To suspect my guest

[Wallywobbles]

So we have someone staying with us in France who we really don't know well. He is Czech (this is relevant). He arrived on Saturday last week. He is meant to be house sitting for us while we are away after Christmas. I have been in hospital with DD2 for a week so he's been home alone in the day, taking care of the animals.

On Thursday this week I noticed that there had been 10 google play payments on my teen DD1s account using her credit card, starting on Monday. None of us have a google play account. All macs/apple household. DD1s card was in her purse in her room, fairly discretely put away, and unused since August.

Duly cancelled card and are awaiting the documents to report the fraud to the bank - docs coming by post. Three more payments went out yesterday, pretty much to be expected - total amount 230€. I know that I am likely to be refunded the money - it'll take up to10 days so that's not really this issue.

Today I went into the bank and was talking about the fraud and asked for a bit more detail about it. I used to work for another branch of this bank so know that they can see more than I can. It turns out all the payments were in Czech Koruna. Up to this point it hadn't really occurred to me that it might be the guest.

I have reported the fraud to google as well.

My question is two fold I suppose.

1. If we talk to guest and ask about this I can't see anyway that it will end well. Can anyone think of a way of asking this without it going down like cold sick? I have no proof that its him, just a single set of suspicious circumstances. But on the other hand, if we don't ask/do something will we come back to our house empty of everything after our trip away?

1. How far will the bank take it? Will they track down the fraud down to the perpetrator? My feeling is probably not? I'm concerned that if we go to the police we either won't get reimbursed (and we do need it) or they won't do anything/will make it worse. I could potentially ask someone at the bank if they can find out more, but I don't know anyone in the right department.

Fraud under 500€ doesn't require a police report. When we ask him to leave the chances are he'll disappear without a trace, so the police won't have anything to go on.

I have copies of his documents - driving licence and passport. But he has no fixed abode. He has been traveling round for months.

We live very very rurally and my in laws are my neighbors on every side.

Why do you have a strange housesitter when you are surrounded by in-law neighbours from every side?

I agree with a PP - I would be worried he's been all over your house. You need to get him out, OP.

Have you tried asking previous sitters if they want to come back?

Does the site have references? Can they be checked out?

OP, Better to get shot of him now than wait until he's committed major fraud with other accounts accessed etc etc.

Maybe get a new sitter to mind the old sitter.

Why do you need a house sitter?

I don’t understand why you haven’t turfed him out already tbh

You have a stranger living In your home, someone of no fixed abode and who you found on a website and you have kids?

My mind is officially boggled. So instead of taking the risk you may be burgled when away, you thought fuck it, let's make sure of it?

We need a house sitter because we have dogs, cats, horses, sheep, ducks and chickens.

MIL can't really walk the 300m to our house, BIL2 is a proper farmer and the mayor and works every hour of the day and night. BIL3 works from silly o'clock in the morning til dark. He'll do fowls.

The horses and sheep live out do they're pretty simple.

We do have another option but it's less good for the dogs than live in. And they'll also feed the cats.

It's a bore but I can see we are going to have to do it. Bollocks I much prefer trusting people.

This only came to light at about 5pm this evening. So in all fairness we've not really even had a chance to discuss it. He'll not be alone in the house again.

You would be extremely foolish not to send him on his way now. And then you need to change all the locks and check your own finances for potential fraudulent transactions. You don't need proof.

I agree that it's obviously the sitter. Although you've been told this quite a few times already, so I'm echoing.
I'm confused why your sitter is with you a whole 10 days or so (plus the 7 he's already been there for) before he's needed? You're not going away until after Christmas

Op...your house is not secure. Send the police. What else he done or taken

So, you've had a complete stranger you found on the internet, who has no fixed abode, come to stay in your house whilst you're not there?

What could possibly go wrong?

And after you have reported it to the police you need to inform the website that he came through because (as you know) these things work on trust so you have a responsbility to other potential hosts to flag up this behaviour.
In fact, in your position I would be actively looking for him the other house sittering websites as he probably has multiple accounts and will just close down his profile if he is accused on one site.

This site whch made the 'introduction'? What is it? Presumably they dochecks vi a vis the honesty of their clients? Is it a site fido work for reformed petty criminals?

I give up n my keybrod - it aimply doesn't work on th site.

I'm assuming it's something like a wwof'er? (The OP will know what that is if I am right) I have had lots of friends use that or similar and very rarely do things go badly but it can happen.
Do the site offer any support or advice on how to deal with problems with with guests?

We prefer to get to know people so they tend to stay a while. Some work out brilliantly some less so.

This is one of the less so. The whole point of you having him there longer than you need is to check him out and assess his trustworthiness. He's failed the sniff test.

e230 in Google play? That's insane, they only sell films, music, books, apps don't they? I think I may have spent 99p in the whole time I've had an account which must be over ten years.

And as they only sell 'soft' copies they have to be downloaded somewhere, Google could pinpoint where they were downloaded.

But, yes, say goodbye to this chap.

Wow. That's shockingly bold, to start stealing immediately while you're essentially still there!

Tell him you've contacted the police and they're coming out to take a statement and talk to him. I suspect he'll be out the door quickly.

You have been (very) lucky so far but it was bound to happen eventually. You are putting huge amounts of trust in strangers.

Just say your plans have changed and ask him to leave if you don't want any fuss. But police might be sensible.

Sorry to be cynical, but if this was him (and it seems v likely that is was) he may have been using this as a test to see if you noticed before taking greater liberties when you were away.

I think you are going to have to pay someone local and trustworthy to help you out.