El cuento de la estafa

O de cómo si algo es demasiado bueno para ser cierto, lo más probable es que no lo sea.

Érase una vez una joven doctora que buscaba piso en su nueva ciudad de residencia. Y buscaba y buscaba, pero no encontraba nada decente [1]. Pere hete aquí, que una noche, la joven encuentra un anuncio y le hacen los ojos chirivitas.

Porque claro, con esas fotos...

Y ese precio...

¡¡¡600 euros, todo incluído!!!

Parece un sueño hecho realidad. Pero ¡ah!, el anuncio es de hace más de un mes. Y una ganga así no es muy probable que siga libre.

Así que, la prota de nuestra historia, toda ufana pero con pocas esperanzas escribe al e-mail de contacto preguntando si el apartamento sigue libre. Y al día siguiente recibe la siguiente respuesta (acompañada de más fotos):

    Thank you for your interest in having my place for rent; it has 2 Bedroom and 2 bath and fully equipped kitchen and it's situated on: 26 Allée de Barcelone, 31000 Toulouse.

     I have moved to London, United Kingdom, about 4 months ago, with my husband, when I accepted my new job. I decided to keep the place because I wanted to have a comfortable and familiar place to stay when I will get back so  I decided not sell it, I will just rent while I'm London. It may take up to 5 years. I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of the place and want you to treat it as your own.

    The money are not the main problem I am looking for a responsible person that can take care of property. The place is available and it has not been rented before. You can rent it for the period of time suitable for you of course. You can start with a basic 3 months and we can renew the agreement any time you want.

    I'm being selective so please send a description of what you do and why I should rent the place and anything else that might give you the upper hand. The Tenancy Agreement form will be forwarded to you, which would guarantee your entry to the place on the day of your arrival.

    The rent for 1 month is 600 EUR including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, 2 parking spots, air conditioning). You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys. I have ready all the necessary rental documents. The only problem is that I'm the only person who has the keys but I hope that we will find a way to solve this situation. I will really appreciate a response if you decide to rent the place.

    Above all things, this is a great place and opportunity for someone. Hope to hear back from you soon!

I've attached the pictures of the apartment...I hope you like it. You'll receive the flat fully furnished and fully equipped like into the pictures

La joven doctora no cabe en sí de gozo. 600 euros por todo, internet incluída. Y bueno, que le pidan que convenza de su idoneidad para alquilar el piso es un poco raro, pero es cierto que en los EE.UU. no es una práctica muy rara. Así que responde, poniéndose como la mejor inquilina ever, mientras se pregunta cómo diantres van a poder hacer la entrega de llaves (¿a cuánto dices que sale un EasyJet a Londres?).

Que conste que aquí la prota empieza a notar un runrún en la boca del estómago. Como de que hay gato encerrado.

Poco después, recibe otra respuesta:

I am very happy that I speak with such a reliable person. I have a very busy schedule at my office and I really can't come to meet you. I can deliver you the apartment keys by mail and you can visit it. The rent period is between 2 months and 5 years.

    The deposit will not be necessary. We will use the services of Money Bookers, who will be in charged of payment and the delivery of the keys.

Here's my suggestion:

    * To start this transaction i will need to know your full shipping information, full name, full shipping address to proceed with this deal .

    * A soon as I got your e-mail I will go to Money Bookers to deposit the apartment keys on your name and address. Then they will send you a e-mail with a payment invoice for 1 month rent.

    * Your money will be kept by Money Bookers in their safe account.

    * A soon as Money Bookers will receive the money from you, they will send me a e-mail for confirmation.

    * I will proceed with delivery of apartment keys.

    * You will receive the keys of apartment, visit it and e-mail me if everything is okay

    * After I get from you the acknowledgment that my apartment will fit to you, I will contact a local notary for the rent contract.

    * I will send you, by mail, the original contract for signing.

    * You will sign the contract and keep one contract for you and one contract you will have to mail me back to London.

    * After everything is complete you will have to e-mail Money Bookers to confirm that all is okay so they can transfer the money to my bank account.

I hope you will agree with my suggestion.

Also here you can find out more about the security of these transactions made through MoneyBookers https://www.moneybookers.com/app/help.pl?s=escrow&l=FR

Cheers!

Y aquí ya, todas las alarmas de la prota se encienden. Porque, ¿no decía la mujer que era muy selectiva? ¿Ya ha decidido que es la persona idónea? La joven doctora NO es tan buena. Y lo sabe. Mmm. Dudas. Preguntas. Como no se ve el horno en las fotos, decide usarlo como excusa para mandar otro mail.

Y ahí tenemos a la joven doctora que, como investigadora que es, decide hacer una labor detectivesca, con la imprescindible colaboración de su hermano, claro. Y hace una búsqueda en Google y aprende que estafador en francés se dice escroc. Y descubre que lo de MoneyBookers es una empresa, ¿cómo decirlo?, regulera. Y que la estructura del e-mail, del anuncio y de la forma de pago es una estafa de libro.

Así que, la joven doctora, aprendiza de Sherlock Holmes, se queda sin su maravilloso (pero falso) piso, pero conserva sus 600 euros y su orgullo por no haber caído en la estafa.

Moraleja:
Si es demasiado bueno para ser cierto, haz caso de tu instinto y di no. Y si te quedan dudas, busca en la red, seguro que no eres el primero al que intentan timar.


[1] Con un dormitorio separado, nevera, horno, congelador, amueblado... Esas cosas básicas.