[istillpretty]

Hi All,

Just to keep you all informed of a common scam in when looking for accommodation in London.

The so called agent would ask you to meet up with them at the house so they can SHOW it to you. No preliminaries, no forms to fill, no questions asked on the phone as whether or not they meet YOUR requirements... They just want to meet up.

When they meet u they ask in no uncertain terms if you are looking for a place quickly - I guess just to be sure u are desperate enough to fall for what comes next.

Then they give you a signed photocopy that basically says you need to pay a certain amount before they EVEN SHOW you the property.

Obviously the up front fee will be a small amount so you don’t get suspicious.

The scam is this; they take your money and run. They do this in various ways:

- Either take you to a shitty property and then promise to show you another one so they can keep extorting money from you.
- Lie and say the owner is not available etc.
- Et cetera et cetera et cetera.

Basically watch out for un professional looking documentation and letters, it’s a cheap scam so they wont waste time on a brochure, a proper business card or anything like that. They will also be reasonable friendly and would be in a hurry to take your money. Cash of course…

An example of such a person is below: I was almost part of her scam but was quick on the take. Unfortunately I don’t remember her so called estate agency.

Name: Modupe
Email address: modupsfeb1966@yahoo.co.uk
Phone Numbers: 07968688682/07875492558

Be on the look out guys!!

[Bluey]

They advertise regularly on the Gumtree with around 11 adverts, either current or historic. Just google the name or number.

http://www.gumtree.com/london/24/5329324.html

http://www.gumtree.com/london/64/5159764.html

If you cross ref an old cached message which gives another telephone number and google that, you can also spot another half a dozen adverts - 'deals of the day' - posted by 'Leon' that have probably been taken down off the site or expired after a period of time as they seem to date from last year, though it could be just down to the allocation of the same mobile number to a new person.

I would report them to the Police - taking fees up front for just showing properties is likely to be illegal and should the letting agent have no contract with any of the 'properties' advertised than its out and out fraud.

[Bluey]

Hmm, then again, in the event of alleged fraudulent activity, I wonder whether a better way to get your own back on the wasted time and money expended by rogue agents is to do the same back to them.

Ask your friends to book multiple appointments with the agent that ripped you off and then not turn up, leaving them wondering why the easy money supply has been interrupted.

Or turn up, take their picture on the sly and post it on the scamster sites.

[istillpretty]

Bluey DARLING,
aren't you a sly one... That a great idea.. hum i have just like 4 friends in this country though cos i just came in..

But yep. will definately do that. heheheh [evil grin]

Oh and anyone who reads this post should go ahead and do the same...
Call up the number in my previous post book an appointemnt.. and just dont show! heheh if she calls back, apologise and book another one.
CLASSIC.

Any more ideas.. That police option looks good.

Ooooh, I wish I wasn't so pissed that day. I would have made sure i got the name of the agency..

[Bluey]

Out of curiosity, was the agency located in the Wandsworth Road area or are you not aware whether they have a shop-front?

[istillpretty]

I dont think they have a shop front. She insited we meet up 'near' the property. we met up in burger king in clapham junction.

I feel stupid now... Sounds dodgy doesn't it

[Bluey]

Don't feel stupid as at least you realised it was unethical, if not illegal. If you remember the name, contact the local council trading standards officer or private accommodation officer to report them (or forward the info to them anyway in case they are in the position to investigate).

Finding good accommodation is fraught with problems at the best of times and the Letting industry, as a licence to print money and low on regulation, isn't renowned for its professionalism.

Scamsters, tricksters and con-artists are skilled at extracting money for nothing and targetting those who are easier to prey on. For example, if someone discovers they are being pick-pocketted or having their bag stolen and confronts the thief, the thief will actually create a scene and intimidate their victim, often accusing them of theft!

The rule of thumb is if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is (and in this case, potential tenants are probably thrilled that the initial tenant screening process seems quite lax and easy and get caught off guard by the unexpected charge).

In the same way that Letting Agents tend to vet tenants, you should also screen them. When setting up a viewing, make sure you know the

company name
agents full name
how long the business has been established
how many employees they have
number of properties they manage
areas that they operate in
whether you can approach their other tenants for a reference about the quality of their service
how much their fees are in the event that you accept the offer of the accommodation, etc etc.

Google the info you have to see if you can turn anything up. If they are a Ltd company , run the company name through the Companies House website to check they are legally operating, whether they regularly change their name and have returned their company accounts on time. For a couple of quid, you can actually download a full report which gives the names and addresses of the directors.

Good letting agents won't mind a few questions to establish that they are genuine but the phoneys who operate with hotmail accounts and pay as you go mobiles might struggle with this info and give the game away.

[Bluey]

Don't feel stupid as at least you realised it was unethical, if not illegal. If you remember the name, contact the local council trading standards officer or private accommodation officer to report them (or forward the info to them anyway in case they are in the position to investigate). Report them to Gumtree admin so their ads are removed.

Finding good accommodation is fraught with problems at the best of times and the Letting industry, as a licence to print money and low on regulation, isn't renowned for its professionalism.

Scamsters, tricksters and con-artists are skilled at extracting money for nothing and targetting those who are easier to prey on. For example, if someone discovers they are being pick-pocketted or having their bag stolen and confronts the thief, the thief will actually create a scene and intimidate their victim, often accusing them of theft!

The rule of thumb is if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is (and in this case, potential tenants are probably thrilled that the initial tenant screening process seems quite lax and easy and get caught off guard by the unexpected charge).

In the same way that Letting Agents tend to vet tenants, you should also screen them. When setting up a viewing, make sure you know the

company name
agents full name
how long the business has been established
how many employees they have
number of properties they manage
areas that they operate in
whether you can approach their other tenants for a reference about the quality of their service
how much their fees are in the event that you accept the offer of the accommodation, etc etc.

Google the info you have to see if you can turn anything up. If they are a Ltd company , run the company name through the Companies House website to check they are legally operating, whether they regularly change their name and have returned their company accounts on time. For a couple of quid, you can actually download a full report which gives the names and addresses of the directors.

Good letting agents won't mind a few questions to establish that they are genuine but the phoneys who operate with hotmail accounts and pay as you go mobiles might struggle with this info and give the game away.

The reason I asked whether you could remember the name of the agency is that through my research, I turned up a potential (but unverifiable) link to a letting agency that's listed on the internet but I couldn't find a correspnding listing for it in Companies House. However, that's pretty much at a dead-end now you've confirmed that you can't remember the agency's name.