Property scams

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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.

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  • tangier morroco - property scams?

    We are keen to buy a flat in tangier. Almost completed construction. Anyone know of any scams or what to look out for - ie hidden extras etc?
    you daredevil

  • Property scam? I've put my property on a website and have had some one contact me who wants to buy my home.

    I smell a rat heres the email see what you think or if you have heard of any property scams particularly from nigerians please let me know. I may be wrong so please help.

    Message: Good Day


    I am Mr ------, i work in a construction
    company in USA were my company i work for moved me
    to Nigeria and other team worker to construct a
    road.



    Now we are almost true with it and i which to
    relocate to UK for a break in which i need to buy
    your house (Large Semi-detached House in -------


    Kindly email me on how i will go about buying
    this because i wanna start making up with the
    payment.



    Email me back soon............
    If this is one of those wealthy Nigerians as most of the scammers proclaim themselves as, then inform him you can sell to him as is, all cash with one contingency. The entire purchase price must be deposited in the escrow account you select, and be non refundable, before you will sign any offer. You do not want a discrimination case should this be the one in a million legitimate Nigerian. You can however determine the terms under which mutual acceptance can be established. If he is well off financially he should have the funds to do this. You can also require him to present his offer and proof of funds in person. That said, it is my personal gut feeling this person isn't genuine.

  • Renting property - is there a contract signed detailing handing over deposit?

    I don't mean the tenacy agreement here.

    I am referring to the moment you hand over/pay the deposit (bond) for the property to rent. How can you assure this process is geniune and free from scams?

    ..Just to prevent your the landlord/agent running away with your money and not giving your keys etc..
    You need to at least have a receipt and you should at that point also sign the tenancy agreement. You should not be paying a deposit without either of these items.

  • Had a bad experience with a Landlord or Lettings Agent?

    I’ve heard so many horror stories, we have seen in the press recently about Shelters campaign to assist people in educating them against rental property scams, but how many people in the UK have been directly affected by Landlords or Lettings Agents, loss of deposits, Rental safety issues with properties, and general unfair treatment?
    Care to share some of your worst landlord/letting agent stories?
    Have a read through the questions in this category, and resolved, you will find a few.

  • Can a private landlord put themselves on the electoral register for a property that they are renting out?

    does anyone know? it seems weird to me. like is it a tax scam or something?
    Only people living in the property can do that.

  • I need some advice on renting a property in London!!! Is this a scam asking me to show I have the funds via...?

    ...a money gram/western union transfer to a relative of mine and emailing them the receipt to prove i have the funds before I arrange a viewing. This apparently because they have had there time wasted on previous viewings. Is there some hidden scam I am not aware of or is this a typical procedure from a private person letting a property?
    This definately sounds dodgy, the usual thing for a landlord to do is ask to see proof you are working i.e wage slips. When viewing a property, you are under no obligation to rent it, so therefore at that stage they would have no need to know what money you have.

  • Was Bulgaria property investment all a scam?


    The crisis is everywhere - many people lost money due to property investments in other countries.
    It is always risky to go for the lowest price - Bulgaria offered lowest prices in Europe. Someone won, someone lost.

  • Alternative ways to rent a room in Central London?

    Hi, I am looking for a room to rent in Central-ish London at a sensible price. Please do not say "Gumtree" etc. 'cause everyone knows that. Property advertising websites are full of scams and genuine offers are ridiculously overpriced. I know some people get better deals than that. Mostly through connections though. Any other ways left ?
    Loot, craigslist, local college notice-boards in the area you want to live?

    You do need to be aware that rooms and flats in London generally ARE 'ridiculously overpriced' particularly if you want to live centrally.

  • Am i at risk of identity theft?

    I'm a british citizen currently in Australia. I got caught up in a rental property scam, fortunately i didn't send them any money or bank details but they have a photocopy of my passport.

    So all they have is a picture of me, my date of birth, name and passport number. No address or anything like that.

    Am at risk with this information out there? What can i do to prevent possible fraud?
    yes they have plenty, of info on you.
    THEY can find your address that"s easy, with the info they have.
    just keep checking your bank, and other things.
    not sure what else you can do

  • Help on rent - asked for rent before viewing property?

    I have heard alot about scams where people pay a deposit on a property and never see the money again and dont actually mvoe into the property...
    I have found somewhere to live for my friend and I, and have been e-mailing the landlord. He wants £880 upfront before viewing the property. I put it into his representatives bank and if I dont like the place I get all the money back.
    I have expressed to him that I dont want to be scammed and am a little suspicious. He sent me a copy of the contract via email (he said he lives in ireland) and I said I would pay £440 and the other £440 the day we move in aafter we have received the keys.

    Does this sound like a scam? I am going to print out the contract and go to citizens advice.
    100% scam.

    There is no apartment, there are only stolen pictures of someone else's apartment.

    There is only a scammer trying to steal your hard-earned money.

    The next email was from of the scammer's fake names and free email addresses and has demanded you pay for the deposit, in cash, and only by bank transfer.

    Your bank can only get your money back if there is money left in the scammer's bank account. Scammers know this and will immediately withdrawal the money you transferred. No money in the account means absolutely no possibility of you getting your hard-earned cash back.

    Now that you have responded to a scammer, you are on his 'potential sucker' list, he will try again to separate you from your cash. He will send you more emails from his other free email addresses using another of his fake names with all kinds of stories of great apartments, lottery winnings, millions in the bank and desperate, lonely, sexy singles. He will sell your email address to all his scamming buddies who will also send you dozens of fake emails all with the exact same goal, you sending them your cash via Western Union, moneygram and bank transfer.

    Whenever suspicious or just plain curious, google everything, website addresses, names used, companies mentioned, phone numbers given, all email addresses, even sentences from the emails as you might be unpleasantly surprised at what you find already posted online. You can also post/ask here and every scam-warner-anti-fraud-busting site you can find before taking a chance and losing money to a scammer.

    If you google "fake apartment rental Western Union", "fraud Western Union house rental scam" or something similar you will find hundreds of posts from victims and near-victims of this type of scam.