My first fraud experience

So I have had my very first scam-experience.

In my search for a new place to live, I have learned one important lesson. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. I found this amazing apartment in a very nice location in Pescara, with all inclusive (even internet and TV) for a very low price. So of course I applied for it and then began a strange conversation with what I thought was just a very friendly grandmother.

Here is what happened:



----Messaggio originale----
Da: messaggi@subito.it
Data: 21-giu-2014 16.02
A: <gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it>
Ogg: Subito.it - Risposta a: Trilocale via Rigopiano, Pescara



Ciao,
Siamo una coppia interessata a vedere l'appartamento e, nel caso, a
trasferirci da subito. E' ancora disponibile?


Saluti


Sofie


Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:29:25 +0200
From: gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it
To: wille_sofie@hotmail.com
Subject: R: Subito.it - Risposta a: Trilocale via Rigopiano, Pescara


Ciao,

    First of all i'm sorry to write you in english but i don't speak Italian( and greck i think you don't understand). I just read your e-mail regarding my apartment located in via Rigopiano, Pescara
 I bought this apartment for my daughter during her studies in Italy, but now she's back home (Koropi/Greece) permanently, so I'm renting the place for unlimited time. Before we go any further I would like to know a little something about you, like how many persons you intend to live in the apartment, and for how long. The flat is exactly like in the pictures, fully furnished and renovated. Also,very important, the utilities (cold/hot water, electricity, wireless broadband internet, digital TV, 1 parking spots, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave,refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) are INCLUDED in the price of 400EUR/month. The Fianza is also 400 EUR, and you get it back, when you decide to leave the apartment (you will have to give me at least 30 days notice). As for me, you can rest assured that I will never ask you to leave the apartment. My daughter is building her life here, and i am too old to move to Italy, so we
won't disturb you.You will have access to a very large and well ventilated cellar, where you can store the furniture.

  My name is Gabrielle Lamble and I'm a 58 years old graphic designer from Koropi, Greece, planning to retire in the next 2 years.I have a lovely husband, Karaan and a 25 year old daughter,Herna. I am very proud to say that soon I'm going to be a grandmother :). Another member of our family is a 4 year old Labrador which we all love, so, I have no problem if you will keep pets.
The only inconvenience is that my job doesn't allow me to leave Greece even for one single day. We just hired some new staff and I'm in charge of their training.
But this won't affect you at all. I can make arrangements to rent the apartment from  Greece (on my expense of course).
Looking forward to hear from you soon.I will put the the add down because i
have many emails
All the best from , Greece!



----Messaggio originale----
Da: wille_sofie@hotmail.com
Data: 27-giu-2014 19.10
A: "gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it"<gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it>
Ogg: RE: R: Subito.it - Risposta a: Trilocale via Rigopiano, Pescara


Hi Gabrielle,

Thank you for your reply - and I have to say, what a relief that you are writing in english. I am danish, and my Italian is quite limited anyway, so thank you for that!

I am a journalist, 28 years old and I moved here to Pescara only 4 month ago to explore the city and the Italian lifestyle.
I make a living here, by writing for a Danish white goods company, and sometimes I am lucky to sell an article to a Newspaper. Latest I sold an article with some translations on the Italian gestures, that made it to a nationwide newpaper :)

Besides this, I am collaborating with some italian journalists on making a tourist site and an infomercial about the abruzzo area. In Denmark I produced a TV-show about men and their beard (great topic, right) and I enjoy playing around and make TV.

In what is left of my time, I enjoy going for a run, draw portraits or hang out with friends..

Now that you removed the ad from the site, I can´t view it anymore. But the price is very fair (I went to see an apartment yesterday that said 350 Euros, but with all included it ended up in almost 600 euros!) and the location is perfect, so I am very interested to know how when it will be available from.

Looking forward to hear from you - and a big congratulations on your new title as a grandmother! :)

Sincerely

Sofie


Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:43:16 +0200
From: gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it
To: wille_sofie@hotmail.com
Subject: R: RE: R: Subito.it - Risposta a: Trilocale via Rigopiano, Pescara

Hello,
Thank you for your reply but the matter is that I'm in Koropi, Greece already. Like I have inform you before, the price you shall pay for one month of rent will be 400 EUR + 400 security deposit ( Fianza ) = (800 euro), with no extra taxes to pay.I must have one month rent + security deposit from you.You pay this money just for this time and every month you pay just 400 euro . The money, I want to receive it monthly to my bank account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money to my bank account. The apartment is ready for you, you will need only to receive the keys and the contract to check it, and see if you like it. Obviously we need a way to complete this deal, that will allow us to make sure we receive what we are after. In order of that I have found a way for us to complete the deal safely and fast, and in this way you will receive the Keys in less than 2 days, if you move fast as well. The solution is provided by a company called Genesis Logistics which is similar to FedEx or UPS, which will handle both payment and delivery of the Keys. I have found a procedure that will allow you to pay for the rent of the apt only after you will receive the keys of it and through this way you will see it and decide if you will stay in the apt or not before I receive my payment. Please click on the link bellow to the Genesis Logistics website to see how we can complete the deal safely and fast directly from the website of the company where the procedure is explained: www.genesiscyprus.com
Let me know if you are interested please because I really need to take care of this matter.



Hi Gabrielle

It seems like a good solution you have come up with.

