Bosses at internet listings site Gumtree will meet with the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) to discuss scam in which fraudsters posing as landlords demand cash for viewings.
The RLA has issued a warning over the online advertisements which often include cloned logos from websites including the RLA’s DepositGuard scheme.
The ads often show a very attractive and affordable flat. But when prospective tenants call to arrange a viewing they are typically told that the landlord lives far way, sometimes abroad and that they must provide a deposit to secure a viewing – a figure usually in the region of £1,500.
However once the cash has been paid they never hear from the scammers again.
Since the warning was issued Gumtree has contacted the RLA saying representatives are happy to sit down with the RLA to talk about the best way to tackle the issue.
Landlords whose properties have been caught up in a scam of this kind can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
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