Woman used in room-to-let scam
A woman's flat in Centurion subject to a flat scam.
A resident of Rooihuiskraal had a nasty surprise when her new “tenants” arrived at her doorstep after they rented a flat she had advertised “to let”.
Lizette Els had become the latest victim of a rooms-to-let scam as she had neither advertised nor had any intention of letting a room in her home.
“Someone placed an advertisement for a room or flatlet to let on the internet,” said Els, adding the scammers listed her address for the room.
“People paid a deposit and showed up at my house to view the room/flatlet to rent. Were it not for my neighbours, I would never have known that my home was used in the scam.”
She said her neighbours told her that people often came to view her property between 14:00 and 15:30 on weekdays, while she was at work.
“I wonder how many people’s homes have been used in a scam like this, but are blissfully unaware.”
Else said she encouraged the two guys who had been scammed to report the matter to the police, but they told her it was not worth it.
“Many innocent people have become victims to such scams, so we advise prospective tenants to insist that the viewing of the property is done in the presence of the owner and that they record the identity of such owner,” said Warrant officer Hero Gumbu of Lyttelton police station.
He said tenants should ensure they were dealing with genuine people before paying any money.
Gumbu said scammers used fictitious identities, showed tenants people’s homes without authority and once they have been paid the rental, they disappeared without a trace.
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