Tenants warned on deposit scam

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by Gill Montia

The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) is alerting tenants to a new scam involving property advertised for rent over the Internet.

According to the firm, people looking on rental websites such as Gumtree and Craig’s List have come across advertisements asking them to show they have the wherewithal for a deposit.

They are urged to do this by transferring money to a friend or relative using a money transfer agent.

Prospective tenants are then asked to send a scanned copy of the transaction receipt to the “landlord”.

However, the receipt contains sufficient information for fraudsters to collect the money before the victim’s friend or relative picks it up.

In related news, online tenancy deposit scheme, mydeposits.co.uk, has recently launched a new facility which it says offers a unique method for tenants to raise a deposit dispute at the end of their tenancy.

Claims can be made by logging on to the company’s website and entering a Deposit Protection Certificate reference.

Evidence for a claim can then be submitted by uploading photos and scanned documents, such as inventories.

The service offers landlords the chance to submit their own evidence and both parties can track the progress of the claim.

According to mydeposits, the average amount in a dispute case is a substantial £733 and the online service simplifies and speeds up settlement for both tenants and landlords.