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Original poster

My property was used in a scam and I'm livid

82 replies

WaterWipee · 24/08/2023 00:39

My current tenant is moving out in a few weeks so I placed an ad online looking for a new tenant.

In short, scammers replicated my advert and booked a viewing. However instead of attending the viewing themselves they sent a couple who had replied to the scam replica of my genuine ad.

The couple were then persuaded to pay a lump sum.

Last night at 9pm, they freaked out my tenant by trying to get into the property claiming that they had paid for it and had signed a fake contract.

I don't even know how to help this couple get their money back. Does anyone know if a bank will help recover the transferred funds?

This is awful. People are shit.

OP posts:
Badbudgeter · 24/08/2023 00:47

It is awful. I don't think this is your responsibility though. Advise them to call the police, you are happy to make a statement. Also their bank to see if anything can be done. I don't see what you can do beyond that.

KievLoverTwo · 24/08/2023 00:53

As well as the police, there is some sort of cyber crime division of the police.

I know this sounds terrible, but they might be part of the scam, so be careful with how involved you get.

Original poster
WaterWipee · 24/08/2023 00:53

Badbudgeter · 24/08/2023 00:47

It is awful. I don't think this is your responsibility though. Advise them to call the police, you are happy to make a statement. Also their bank to see if anything can be done. I don't see what you can do beyond that.

Thanks. I understand it's not my responsibility but I really feel for them. I'm so angry that people are doing this and are getting away with it. It's likely the scammers are using burner phones so I won't have much luck there. However the bank account the money want paid into must have a real name attached to it surely? Do the victims really have no recourse so that the scammers can just rinse and repeat? It's disgusting.

OP posts:
Original poster
WaterWipee · 24/08/2023 00:59

KievLoverTwo · 24/08/2023 00:53

As well as the police, there is some sort of cyber crime division of the police.

I know this sounds terrible, but they might be part of the scam, so be careful with how involved you get.

Yes that did come to mind. The lump sum they allegedly paid was half of the rent and the scammers were trying to get them to pay everything upfront before handing over the keys. The couple went to my flat to try and get the keys which completely freaked out my tenant as she was alone and this happened at 10pm.

OP posts:
Wishitsnows · 24/08/2023 01:03

Maybe you should use an agent rather than scrimping on fees. Your poor tenants being put in this frightening position because of you and the scammers obviously

Badbudgeter · 24/08/2023 01:06

WaterWipee · 24/08/2023 00:53

Thanks. I understand it's not my responsibility but I really feel for them. I'm so angry that people are doing this and are getting away with it. It's likely the scammers are using burner phones so I won't have much luck there. However the bank account the money want paid into must have a real name attached to it surely? Do the victims really have no recourse so that the scammers can just rinse and repeat? It's disgusting.

Show quote history

Well the recourse is that they go to the police who go to the bank and ask for the account holders details. The bank will potentially freeze the account whilst it's under investigation. It'd be in breach of GDPR for the bank to tell you anything about an account holder. They can share the information with law enforcemenet authourities where necessary and proportionate. Honestly I'd leave it with the police.

PyongyangKipperbang · 24/08/2023 01:14

Sounds a bit off though.....why would they turn up at 10 pm to try and get keys?

I can understand that they wont hand over the whole amount until they have the keys but 10pm?!

Original poster
WaterWipee · 24/08/2023 01:38

PyongyangKipperbang · 24/08/2023 01:14

Sounds a bit off though.....why would they turn up at 10 pm to try and get keys?

I can understand that they wont hand over the whole amount until they have the keys but 10pm?!

I suspect the couple sensed something was wrong when they were being pressured to pay the full amount and the scammer told them to go to the property for the keys. The first time its ever happened to me on SpareRoom. A real shame as I've already found a legit new tenant and have signed with them.

OP posts:
Paq · 24/08/2023 07:41

Wishitsnows · 24/08/2023 01:03

Maybe you should use an agent rather than scrimping on fees. Your poor tenants being put in this frightening position because of you and the scammers obviously

Oh bore off, OP has done nothing wrong.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 24/08/2023 07:51

‘However the bank account the money want paid into must have a real name attached to it surely?’

