First time renting, is this safe?

AdrianC

Account numbers are hardly state secret. Look on your cheques. Look in almost any bill or invoice you get.

EachPenny

AdrianC wrote: »

Account numbers are hardly state secret. Look on your cheques. Look in almost any bill or invoice you get.

True, but then you don't normally hand those documents over to someone who is 99.9% likely to be a scammer, along with other details which would assist them in anything unpleasant they might want to do.

I'm not suggesting the OP should panic and immediately cancel everything - just take a look at what information might have been given out and have a careful think about what to do as a result.

My bank is telling me to go paperless for my security so nobody intercepts my statements in the post :rotfl: If that is really considered to be a significant risk, then what would the risk level be of emailing the same information to a suspected scammer? Obviously only the OP will know exactly what information their screenshot contained.

Lazarus_Blackstar

Pound to a penny the add was placed on Gumtree. It's quite a common scam on there by all accounts.
Definitely do not go ahead with the Western Union payment.
Or you will end up out of pocket & can wave bye bye to your money & bogus 'rented property'.

elephantrosie

please. this is a scam. why do you need to rent that particular place? the walls are made of diamonds?

zagubov

You need to run a mile from this.
Even if a foreign landlord was genuine you might have to file tax returns on your rent money.
But this doesn't sound genuine at all.

saajan_12

It's a SCAM
* you don’t need to meet to sign papers – this can be done via a UK agent or electronically
* bank statements are fine for proof of funds for most legit agents & LLs
* She can use the Western Union receipt copy to pick up the funds herself before your friend

hazyjo

I'd let the police carry on with this particular 'transaction'.


Jx

Marvel1

Landlord oversees rather than letting agent, friend, western union = scam.

davidmcn

cjdavies wrote: »

Landlord oversees rather than letting agent, friend, western union = scam.

Or simply Western Union = scam.

ThePants999

I've always wondered how these scams are so prolific. Are they not obvious? I'm glad that this scam was as obvious to most posters here as it is to me, but a little disappointed that the thread was needed at all.