Curo issues warning over rent fraud

Housing company Curo has issued a warning to its tenants about a potential rent scam that reels people in through picture messaging app Snapchat. The not-for-profit organisation says it is investigating cases where its customers appear to have been scammed by fraudulent companies offering to make rent payments on their behalf. One particular trick involves a promise of a 50 per cent reduction, made via Snapchat. Curo say anyone who is approached should decline the offer and pass any details on to them for investigation. People are asked to give their Curo Allpay account number, with the promise of a sizeable cut to their rent payment. Once this is provided, the first payment appears to go through. But, the money never arrives, leaving the customer out of pocket. And, as the first message was sent using Snapchat, the person is left without proof of the scam, as any communication made on the app is automatically deleted upon viewing - meaning there is little they can do about it. Anyone with doubts can contact Curo’s Customer Accounts Team.