A genuine tenant who advertised on social media for a property has been scammed out of £450 by fraudsters posing as landlords.

Shane Dillon, on the Isle of Wight, was seeking to find new accommodation for his pregnant partner and himself; according to a report on the Island Echo news website, Shane posted on Facebook an appeal for a three bedroom home to let. 

A woman called Laura Rayner then introduced herself as a private landlord in Ventnor and passed him 25 photos of the property, alongside written details. 

Dillon transferred £450 having been told it was a fully refundable holding deposit, but than found he was blocked when he tried to communicate with the fraudster. 

The police and bank have been told, and the agent handling the property to let has confirmed that ‘Laura Rayner’ was not the owner. 

You can see the story in full here.