Couple nearly fell for Warndon Villages dream home Facebook scam

Kayla Griffiths and boyfriend James Green were led to believe a two-bedroom house could be their new home after seeing a Facebook advertisement.

A 'woman', believed to be a fake Facebook account, advertised a "two-bedroom place house in Warndon Villages" to let in Muncaster Place on a selling site.

SCAM: Muncaster Place

Alarm bells began ringing for the couple when details kept changing and a call through Facebook from a Worcester News reporter was answered by a man in what sounded like a call centre.

It is believed scammers choose a house from RightMove at random and there is no suggestion the true owners of the house are aware of the scam.

Miss Griffiths said: “She told me she wasn’t available (to speak) as she was in hospital after a car crash in which her parents died, and her phone was broken.

“Things on the contract kept changing and then we knew it was a fake contract.

“She was asking for £750 rent and a £800 deposit – we had a lucky escape not handing over the money.

Housing scam targets young couple and asks for deposit

I went to the house and asked neighbours who the owner was and they said it was a man.

“One of the neighbours said two couples had actually sent deposits."

Miss Griffiths, 17, said she was devastated as it was to be the couple's first home.

“She made it so believable, but it was a big scam,” Miss Griffiths added.

“I’m also worried because we sent personal information, like birth certificates.”

A reporter has seen the Whatsapp exchange between Miss Griffiths and the woman sent over the last week.

The woman becomes increasingly fraught, swearing in one message, claiming  Miss Griffiths was asking too many questions, and demanding the pair sign the contract.

A reporter visited the home, which is currently vacant, and spoke to neighbours who confirmed they had seen couples looking around and had heard the home was at the centre of a scam.

The woman goes under the Facebook profile “Oakey Maureen”, who we messaged for comment. 

When given a right to reply to the allegations, she responded: "Rent and deposit also half of the second-month payment right."

An attempt to video call was picked up by a man who appeared to be in a call centre, before hanging up.

They did not directly respond to the allegations.

A Facebook search found the account is advertising properties across the country, including in Reading and Bradford, with others warning it is a scam account.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council told us it was not something its trading standards team was investigating and, with the absence of a letting agent, it was more likely to be a police matter.

We asked West Mercia Police if the scam had been investigated but we had no response before our deadline.

Your money matters - don't be scammed

Action Fraud warn that rental fraud happens when would-be tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property.

In reality, the property does not exist, has already been rented out, or has been rented to multiple victims at the same time.

It advises people to not send money to anyone advertising rental properties online until they are certain the advertiser is genuine.

People should also not pay any money until they or a reliable contact has visited the property with an agent or the landlord.

If fraud has been committed, people should report it to Action Fraud.