Rental Scam

mariasorensen
By mariasorensen

I just want to share my experience with Rental scam here in QL. I was browsing in QL for a furnished accomodation, I found one that says fully furnished accomodation in Doha port with very nice photo with rental for QR 3000 only. I emailed the lady called Sara Brie, my husband and I were just curious how could there be an apartment with that kind of interior and furnishing that cost cheap in Doha. We contacted the lady in her email and I was suprised she even answered me, she said that it was authentic and real pictures and that she owns the apartment in ZIgzag tower A on the 32nd floor. She is renting the place as she has a 5 years contract in UK and she comes and visit Qatar every 6 months. She was very convincing, so my husband and I agreed to rent the place. She was asking for 9000 QR for 2 months rental as well as a security deposit and she will send me the keys to the apartment and the contract. So we agreed on the term then the next day she emailed me that she was hesitant to send us the key for her own security so she contacted DPD courier in Bolton UK where she is staying and that they have that kind of service for overseas rental. I sent the money thru western union on the same dayo expecting that she paid 200 pounds for the next day dor to door delivery of the key as well as the contract. The next day the DPD service said that they processed the payment and thru the customer service representative Carmen Douglas who recieved the money. Then they emailed me that they changed their policy that they have so many customer complaining for delayed payment by the tenant on the apartment they rented so they wanted another QR 6000 for us to pay advance 4 months rental. We did not agree to send the money anymore because I had a feeling that it was a scam already since they changed their policy less than 24 hours, I emailed DPD that they have to refund the money within 24 hours since they did not honor the first agreement, they replied that they will only send me back 6000 plus riyals because they will deduct the money for sending it back thru western union and their service fee since I did not see the apartment yet and I cancelled. I told mS Sara Brie that the transaction was already a scam since they have not sent me any proof of the existence of the apartment and I have reported it to Interpole and submitted all the documents to them.
Until now they have stopped communicating with us and the money just disappeared for nothing. Anyway, I'm just sharing this experience so people using QL will be aware that some unscrupulous people are using QL for their scam activities. PLEASE BEWARE.....

By guruvenketraman• 8 Aug 2014 23:48
guruvenketraman

Dear Mariasoresen,

I have also faced this problem couple of days ago. After loosing money I was searching whether it's was a scam? Later I found your post and confirmed myself that I have been cheated. Could you please reply to this post so I can just to make sure that you're still active in this post to discuss and share my problems.

Thanks in advance.

By Mathew Poulose• 27 Feb 2014 08:05
Mathew Poulose

There are many such scams.. Property Rental is another one... Dont fall for it... Nothing comes cheap.. And never sen money before meeting the person

By facc• 24 Sep 2012 21:41
facc

Yes I saw the ad on "ads doha"last night and sara brie has now changed sex and is now martin moller!!! amazing...I asked to see the lease and guess what no reply...i have reported this on QL and fully intend to report him/her??? to the authorities tomorrow...i was asked to send £200 to some really naff hoax UK Royal Mail website...who will also be informed of this fraud...you will get yours Martin or Sara...you confused individual...they dont even know what gender you are...

"Hi there,

I have given a great deal of thought about this and I think that sending the keys is not such a good idea. I want to use a third party to handle this for us and I hope it's ok for you, too.

I want to use the Royal Mail Company. They are a well known company all over the world. So, I went to their office in Edinburgh and I told them that I want to rent my apartment and they told me that they have a new service i can use.

I've already paid the fees (GBP 200).

So, here is how it goes:

I start over the process with Royal Mail here in Edinburgh and I leave the keys and a copy of the contract at Royal Mail.Then they'll e-mail you all the information you need to continue the transaction at your end. As per the Royal Mail`s instructions you send the funds to Royal Mail and then Royal Mail will FedEx-overnight the keys and the contract to you. Then you look around the apartment and decide whether take it or not. If you decide not to rent the apartment Royal Mail will refund you within 24 hours and you return the keys to me. It's clear and simple. This is the only way to do it given the circumstances and that is an overseas rental process. All I want is to both be safe.

