Fraudsters hijack letting agency identity in rental scam

Short-term holiday let used to stage fake tenancy viewings and extract upfront rent and deposits.

Fraudsters have hijacked the identity of a letting agency and a landlord in a sophisticated rental scam that has netted thousands of pounds from tenants, using a short-term holiday rental to stage viewings.

Two women told the BBC they had handed over around £8,000 after signing what they believed was a genuine rental agreement for a flat in Chapel Market, north London. One went to an in-person viewing of the property, while the other joined via a video call. To secure it, they then paid a six-week deposit and three months’ rent upfront.

When they arrived at the flat on moving day, however, they discovered from the cleaner that it was actually a short-term holiday let.

The pair said the individuals they dealt with, both in person and over the phone, seemed very professional, and that the experience “mirrored exactly what a tenancy process looks like”.

I didn’t understand how it could happen.”

One said: “I had never heard of this sort of thing happening, I didn’t understand how it could happen.”

According to the BBC, around 20 people have been scammed using the same address.

Alison Farrar, Lead Officer for Property and Lettings at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said criminals can rent properties briefly and schedule multiple viewings, making scams difficult to spot. She advised renters to take a step back if they feel pressured, adding that a genuine landlord or agent would not rush them into paying.

The case has been reported to Action Fraud, now known as Report Fraud, and passed on to the Metropolitan Police, with a force spokesperson saying it had received “multiple reports” of alleged rental fraud between January and July 2025.