Thinking of getting my own pad in the city for a while, so anyway, got this reply from a gumtree ad.

Hello,
Compliments of the season.Thanks for your email and interest in my apartment...I am James Gray, a missionary with the General board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, and I own of the 1 bedroom Apartment you are making inquiry of at 436 ANN STREET BRISBANE, QLD 4000
The apartment is still available for rent. $800 per month and $550 for security and damages deposit. Which comes up tp a bond of $1350.. (the security/damage deposit is refundable when you are leaving the apartment) It comes loaded with amenities: Furnished Living room and Bedroom, Leather furniture and a walk-in closet, a balcony or patio, ceiling fans, gas stove, garbage disposal,and central air conditioning and heating, I bathroom and Toilet, Fully equipped kitchen.. Easy access and transportation options are numerous. The rent fee includes utility bills(electricity,water,etc) so you dont have to worry about that.
The apartment is not a shared apartment. But can live with your spouse, couples are accepted. not more than two people will be permitted.
This apartment is available for short or long term rental.
I used to reside in the apartment with my wife, Linda, but due to the fact that I was transferred to West Africa and my wife to USA, on a missionary transfer, and now reside here for the time being, We have decided to put our apartment for rent to someone neat, honest and trustworthy.
I will be here in West Africa for a while and very busy with missions and crusades.. So I will like you to get in touch with my wife in USA via email for more details and pictures as she is with the keys and the necessary documents of the apartment.
Upon confirmation of your interest, You will be given a rent application form by my wife, after you have filled the rent application form and made payment for a month's rent deposit and damage fees, the keys and documents will be sent to you through I-SHIP courier service.. The application form is subject to approval.
I want you to note that I am a kind and honest man and also I spent a lot on my property so if eventually we give you our apartment, I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this apartment and want you to treat it as your own.I want to know if I can trust you to handle my property with care.
Please note that we don't have anyone over there to show you the apartment, So we will have to send you the keys & Documents via I-SHIP Courier Service on a next day delivery after you have made payment for the first month's payment and security deposit so you can move in asap. If you are ok with this and you are ready to proceed, please e-mail my wife- Linda Gray at (lynda.graylyn@gmail.com) and request for the application form.
Please see the below link about me and my work:

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/missionaries/biographies/index.cfm?id=1172

Thanks and God bless.
Regards

James Gray
Global Ministries

GOD BLESS!

f***ing LOL ^

SCAM SCAM!

I will be here in West Africa for a while and very busy with missions and crusades..

Classic.

Haha. Might take them some time to rent that place out ;-)

If I wasn't too busy with missions and crusades myself I might be interested.

Your reply of course should begin thus,

Dearest Mr. James Gray and beloved,

Thank you kindly for your open and honest response to my request for information about your rental property.

It will interest you greatly to know that I too am of Methodist denomination, and also involved in the Global Ministries Mission - a very worthy and admirable cause.

I was recently on a mission in Panama, with Mary Beth Coudal, working through the Walter Reitz Child Development Center. It is very tough for those people right now, and I was happy to be able to spread the Word of the Lord and do my bit to offer hope in that region.

Given our similar backgrounds and mutual understanding, as well as my continual seasonal travel at great expense to myself, I would like to request of you that a rent of $600pcm would allow me to continue my dedication to mission work more actively. Normally I would not ask such a thing, but since we have such a common cause it seems only right.

God bless your family.

Regards,

mooby
pwning n00bs since 1978

wtf, is this is a scam?

Send 'em the cash and find out.

Pls report back with your findings.

Gumtree is rife with these scams

There was a writeup in the paper several weeks back about people getting scammed sending bonds or first months rent overseas or to hacked accounts. Unfortunately many foreign students fall for it since they can be quiet desperate for accomodation, may not have rented in Australia before, and aren't put off by the poor use of English

My Ex nearly fell for one of these scams. Luckily she did a quick search on name and found info about it.

http://forum.gumtree.com.au/post-3242.html

That is rather clever. Wish I'd thought of it.

That's quite a cool pseudo-identity theft idea in the OP. It's like drive-by ID theft, just finding someone that looks reputable with a public profile and telling people you're that guy. Going with the extra trust derived from being a priest/missionary is a nice touch, although surely that trick is getting a bit long in the tooth.

mooby
pwning n00bs since 1978

lol... close, '79 ;)