Zurich Apartment Scam Still alive

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Hi,

After looking at Craigslist and seeing all the advertisements for apartments, I've noticed the apartment scam is still alive. Things like "I'm a pastor living in South Africa, want you to have a lovely apartment, please keep it like I would..........and oh by the way please Western Uniont me the deposit and the first months rent".........and you can't even see the apartment before you rent it.

The Zurich Apartment Scam seems to be alive and well.

Regards,

Rich

2
The satellite phone call scam is alive as well: My wife just had a missed call from one of those strange numbers leading to a satellite phone discussed here before...

Always check the country code before you make a call to see who tried to reach you!

3
Hi Rich

Could you explain me how is working this kind of people, because when I was looking for a flat here in Zürich I received a email like so, with pictures untill of the kids of the Pastor , asking me if I want they send the contract of the flat, I have to give my personal information, I gave no so much important things, but they have my real name, my old adress, and my cell number. After I realize this was cheat, because I received another email from another person, in the same way, asking the same and was Pastor as well.

So I dont know what they can do with my name and my old adress, do you know?

Thanks for your information

4
Phone directory maybe or any offers, raffles you may have taken part in?

I know in the UK some companies buy raffle stubs to get such information.

5
Hopefully nothing - after all, names and addresses aren't that hard to find. The main reason scammers ask for personal information is to be able to filter out potential victims, to avoid wasting time on the wrong people. The more information you give away, the more likely it is that they can trick you into sending them money...

6
The scam is not for your address: They are fishing for desperate people (thanks to the apartment shortage in Swiss cities) willing to pay the deposit through western union. That is the fastest way to loose your money, so never agree to rent from somebody without a Swiss bank account!

7
Isn ́t it lose (to be losing something) instead of LOOSE (not rigidly fastened or partly free from attachment)?

8
I don't think anyone really got the wrong end of the stick. Do you?

9
Hello Keith. I am sorry to be a bit off-topic afterwards. Whereas it can be easy for a native English speaker, for us (Italy) it is not so much simple.

I considered hereby that the poster would "lose" the money if he sents it to the scammer thereof.

However "loose" is something without a grip, like "the fight left the boxer with a "loose" teeth thereafter. Bye and Regards.

10
No need to apologise, I am aware of the difference, however, I believe that spelling mistakes are best left if they don't confuse the situation.

11
Hi Martin,

Yes I do make typos just as anyone else here, since loose is gramatically correct, the spelling check will not find it either.

If you want to, you can discuss all the typos you find in the language corner of this forum, please stay on topic here (at least remotely).

You are very welcome to add more value with you next posts. This one is a serious topic with some real warnings to the newcomers to this country.

I guess you better go to the off topic area instead.

12
check out this thread........and complain away!

Lose not loose

13
But not here though??

14
Sorry, but had to bump this to alert our known members of this possibility happening, in the light of a Reported Post.

15
I don't know if it was an EFer or not, but someone saved me by posting an ad on Craigslist that almost all of the housing posts on there were scams. After many months of searching homegate and assorted sites in languages I don't yet understand, I was thrilled to find many 'great deals' on craigslist (2 bdrm + internet and utilities for 700chf in downtown zurich). Thanks very much to whomever posted the ad to warn weary apartment searchers not to trust listings in Zurich! The ones I had replied to before seeing the warning did send me emails asking for deposits through western union...

16
Just thought I would mention that there is a little scam going on....in a nutshell a colleague of a friend advertised on Homegate that she was looking for a place, a "landlord" contacted her with a 4 room, modern etc.... with photos - in Enge, even better the price was 1900!

The address happen to be in my street and the price was just a little too good - I would have taken it! The Landlord claimed it was empty and they wanted the rent 6 months in advance and the key would be left in the post box - she was ready to pay!

Turned out the flats were all privately owned and there was nothing in the building for rent, she then reported the details to the police and they managed to trace the mails to Nigeria!

I realise most people do do their homework with regards to apartments - but its always good to know.

17
Thanks for sharing the info, i've been hunting for apartment recently & got more then 20 scam from swiss sites, they were mostly sending the same photo of the same apartment with different addresses

18
Oh yes... Housing scam very much alive and kicking..

I happened to be looking at Craiglist searching for an apartment, and saw one with photos, and diligently enquired about it through email...

A very nice, and polite reply said the person is in South Africa and all the crap. I went back asking specific questions on the house and is features and maintenance. No response to those questions and again a rehash of the old email ensued.

And then I happened to see other such posts in craiglist, with the same photos but associated to other id's, and understood that it was a scam..

I became wiser..