Heather Friery lost £1,400 this month after searching for a flat on Gumtree.com. The 26-year-old, who works in recruitment, posted an advertisement seeking properties in Clapham and was contacted the next day by someone offering a flat for £700 a month. She explains: "The woman, who seemed very nice, said that she lived in Birmingham and could not make the journey south for a viewing unless she knew I was serious. She said that her solicitor had suggested that I transfer the equivalent of the deposit and first month’s rent to a friend via Western Union and send her the receipt to prove I had the funds. I thought it was odd, but went ahead as she didn’t ask for money for herself. "Within four hours of me sending her the receipt, the money was picked up — but not by my friend, who works with me. I reported the theft to the police and Western Union." The latter has refused to refund Heather’s money, saying that it is not responsible because the fraudster used the correct transaction details and a forged passport. It added: "Western Union and its agents are not policing agencies."