Page 4 | My property was used in a scam and I'm livid

WaterWipee · 2023-08-23T23:39:56+00:00

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.

purpletrees16 · 24/08/2023 13:26

as a student I contacted a couple of ads they ended up being scammers. Luckily, the scammers were stupid enough to ask for money BEFORE I saw the room so I just refused. All they got from me was an old email address & a first name.

Highdaysandholidays1 · 24/08/2023 13:29

There are lots of people who will not pass agent criteria (e.g. have pets) and they are often advised on here to go direct to the landlords! Agents act as a social filter and exclude a lot of people who still need housing. Using agents does not solve all the problems of the housing market, because they basically exclude everyone with kids, pets, on benefits etc even though legally they are not supposed to do this.

I have been scammed, not in this particular fraud, but my advice is do not get involved yourself. Leave them to pursue the matter with their own bank or credit card and if they didn't use a credit card, that is on them. The bank will investigate, in my instance I was given back the full amount, don't know if it was the loud sobbing that clinched it or my 25 year unblemished bank account, but they did believe I was not in on it (which I could have been given the structure of the scam). Do not interfere, do not call them, do not get involved. It is their problem, not yours, except for trying to enter the property which sounds dodgy in itself.

In my case, not only was my account used, but a fake security branch of my bank was set up so they called me saying 'your account has been compromised, let us help' and it was only because they were a bit rude I started to think, this can't be Lloyds bank! So if people are prepared to pretend to be Lloyds Bank whilst a fraud is ongoing (it prevents you calling the real fraud prevention team during them emptying your bank account) then who knows what this team could do...

Rosscameasdoody · 24/08/2023 13:33

Viviennemary · 24/08/2023 13:21

It was dodgy of you to place an ad online. Why didn't you go through an agency who vets prospective tenants. I do think you need to take some responsibility for this.

Why ? It was done through Spareroom and prospective tenants can check the veracity of landlords if they wish. Not the OPs fault that the details have been hijacked.

whynotwhatknot · 24/08/2023 14:25

all prospective tenants can do is look up the land registery and see who the actual owners are before handing over any money

PerfectYear321 · 24/08/2023 14:27

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

Ridiculous comment. How would this have stopped the scammers replicating the advert? Maybe think before you type

PerfectYear321 · 24/08/2023 14:32

passiveaggressivenonsense · 24/08/2023 08:41

Can you place an advert without giving the exact address out before you e made direct contact ?

Yes, that's literally how it works

Original poster

WaterWipee · 24/08/2023 14:34

Highdaysandholidays1 · 24/08/2023 13:29

There are lots of people who will not pass agent criteria (e.g. have pets) and they are often advised on here to go direct to the landlords! Agents act as a social filter and exclude a lot of people who still need housing. Using agents does not solve all the problems of the housing market, because they basically exclude everyone with kids, pets, on benefits etc even though legally they are not supposed to do this.

I have been scammed, not in this particular fraud, but my advice is do not get involved yourself. Leave them to pursue the matter with their own bank or credit card and if they didn't use a credit card, that is on them. The bank will investigate, in my instance I was given back the full amount, don't know if it was the loud sobbing that clinched it or my 25 year unblemished bank account, but they did believe I was not in on it (which I could have been given the structure of the scam). Do not interfere, do not call them, do not get involved. It is their problem, not yours, except for trying to enter the property which sounds dodgy in itself.

In my case, not only was my account used, but a fake security branch of my bank was set up so they called me saying 'your account has been compromised, let us help' and it was only because they were a bit rude I started to think, this can't be Lloyds bank! So if people are prepared to pretend to be Lloyds Bank whilst a fraud is ongoing (it prevents you calling the real fraud prevention team during them emptying your bank account) then who knows what this team could do...

I'm sorry to hear you what you went through.

I've decided not to get involved. I'm just so angry that this is going on. I've been a landlord for a very long time and it has never happened, but I know better now. I have been aware of fake adverts, but I was of the opinion that the scam involved the 'landlord' not being in the country and therefore requiring a deposit or upfront payment, so a viewing was not involved. Having the victim piggyback (or however you would describe it) on a scammer's viewing is new to me.

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