Con preys on desperate flatseekers

THIS scam operates in cities where people are desperate to find somewhere to rent.

First the scammer creates a believable social media profile, often stealing photographs from other people’s accounts.

They fabricate jobs, a college education and life events such as a wedding or graduation.

The scammer then posts rental adverts for attractive properties online.

When someone contacts them they will send photographs of the inside of the property, likely stolen from a genuine advert.

The fraudster will then make up an excuse about why a regular viewing cannot take place, normally claiming they are living abroad.

They ask the person if they have a relative in that country and ask them to send the first month’s rent and deposit to that person by Western Union.

The scammer promises to send the keys by courier but will first ask for a scan of the Western Union receipt as proof.

Armed with the name, address and reference number from the receipt, they collect the money using a fake ID and disappear.