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| Home >> Tenant >> Avoid Letting Scams |
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| Avoid Letting Scams |
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Scam Advisory
RentDirectUK works proactively to protect our users from individuals seeking to scam, defraud or bother our users. We would like to take this opportunity to educate you about potentially fraudulent behavior to protect you, as well as to solicit your help in identifying and reporting to us anyone that appears to be engaged in potentially fraudulent activity.
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is! If someone offers to send you a money order or cashier’s check for a deposit and rent without ever meeting you or seeing your home, they are probably trying to scam you. Often, they will offer to send you a money order or check in excess of the rent and deposit you have asked for. In turn, they will ask you to wire back the difference. Do not do so! These checks or money orders look legitimate (even to a bank cashier!!!) but invariably prove to be counterfeit. They are often not detected by your bank as such until after they have been deposited weeks later and after you’ve already wired back the difference. If this happens, you are out of luck -- the bank holds you accountable. So, if you are renting out a room -- do not send someone money. They should be only paying YOU! And if someone tries to solicit you, please report them to us immediately! |
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Basic Guidelines
Try to limit your search to people that you can meet locally. Think about it, wouldn't you insist on seeing a place and meeting your prospective flatmate before giving a check to a stranger? |
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If someone offers to send you a cashier’s check or money order without signing any documents or meeting you in person, they’re probably part of a scam. Any cashier’s check or money order you receive is counterfeit. Your bank will accept it and will hold you responsible when the check fails to clear weeks later. |
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If someone is extremely persistent and constantly sends correspondence pressuring you into sending money or giving away your personal information, they are probably part of a scam. If they aren't, you’d probably not want to live with them anyway. |
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Avoid users wiring money via Western Union or MoneyGram, etc. Ask for a personal or bank check (and allow it time to clear and confirm that it is authentic with your bank!) |
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Flag users who you believe are engaged in seemingly fraudulent activity! If you help us identify a scammer, we will grant you 1 week of full access, FREE! |
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If you have any questions or suspicions, please email us: |
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