trap.... This time for a Room in Mannheim: (found on wg-gesucht.de)

Here the scam comes from someone named Laura Esser:

Gut, Ihre schnelle Antwort zu hören, habe ich hiermit die Bilder und mehr Details beigefügt!
Zimmer
Die Zimmer sind jeweils 25 m² groß und die gesamte Wohnung ist 140 m² groß.
Jedes Zimmer ist 400 Euro monatlich all inclusive, also keine zusätzlichen Kosten.
Das Besondere ist, dass in dieser WG jedes Zimmer über eine eigene Toilette / Bad (ensuite) verfügt.
Es gibt auch einen Lagerraum, wo Sie auch etwas unterbringen können.
Es gibt auch eine Gemeinschaftswaschmaschine sowie eine Gemeinschaftsküche.
Anmeldung / Anmeldung ist möglich !!! Schnelle Internet-Flatrate (WIFI)
Die Wohnung befindet sich im 1. Stock.
Es ist entweder für kurze oder lange Zeit, also können Sie es so lange mieten, wie Sie es wünschen.
Es ist komplett möbliert mit Bett, Stuhl, Tisch, Kleiderschrank etc. und verbindet sich mit einem Balkon, der Ihnen exklusiv zur Verfügung steht.
Die Küche hat eine gute Größe mit Esstisch und allen notwendigen Küchengeräten.
NB: Die Zimmer sind in Größe, Form, Typ, Farbe und Preis gleich. Die Zimmer können entweder möbliert oder unmöbliert gemietet werden!

Neben E-Mail erreichen Sie mich auch unter whatsap +4915217043644

Kostenlos, flexibel, lustig und fair WG.
Bin Halbdeutscher und bin momentan im Urlaub bei meiner Mutter in Belgien, würde aber in ein paar Wochen wiederkommen.
Wenn Sie bald einziehen müssen, habe ich die Schlüssel hier bei mir, aber ich kann Ihnen die Schlüssel senden oder bringen, nachdem Sie den Vertrag abgeschlossen haben.
NB: die ersten 2 Monate Miete Zahlung mit Anzahlung muss vor Einzug bezahlt werden.

Meine Forschung ist in der Betriebswirtschaft. Ich bin 26 Jahre alt, einfach zu leben, kreativ und offen für Ideen.
Lassen Sie mich wissen, ob Sie zufrieden und bereit sind, meiner WG beizutreten.
Herzliche Grüße
Laura

After this there were a few E-Mails but "she" switched to english...

BTW .... Two other persons hat similar experience either with a person with same name, or using the same telephone number (See: www.scamwarners.com - which itself seems to be hacked at the moment):

10789 Berlin Schöneberg Ansbacher Str. 35
Miete: 400€ Nebenkosten: 50€ Kaution: 700€
Aside from email, you can also reach me on whatsap +4915217043644
Lage
Directly at the Kurfürstendamm, the center of West Berlin, next to the KaDeWe.
The great location with the beautiful view to the famous KaDeWe shopping center characatarizes the appartment in a charming way.
The apartment is centrally located in walking distance to the Wittenbergplatz (2 Minute drive) the beautiful view directly to the KaDeWe contribute to the special charm of this apartment.
WG-Leben
Free, Flexible, fun and fair WG.
Am half German and am presently on vacation to my mum's place in ireland but would be back within few weeks.
If you need to move in anytime soon, i have the keys here with me but I can send or bring you the keys after completing the contract process.
NB: the first 2 months rent payment with deposit must be paid before moving in.
Am a potential risk manager as my research is in insurance. I'm 27 years old, easy to live with, creative and open to ideas.
Let me know if you are satisfied and willing to join my WG.
Warm Regards
Maria

"#373986 by Farah Saad Thu Sep 27, 2018 3:36 pm
Das ist mir auch in Karlsruhe passiert! Was habt ihr gemacht?
Ich habe schon bezahlt!!!!"

Hello!
Thanks for getting back to me and my one room flat is still available for rent.
It is Available from Now.
Rent: 500 € 1-Zimmer-Wohnung
28m² in 55116 Mainz Mainz Templerstraße 9
Miete: 400€ Nebenkosten: 100€ Kaution: 800€
I Love to have fun, young in heart, not into games or the drama. I love the outdoors and I also love to cook .
I love to laugh and make others laugh. Life is way too short to be miserable or unhappy,lol.
if you are still interested, feel free to tell me more about yourself such as your present location,what you do, your proposed move in period,
your picture(optional) and other things.
thanks and hoping to hear from you!
Regards

Gut, Ihre schnelle Antwort zu hören, habe ich hiermit die Bilder und mehr Details beigefügt!
28m² 1 Zimmerwohnung, nichts wird geteilt.
Es ist 500 Euro monatlich all inclusive, Keine zusätzlichen Kosten.
Es gibt eine Waschmaschine. Schnelle Internet-Flatrate (WIFI)
Anmeldung / Anmeldung ist möglich !!! Die Wohnung befindet sich im 1. Stock.
Es ist entweder für kurze oder lange Zeit, also können Sie es so lange mieten, wie Sie es wünschen.
Es ist komplett möbliert mit Bett, Stuhl, Tisch, Kleiderschrank etc. und verbindet sich mit einem Balkon, der Ihnen exklusiv zur Verfügung steht.
Die Küche hat eine gute Größe mit Esstisch und allen notwendigen Küchengeräten.
Die Wohnung kann möbliert oder unmöbliert gemietet werden!
Neben E-Mail erreichen Sie mich auch unter whatsap +4915217043644
Kostenlos und flexibel 1 Zimmer wohnung. Ich werde die Wohnung ausgeben, weil ich meinen Master im Belgien beginnen werde.
Bin halb deutsch und bin momentan in Belgien für mein Masterprogramm. Ich habe vor, in ein paar Wochen zurück zu kommen und meine anderen Sachen in die Wohnung zu packen.
Wenn Sie jederzeit einziehen müssen, habe ich die Schlüssel hier bei mir, aber ich kann Ihnen die Schlüssel senden oder bringen, nachdem Sie den Vertragsprozess abgeschlossen haben.
NB: die ersten 2 Monate Miete Zahlung mit Anzahlung muss vor Einzug bezahlt werden.
Meine Forschung ist in der Betriebswirtschaft. Ich bin 26 Jahre alt, einfach, kreativ und offen für Ideen.
lassen Sie mich wissen, wenn Sie interessiert sind und bereit sind, meine Wohnung zu besetzen.
Herzliche Grüße
Laura

Hello people! I need your help. I had the same trouble. Someone named Laura Esser offered me an apartment in Aachen, I have payed already and she has vanished. Please tell me is there any way to get my money back? What have you done?

Hello Guys,

I also got this scam. I didn't pay anything in order to get contact details and his/her identity I had to give my passport copy and address.
I regret sending my details!
Then he/she asked me to pay as soon as possible. The thing is someone's ID is being circulated through this scam. The scammer sends me a copy of the Residence permit of a woman.
I wanted to let the person knows about it, what should I do?

Regards,
Saranya