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A real estate agent was left dumbfounded when he tried to show a prospective tenant a rental property to find the locks had been changed.
The Beeliar, WA-based agent was surprised that when he knocked on the door, and someone answered, he found a tenant had already moved in.
The tenant took over the property after responding to a fake advertisement on Gumtree which listed the weekly rent $30 cheaper than the actual asking price of $370.
He thought he had secured the property by sending $2,000 via a money transfer service. However, the scammer, pretending to be the owner, claimed he was overseas and could not get a key to him. He recommended getting the locks changed, and the scammer contacted a locksmith assuring him he was the real owner.
WA’s commissioner for consumer protection, Penny Lipscombe, said rental accommodation scams are common. with eight victims in the state losing more than $16,000 in the past two years.
“Consumers need to be wary when responding to rental ads on sites like Gumtree, especially when the person claiming to be the agent or owner makes up an excuse for not being able to meet them at the property to view it and suggests as an alternative that you change the locks,” Ms Lipscombe said.
Most people who fall for these scams are new to the area, such as those from interstate or overseas, and they think they have accommodation sorted before arriving, she said.
“Unfortunately, they find that the property they thought they had rented is already occupied, with the owner knowing nothing about them. Not only are they left homeless, they are left out of pocket as well.
“To be safe, we would recommend people who are renting properties unseen to go through a licensed real estate or property management agency rather than responding to ads on the internet. That way they can be assured the property being offered is a genuine rental.”
Fortunately for the scammed tenant in this case, the real owner and agent have allowed him to stay in the home, but for the higher rent of $370 per week.
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