The money will have passed through several accounts and now be in a foreign ( uncooperative) jurisdiction,I’m afraid.

This is apparently scam of the month, OP.

eurochick · 24/08/2023 08:08

Wishitsnows · 24/08/2023 01:03

Maybe you should use an agent rather than scrimping on fees. Your poor tenants being put in this frightening position because of you and the scammers obviously

How would using an agent have prevented this scam? Or are just having a pop at a landlord for no reason?

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 24/08/2023 08:15

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 24/08/2023 07:51

‘However the bank account the money want paid into must have a real name attached to it surely?’

The money will have passed through several accounts and now be in a foreign ( uncooperative) jurisdiction,I’m afraid.

This is apparently scam of the month, OP.

It'll be a bonafide account legitimately opened but that the holder has probably handed over to the scammer for a few quid because they no longer use it. Hence it's no good all the people who say 'why don't the banks check properly when accounts are opened?' because they do.

HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo · 24/08/2023 08:19

eurochick · 24/08/2023 08:08

How would using an agent have prevented this scam? Or are just having a pop at a landlord for no reason?

Show quote history

I agree; this could have happened equally easily with someone who was using an agent.

OP out of interest (I also use Spareroom) did the fake advert appear there or elsewhere?

Valerie23 · 24/08/2023 08:22

The couple are not to be trusted. In that short time they would not have passed any credit or reference checks.

You are being very gullible.

OutInOutIn · 24/08/2023 08:23

Did you put your address in the ad?! How would the scammers know where to send the tenants?

DysmalRadius · 24/08/2023 08:23

Perhaps you could spell out what you think is

MrsSquirrel · 24/08/2023 08:24

The scammers are professional criminals. They are good at their jobs. Yes, it's awful.

MrsSquirrel · 24/08/2023 08:28

Valerie23 · 24/08/2023 08:22

The couple are not to be trusted. In that short time they would not have passed any credit or reference checks.

You are being very gullible.

Gullible in what way? The OP has done nothing wrong and has suffered no financial loss. Whether they are trustworthy or not, she doesn't need to have any more contact with the couple because they are not her tenants.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 24/08/2023 08:29

Valerie23 · 24/08/2023 08:22

The couple are not to be trusted. In that short time they would not have passed any credit or reference checks.

You are being very gullible.

Perhaps they're first time renters who aren't aware of how the system works. Perhaps they are first time renters told handing over a lump sum would speed the process up. But make the OP feel worse about the situation, why don't you.

OutInOutIn · 24/08/2023 08:31

I would want to know how they found the address of the property despite never having spoken to/messaging the OP.

BreehyHinnyBrinnyHoohyHah · 24/08/2023 08:35

You can always rely on Mumsnet to kick a person when they're down, even when they have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Honestly some of you need to log off and interact with the real world. You're coming across as genuinely unpleasant people.

Sorry this happened to you OP. Scammers are getting more and more sophisticated. It's becoming harder to avoid. My DH was recently victim of a very clever scam and he's an intelligent person running a very successful company. It can happen to anyone!

Rubytoos · 24/08/2023 08:36

How did the prospective tenants view the property? Are you saying they handed over money without doing that……..?

Howmanysleepsnow · 24/08/2023 08:37

I think that
OP’s property was advertised online (maybe via an agent, maybe not, that’s irrelevant)
scammer copied the photos and posted their own advert
couple responded to scam advert asking for à viewing. Scammers said they’d get back to them with a time.
scammers called op and made a booking in the couple’s name, then called the couple back to tell them the address and time.
couple viewed. Scammers followed up with a call, or the couple called the scammers back to say they’d take it.
Scammers asked for a months rent up front/ a months rent as deposit and said they’d get keys from the property same day.
couple paid deposit, and got worried when further calls were blocked.

Clymene · 24/08/2023 08:38

Do people realise that there are about 10 applicants for every rental at the moment? People are desperate and desperate people do stupid things.

I'm really sorry this has happened OP. Those poor people Sad

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