However, you told me that your daughter used to do her studies here in Pescara. She must know somebody she trusts, that can show me the apartment?

I can´t "risk" 800 euros on an apartment I havent even seen yet, for some keys I don´t know if are working - you understand? :)

Or maybe you can link me to where specific on the site, Genesis Logistic explain about this service? I can´t find anything like that on the site


----- Reply message -----
From: "gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it" <gabrielle.lamble@virgilio.it>
To: <wille_sofie@hotmail.com>
Subject: R: RE: R: RE: R: Subito.it - Risposta a: Trilocale via Rigopiano, Pescara
Date: Sun, Jun 29, 2014 15:27

Hi,
I will need to inform you the steps about how this service works and how we can make it happen. I will go with the keys, contract for rent, your name and address to the Genesis Logistics i will pay for delivery after this Genesis Logistics will send you a invoice for you to deposit 800 euro to agent from Greece.
After you make the deposit in 2.3 days a agent from Greece  will come to your address and together will go and visit the apartment. If you don't like it,you only have to tell to agent and he will refund the money to you and they will deliver the keys back to me on my expense and if you like you sign the contract and you can move

 I will pay for  delivery so you will receive the Keys and the contract signed by me right away.
1 - To start this transaction i will need to know your full shipping information, full name, full shipping address and phone number to proceed with this deal .
2 - Genesis Logistics will check the envelope to see if everything is OK with it and also the legal papers that will come along with the Keys.
3 -  Genesis Logistics will send you a delivery notification to let you know they have the Keys and the papers in their custody, in which you will be told that they have the Keys and that they checked it.
4 - At this point you will have to go to a Western Union Agent Location and make a money transfer deposit on the  name of agent from Greece assigned with this transaction for the amount we agreed, the total amount you shall deposit is for the first month of rent.
5 - After you make the deposit you will have to send the infos about the money deposit to Genesis Logistics
6 -  Genesis Logistics  will verify the payment informations and if everything is in order they will deliver the Keys and the contract to you .

 You will go and check the apt and  tell them if you keep the apt or not, if everything is in order you will instruct  Genesis Logistics to release the funds to me.
If you don't like the apt the agent will give you ,your money back ,I will pay  Genesis Logistics Service for the shipping and you will pay Wester Union for the Money Transfer fees. Now i must know for sure if you agree because here are a lot of peoples interested to have this apartment rented and i want to know for sure what i must tell them. If you agree what i suggested i will tell them that my apartment is already rented and i will keep it for you. If you agree then i must have all the shipping details so i will be able to make all the arrangements for the  Genesis Logistics delivery.
very Important: Western Union  is just a method of payment , they are not authorized to give you any information about this transaction for your security.You just have to do a normal money transfer to a person ( Genesis Logistics agent).Only  Genesis Logistics has access to this transaction for more security.
Thank you for your interest and wait news from you.




No thanks, I don't want to transfer any money until I have seen an apartment

/Sofie

Sent from my HTC

How to evolve into a diva

In the last many articles I have been waving with my confusion about Italians (oh you great mysteries) and wondered how I can become more Italian. But over the last month time, there are a few things that have become clearer to me. Things I initially didn’t understand or could relate to. But just last evening I was late for an appointment, and I was complaining about it to everyone. In Italian.

Step by step, this culture has begun to shape me.  

I used to find it the hardest to relate to the women here. As a Dane from a land of independent, equal minded, beer drinking, career seeking women, all I saw when I moved to this country, was women with red lip stick, high heels and a diva attitude that made me feel like a butch and brutal man.

But today I have implemented all of the things on my list on how to become more Italian, and I have become a full blown Italian Donna!

I understand now, that the women here are not at all little fragile princesses, who doesn’t know how to do anything themselves. These women has taken the female advantages and spun gold out of it. They are just as strong and independent, but they have got an attitude that makes men jump off their chairs and do anything to make them happy. In Denmark the men won’t even hold the door for a woman. So, admittedly, it didn’t take me long to get used to this new way.

Here is how things usually works for me:

A Danish woman packs and calculate the weight of the groceries or luggage to an amount that she can carry. She knows, that these things need to be moved from A to B and she knows, that she is will be the one moving it. She is an independent woman. She can carry her own stuff.

When a man picks up a woman at her door, she will be dressed and ready to go at the agreed time. She will not be still looking for the right outfit, lipstick, shoes or talking on the phone with her girlfriends.  

If a Danish woman has to go somewhere, she knows that there are different solutions to get there, such as public transportation, a bike, or a taxi. She will manage to both depart and arrive all on her own.

If a Danish woman has to enter a door, she is in most cases capable of locating and operating the door knob. She is independent. She is managing on her own.

If a Danish woman is finding herself thirsty or hungry, she will navigate to a café, order and pay herself, without further supervision.

But..

When all of these things are turned upside down, it is almost impossible not to take one step closer to life as a diva. I no longer have to carry my own heavy shit. People will wait for me, even if I am late, and hold the door for me and pick me up in a car whenever I have to go somewhere. They will be worried if I got something to eat and make sure that I am generally pleased. And so, step by step, I have started to get used to these little things, and before I knew it I had started to expect them to happen... 

I like equality, but I am enjoying that there is a difference between men and women. At what point in a Danish man’s life does he ever feel that the woman actually needs him?