The deposit you have to send it's QR 9,000 and it's for the first 2 months and for the security deposit. This is the Royal Mail Service I am talking about, read the Phase 1 and Phase 2 to better understand the process: http://nextday-11am-...

Should i begin the process with Royal Mail? Please e-mail me and let me know and tomorrow you could have the keys in hand if you complete your end in a timely fashion.

Thank you,

Martin

AKA sara brie...its all a bit cheesy this scam!!! pmsl!!!

By Almose• 2 Jul 2012 14:13
Almose

Western Union is Scam central. Make sure you meet the person face to face before sending any amount of money.

By Red-King• 2 Jul 2012 13:48
Red-King

And now I am transacting with her by the name of Sarah Dawson...but I can really felt something is wrong when she gave me the link for the pictures of the apartment. It was so nice 2 bedroom for just 3000 QAR. Will let you all know what will be the outcome coz I am asking to see the apartment with my own bare eyes...lols.

By anonymous• 26 Jun 2012 20:17
anonymous

Great gabpezo......so now she'll change her avataar and you'll fall for it??

Btw Interpol address is [email protected].

By madjik• 25 Jun 2012 11:33
Rating: 2/5
madjik

Hello..just recently found a new post in QL for the same thing (3K rent/mo apartment but could easily be rented out for 15K+++) Her new name is Sarah Dawson and likewise has 5 yr contract in Doha but resides in Bolton UK, keys to be sent by Fedex,etc... I had some email conversations with her and I thought its too good to be true and more of a scam so I checked rent scams in internet and found this thread. Anyways, just for your info QL people...

By gabpezo• 7 May 2012 14:55
gabpezo

This lady ( Sarah Brie) contacted me just now.it was to good to be true. we did a background check on her name and this post appear, so thank you.

I emailed her this post so she knows that people know what she's doing. how sad.

By Victory_278692• 6 May 2012 12:51
Victory_278692

How can WE forget ...

QL friendship financial assistance scam ;D

Stealth....Balancing economy using unnatural means

By stealth• 3 May 2012 18:36
stealth

someones loss is someone elses gain....

By Victory_278692• 3 May 2012 14:09
Victory_278692

QL friendship financial assistance scam ;D

By Prism• 2 May 2012 19:48
Prism

It happens. Can happen to anyone of us, may be for something else, somewhere else. Learn your lesson and move on.

By azamat• 2 May 2012 19:41
azamat

I stopped reading at ".. Western Union..."

By Victory_278692• 2 May 2012 15:03
Victory_278692

Lesson learned in hard ways; felt sorry.

Never believe on anybody unless meet in person, verify original documents and location.

Do third party checks also, prior handing money.

TFS

By britexpat• 2 May 2012 14:13
britexpat

The mention of "Western Union" should have been a clear warning. There are similar scams regarding cars for sale..

By saadis98• 2 May 2012 14:09
saadis98

Thx for the information

By anonymous• 2 May 2012 12:58
anonymous

well if MARIA sent the Money its not a big deal atleast MARIA is a GIRL :p

dont be MAD its just a funy Commnt :p

By GodFather.• 2 May 2012 12:09
GodFather.

Fools Gold...hmm

By asterix---• 2 May 2012 12:02
asterix---

You can't report to Interpol.... it is not in their Jurisdiction!!!

By anonymous• 2 May 2012 11:18
anonymous

another one bites the dust...

By Mandilulur• 2 May 2012 03:14
Mandilulur

I am sorry, Maria. I hadn't heard of this scam either before now. Thank you for posting.

Mandi

By BlueBull• 1 May 2012 22:04
BlueBull

maria - Thanks for sharing.

By dash201• 1 May 2012 21:52
dash201

nonmerci, ssshhh! I was trying to be nice lol...I know that but hey ho.

By nomerci• 1 May 2012 21:43
nomerci

dash, I somehow doubt that.

