As we become more and more reliant on the net to answer our property needs, so we become more vulnerable to scams. It is all too easy for the unaware buyer or tenant to fall foul of a criminal hidden behind a convincing online persona. www.gumtree.co.uk is often the first port of call for those checking out the market. This is a great website in many respects but its open and the lack of subscription charge makes it susceptible to this problem. Remember - if it seems too good a deal to be true, it probably is.
A typical ruse is for the scammer to pose as a foreign student, often based in Italy, who wishes to rent out their (highly desirable, naturally) flat in London. Upon interest being expressed, the scammer will claim that they cannot fly back to the UK to show the prospective tenant around the property without some guarantee that he/she is of serious intent. A deposit is therefore requested sent by Western Union or Moneygram. Do not touch this with a bargepole! Another trick is of similar stuff, but states that the landlord has been inundated with timewasters. He therefore requires a deposit as proof of available funds, to be sent by... you guessed it, Western Union or Moneygram.
There are no hard and fast rules for avoiding scams, of course, but it pays to be aware of what’s out there. When in doubt, place the words which have rung alarm bells into a google search. Often they will have already been reported in one forum or other by a previous victim as a warning. Most websites of particular vulnerability have sections detailing the latest scams and it pays to have a quick and relatively painless flick through these before you begin your search in earnest. Loot, for example, lists the latest cons here: http://www.loot.com/rs6/homepage.asp?action=q&t=/about/scam_tactics&atp=www.
It’s sad but true that these things are on the rise. With a little foresight as ammunition though, they shouldn’t pose too great a threat to the savvy property hunter.