By anonymous• 1 May 2012 21:43
anonymous

Yeah but no body would be that naive to send money through WU without physically seeing the place as nomerci mentioned... we are in 2012 not in 1912 ....

anyways, hope you were taught a lesson from this experience !!!

By dash201• 1 May 2012 21:37
dash201

DPD do not exist in Bolton either. Simple rule in life is that if it is too good to be true then it probably is!

I do feel sorry for you but this is a lesson in life and will make you wiser.

By boer• 1 May 2012 21:31
boer

Interpol has set up a hot desk for idiots in Doha that ask stupid questions and also those that get nailed through WU.

I see some Darwin Award candidates here.

NO SYMPATHY SUCKERS!

By anonymous• 1 May 2012 21:29
anonymous

Always Deal to the person you are known or tell him if he can some body known to you, here we have come to Earn and not for the Scammers to give them hard earn money, So Sorry for you Dear, Nothing can be done, Be Aware next time.

By qatarisun• 1 May 2012 21:25
qatarisun

weird people...

By boer• 1 May 2012 21:25
boer

you deserve to be scammed. What an absolute idiot!!

By qatarisun• 1 May 2012 21:24
qatarisun

weird people...

By flanostu• 1 May 2012 21:15
flanostu

so interpol has a dedicated unit for rental scams in doha now?

By mariasorensen• 1 May 2012 21:02
mariasorensen

To all who commented on this post. I did not write in this forum to be insulted nor get your sympathy, I just shared the experience for QL users to be aware. I thought people in QL has manners in their comments but I guess I was mistaken. Anyway thank you for all your comment whether positive or negative

By stealth• 1 May 2012 20:42
stealth

Does this have to be displayed in bold???

Quick Tip: Make Sure the Seller is in Qatar by checking for a local phone number and don't ever buy anything listed in $. Read Avoiding Scams and Fraud for more advice.

Read more: http://qatarliving.com/classifieds/forsale#ixzz1tdnmVkpW

By Knight Returns• 1 May 2012 20:32
Knight Returns

Interpol doesn't take up petty cases like these so you have to forget it...

By drsam• 1 May 2012 20:31
drsam

ROFL at stealth.

ur miXing this thread with

http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2897513

:D

By nomerci• 1 May 2012 20:21
nomerci

True words stealth, true words!

By stealth• 1 May 2012 20:20
stealth

common sense will not come through education.....

By drsam• 1 May 2012 20:05
drsam

http://www.qatarliving.com/guidelines/avoidingscams

.DEAL LOCALLY WITH PEOPLE YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON

.NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service

.IF SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS.

By anonymous• 1 May 2012 20:03
anonymous

congratulations...u deserved to be scammed...

By drsam• 1 May 2012 20:02
drsam

first there was a car in Doha party in UK

http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2897524

now apartement in zigzag keys in UK

what next?

By ppriyas• 1 May 2012 20:01
ppriyas

It's ur problum omg

Also QL lot of fake I'd sending some message I like ur profile etc... Some thing like that

By t_coffee_or_me• 1 May 2012 19:57
t_coffee_or_me

Sorry ...... suckers are born every second.

By max1986• 1 May 2012 19:57
max1986

There is a BMW x5 for sale on QL for 35k please don't go for that

By flexicode• 1 May 2012 19:56
flexicode

So cheap?

So good?

Apartment to be rented in pictures only?

Land Lord on email only?

Rent through Western Union?

Agreement & Key through courier?

Hard to believe you did not smell a fish.

By galloper48• 1 May 2012 19:53
galloper48

business with somebody out of Qatar and through Western Union????

OMG

Sorry for your problems.....but once you were told to transfer the money through WU you should have expected some issues.

Once again I'm sorry but you somehow gained it for doing business with people being outside of the country. And above all compromising your money without any kind of "insurance"

Regards!!

By Chairboy• 1 May 2012 19:50
Rating: 3/5
Chairboy

Hmm - unlucky but I defer to NoMerci above.

By nomerci• 1 May 2012 19:48
nomerci

ok, so you sent them money and you have not even physically seen the place? Seriously?

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